Blue Ash Airport , also known as Cincinnati–Blue Ash Airport, was a public

airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial air transport. Airports usually consists of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surfa ...

located in

Blue Ash, Ohio Blue Ash is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio. An inner suburb of Cincinnati, the population was 12,114 at the time of the 2010 census. History The area that is now Blue Ash was settled around 1791. In 1797, the first settlers built Carpenter' ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

, but owned by the City of

Cincinnati Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line w ...

. Located northeast of downtown Cincinnati, it served as a

general aviation General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations with the exception of commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services ...

reliever for the

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is a public international airport located in Hebron, Kentucky, United States. It serves the Cincinnati tri-state area. The airport's code, CVG, is derived from the nearest city at the time o ...

. Established in 1921, the airfield was one of the first in operation in the United States, and it became Ohio's first municipal airport when Cincinnati purchased it in 1946. For decades, it was eyed as a potential future site for Cincinnati's primary commercial airport, spurring construction of Cross County Highway, but efforts to develop the site repeatedly failed. In the 1970s, much of the property around the airfield was converted into an industrial park and golf course. Cincinnati eventually sold about half of the remaining airfield to the City of Blue Ash and permanently closed the facility on August 29, 2012, despite local efforts to keep it operational. In 2017, Cincinnati sold the remaining land and runway to Al. Neyer, which is building a mixed-use development on the site. Although most U.S. airports use the same three-letter

location identifier A location identifier is a symbolic representation for the name and the location of an airport, navigation aid, or weather station, and is used for staffed air traffic control facilities in air traffic control, telecommunications, computer programm ...

for the FAA and

IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA ) is a trade association of the world's airlines founded in 1945. IATA has been described as a cartel since, in addition to setting technical standards for airlines, IATA also organized tarif ...

, Blue Ash Airport was assigned I77 and later ISZ by the FAA but had no designation from the IATA.

History

Private ownership

Blue Ash Airport's history began in 1921 with a dirt runway located off Cooper Road, in then-unincorporated Sycamore Township, on land that has since been converted into an industrial park. The first Cincinnati–

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

airmail Airmail (or air mail) is a mail transport service branded and sold on the basis of at least one leg of its journey being by air. Airmail items typically arrive more quickly than surface mail, and usually cost more to send. Airmail may be t ...

flight took off from this field. On August 5, 1922, it was dedicated as Grisard Field, after Cincinnati-area pilot Lt. John K. Grisard, who was shot down in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

. The following year, the Grisard Field Company leased the field to Maj. Hugh Watson, a barnstormer and former Army flight instructor, and his brother Parks. They were joined by

John Paul Riddle John Paul Riddle (May 19, 1901 – April 6, 1989) was an American pilot and aviation pioneer, best known for training Allied air crews in WW2 and co-founding what later became Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). Personal life Born on ...

and, in 1924, T. Higbee Embry. The company owned two

Curtiss JN-4 The Curtiss JN "Jenny" was a series of biplanes built by the Curtiss Aeroplane Company of Hammondsport, New York, later the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. Although the Curtiss JN series was originally produced as a training aircraft for th ...

biplanes. In its early days, the airfield's grass runways served general aviation, airmail operations, and the 359th Army Reserve Observation Squadron. In 1925, the Grisard Company dissolved and moved its hangars and equipment to Lunken Field, then considered a more desirable location for its proximity to downtown Cincinnati. The reserve squadron moved there as well. Grisard Field was sold to the Watson brothers, who rededicated it as Watson Airport, with

Eddie Rickenbacker Edward Vernon Rickenbacker or Eddie Rickenbacker (October 8, 1890 – July 23, 1973) was an American fighter pilot in World War I and a Medal of Honor recipient. Hugh later moved to Lunken, leaving Parks in charge of the airport. After a year at Lunken, he returned to Blue Ash and built his own facility on the northern edge of the property, along Glendale Milford Road. By 1928, airlines were making scheduled flights to

Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the United States, U.S. U.S. state, state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along ...

and

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...

, from Watson.

Failed expansion plans

In 1938, after a major flood submerged Lunken Airport, Cincinnati city leaders began discussing a major expansion of the Blue Ash site in order to replace Lunken as the area's commercial airport. By this time, Watson was used primarily for training student pilots from local universities. The city purchased Parks Watson Airport in 1946 and Hugh Watson Field in 1955. The city headquartered Blue Ash Airport at the former Hugh Watson Field, keeping Parks Watson open for a time, and closed a shooting range that had operated on the property since the 1940s. The city's Blue Ash development plans were hampered by community opposition, three failed Hamilton County bond measures, political infighting, and Cincinnati's decision not to participate in the federal airfield program. While fog and flooding continued to cause frequent problems at Lunken, Northern Kentucky officials secured federal funds to build a competing airport at

Hebron Hebron ( ar, الخليل or ; he, חֶבְרוֹן ) is a Palestinian. city in the southern West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judaean Mountains, it lies above sea level. The second-largest city in the West Bank (after Eas ...

, in 1944. The

Greater Cincinnati Airport Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is a public international airport located in Hebron, Kentucky, United States. It serves the Cincinnati tri-state area. The airport's code, CVG, is derived from the nearest city at the time of ...

(CVG) began serving commercial flights there two years later. Cincinnati officials maintained expansion plans for the Blue Ash site into the 1960s, hoping to compete with CVG. County officials drew up plans for a connector from the

Mill Creek Expressway Mill may refer to: Science and technology * * Mill (grinding) * Milling (machining) * Millwork * Textile mill * Steel mill, a factory for the manufacture of steel * List of types of mill * Mill, the arithmetic unit of the Analytical Engine early ...

(

Interstate 75 Interstate 75 (I-75) is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. As with most Interstates that end in 5, it is a major cross-country, north–south route, traveling from St ...

) to the airport. However, the Blue Ash Civic League and nearby residents continued to oppose the expansion plans. Blue Ash incorporated, first as a village in 1955, then as a city in 1961, to take control of zoning matters and contain the airfield. By 1959, the county dropped plans for an airport connector and instead focused on building a more ambitious Cross County Highway. In 1960, the

Internal Revenue Service The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue service for the United States federal government, which is responsible for collecting U.S. federal taxes and administering the Internal Revenue Code, the main body of the federal statutory t ...

selected the Cincinnati area for a new, five-state regional data center, prompting many area cities and townships to vie for the facility and its employees' income tax revenue. The following year, Blue Ash proposed to have Cincinnati donate part of the Blue Ash Airport site to the IRS, calling hopes for a major airport there "obsolete". For its part, Cincinnati had been pushing for a Queensgate location. Instead, Northern Kentucky officials again won out over their Ohio counterparts, securing a new facility in downtown Covington. The older southeastern half of the airport was closed in September 1963, with the newer northwestern half remaining in use.

Decline and closure

With the Blue Ash Airport destined to remain a quaint general aviation facility, the City of Cincinnati began to seek other uses for the undeveloped portions of the tract. The non-profit Community Improvement Corporation, initially led by Reed Hartman, carved out a well-landscaped CIC Industrial Park at the former Parks Watson Airport to the east and, in 1979, the 18-hole Blue Ash Golf Course to the west. In 1977, Cincinnati finally replaced the grass runways with a paved runway and taxiways, the city's last major infrastructure improvements to the airport. In 2006, after years of negotiations, the City of Blue Ash purchased of the airfield, including all the hangars and taxiways, from the City of Cincinnati for $37.5 million over 30 years. Because the

Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic ...

had been subsidizing airport maintenance, Cincinnati was originally required to spend all proceeds towards aviation-related expenses, but the city had hoped to use $11 million for the construction of a revived streetcar system now known as the

Cincinnati Bell Connector The Connector is a streetcar system in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. The system opened to passengers on September 9, 2016. The streetcar operates on a loop from The Banks, Great American Ball Park, and Smale Riverfront Park through Downt ...

. COAST, an anti-streetcar interest group, opposed the use of airport funds for the streetcar. Residents of some Cincinnati neighborhoods were also upset that Mayor

Mark Mallory Mark Mallory (born April 2, 1962) is an American politician who served as the 68th Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first two-term Mayor under the City's new Stronger-Mayor system, the first directly elect ...

had promised to disburse the same funds to neighborhood councils during his 2005 campaign against David Pepper. Nevertheless, the two cities reworked the purchase in 2007 to avoid violating FAA rules. The most recent airport master plan called for the retention and improvement of the current runway but the removal and demolition of all facilities to the west of the runway (the current taxiways, hangars, and ramps), the construction of a parallel taxiway, and new terminals and facilities to the east of the runway. The reclaimed area to the west of the runway was to be converted into a park, some light retail spaces, a museum, and additional space for three relocated holes from the Blue Ash Golf Course. Despite these plans, the City of Cincinnati concluded in 2012 that it could not afford to reconfigure the airstrip and keep it operational and decided to focus its resources on Lunken Airport. Meanwhile, Blue Ash expressed little interest in operating the airport itself, pointing out that the FAA had declined to finance the reconfiguration on several occasions and the runway was "at the end of its useful life". Amid declining airport revenues, the City of Cincinnati closed Blue Ash Airport permanently at noon on August 29, 2012, after 91 years of continuous service. Many planes were moved to more modern facilities at

Lebanon-Warren County Airport Lebanon-Warren County Airport is a public airport located three miles (5 km) northwest of the central business district of Lebanon, on Greentree Road, in Warren County, Ohio, United States. It is a county-owned public airport operated by ...

, and Cincinnati West Airport also saw increased demand. That fall, Blue Ash opened phase I of Summit Park on the wooded western side of the airfield and demolished the Co-Op Aircraft Service hangar, which had stood since 1952. On May 19, 2017, Cincinnati sold the remaining , including the runway, to Al. Neyer. Neyer is building a mixed-use development on the site named The Neighborhoods of Summit Park, beginning with a residential subdivision named The Daventry. A 1969

Cessna Cessna () is an American brand of general aviation aircraft owned by Textron Aviation since 2014, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. Originally, it was a brand of the Cessna Aircraft Company, an American general aviation aircraft manufacturing ...

aircraft was stranded at the airport when it closed; it was later stripped of its parts, then removed during construction.

Facilities and aircraft

Before the sale of to the City of Blue Ash, Cincinnati–Blue Ash Airport covered an area of and was served by three

fixed-base operator A fixed-base operator (FBO) is an organization granted the right by an airport to operate at the airport and provide aeronautical services such as fueling, hangaring, tie-down and parking, aircraft rental, aircraft maintenance, flight instructio ...

s. Two taxiways and one

asphalt Asphalt, also known as bitumen (, ), is a sticky, black, highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product, and is classed as a pitch. Before the 20th century, the term ...

-paved

runway According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft". Runways may be a man-made surface (often asphalt, concrete ...

(6/24) measuring roughly formed a right triangle. The runway, which was not sold to Blue Ash, was restricted to aircraft weighing less than . For the 12-month period ending January 30, 2006, the airport had 35,000 aircraft operations, an average of 95 per day: 97%

, 2%

air taxi An air taxi is a small commercial aircraft that makes short flights on demand. In 2001 air taxi operations were promoted in the United States by a NASA and aerospace industry study on the potential Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) ...

and 1% military. There were 136 aircraft based at this airport: 88% single-engine, 11% multi-engine and 1%

helicopter A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally. These attribu ...

. Under the Watsons, the airport was a scheduled stop for Universal Air Lines. Decades later,

air charter Air charter is the business of renting an entire aircraft (i.e., chartering) as opposed to individual aircraft seats (i.e., purchasing a ticket through a traditional airline). Regulation Charter – also called air taxi or ad hoc – flights ...

service Schmidt Aviation flew scheduled flights between Blue Ash Airport and

Chicago Midway International Airport Chicago Midway International Airport , typically referred to as Midway Airport, Chicago Midway, or simply Midway, is a major commercial airport on the Southwest side of Chicago, Illinois, located approximately 12 miles (19 km) from the Lo ...

Activities

From 1997 to 2009, Blue Ash Airport hosted an annual air show known as Blue Ash Airport Days. This show was usually held in September and featured aerobatic performers, helicopter tours, and numerous static displays. The airport was home to the fully restored World War II

B-17 bomber The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Relatively fast and high-flying for a bomber of its era, the B-17 was used primarily in the European Theater ...

, My Gal Sal (one of three B-17E bombers in existence). It was housed in the Warbirds hangar and open for touring at certain scheduled times. Plans were in place to make the bomber the centerpiece of an aviation museum at the airport. Despite having private funding already promised for the construction of the museum, the plans were abandoned when the airport was closed in 2012. The bomber was shrink-wrapped and sent to the

National World War II Museum The National WWII Museum, formerly known as The National D-Day Museum, is a military history museum located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., on Andrew Higgins Drive between Camp Street and Magazine Street. The ...

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

in August 2012.

Accidents and incidents

* On 3 July 1960, an unknown aircraft crashed immediately after takeoff from Parks Watson Airport, injuring the pilot and three passengers. * On 8 July 1960, a Conrad 9800 crashed after taking off from the airport. * On 3 September 1974, a

Bellanca AviaBellanca Aircraft Corporation was an American aircraft design and manufacturing company. Prior to 1983, it was known as the Bellanca Aircraft Company. The company was founded in 1927 by Giuseppe Mario Bellanca, although it was preceded by p ...

crashed after taking off from the airport, killing the pilot and two passengers. * On 4 April 1991, a Mooney M20J crashed while attempting to land at the airport, killing the pilot. * On 31 October 1993, a Mooney M20K crashed while attempting to land at the airport, killing the pilot. * On 15 August 1998, a

Cessna 152 The Cessna 152 is an American two-seat, fixed- tricycle-gear, general aviation airplane, used primarily for flight training and personal use. It was based on the earlier Cessna 150 incorporating a number of minor design changes and a slightly ...

departing from Blue Ash Airport bound for

ran out of fuel and collided with a car as it attempted a landing on

Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway, formerly and locally known as Cross County Highway, is a west-east freeway in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. It stretches from southern Colerain Township to Montgomery, connecting many of Cincinnati ...

, killing three. * On 11 May 2007, a

Cessna 172 The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is an American four-seat, single-engine, high wing, fixed-wing aircraft made by the Cessna Aircraft Company.

and a

Beechcraft Bonanza The Beechcraft Bonanza is an American general aviation aircraft introduced in 1947 by Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. The six-seater, single-engined aircraft is still being produced by Beechcraft and has been in continuous pro ...

collided in mid air minutes after both aircraft had taken off from the airport, killing all three on board. * On 24 May 2008, a Cessna 172 crashed after hitting electrical wires while attempting an emergency landing at the airport.

References

External links

Blue Ash Airport (ISZ)
nbsp;– history and photos
Preserve the Blue Ash Airport

Blue Ash Airport Days

nbsp;– history of airport and related businesses

nbsp;– historical photographs and aeronautical charts {{DEFAULTSORT:Cincinnati-Blue Ash Airport Defunct airports in Ohio 1921 establishments in Ohio 2012 disestablishments in Ohio Buildings and structures demolished in 2012 Blue Ash, Ohio Transportation buildings and structures in Hamilton County, Ohio