Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:

Colorado: Colorado Springs

© 2002, © 2012 by Paul Freeman. Revised 1/8/12.

____________________________________________________



Please consider a financial contribution to support the continued growth & operation of this site.



Aaardvark Field (revised 2/21/09) - Alexander Airport / Nichols Field (added 9/26/11)

Black Forest Gliderport (revised 1/8/12) - (Original) Pueblo Municipal Airport (revised 1/8/12)

____________________________________________________



Alexander Airport / Nichols Field, Colorado Springs, CO

38.88 North / 104.82 West (South of Denver, CO)

An undated (circa 1920s-30s) view of the interior of the Alexander Aircraft Company plant.



The Alexander Film Company, under the brothers J. Don & S. Don Alexander, specialized in film advertising.

When the younger J. Don Alexander wanted 40-50 airplanes for his salesmen, he was forced to produce his own aircraft,

as no company at the time was able to fill such an order.

Originally headquartered in Englewood, the film-turned-aircraft company was forced to move to Colorado Springs in order to expand.

The Alexander Aircraft Company built a number of successful versions of the Alexander Eaglerock biplane, which were especially popular with barnstormers.

They were also used for carrying airmail, aerial photography, crop dusting, and air racing.



For a brief period from 1928-29, Alexander was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world,

and more aircraft were built in Colorado than anywhere else in the world.

However, financial woes forced the Alexander Aircraft Company into bankruptcy in 1932.



The earliest reference which has been located of the Alexander Airport

was in The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airport Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).

It described Alexander as a commercial airport, located 3 miles north of Colorado Springs.

The field was said to consist of a 160 acre T-shaped sod field with one oiled 4,200' north/south runway & 2 hangars.



The earliest photo which has been located of Alexander Airport was a 1938 aerial view (courtesy of Jim Densmore).

It depicted the field as having a single northwest/southeast runway, with a few small hangars on the west side.

Across the road to the west sat the facilities of the Alexander Aircraft Company.



The Alexander Airport had evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1937-45,

as it was not listed among active airfields in the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock).



An undated (1940s?) aerial view looking west at the Alexander Aircraft Company plant & film studios.



At some point between 1945-49,

the former Alexander Airport was evidently significantly expanded & reopened as Nichols Field, as depicted on the 1949 USGS topo map.

The original northwest/southeast runway was joined by 2 new runways, oriented northeast/southwest & northwest/southeast,

along with multiple taxiways.

Several buildings were depicted on the west side of the field.



An undated (1950s?) aerial view looking west at the Alexander Aircraft Company plant & film studios.



Nichols Field was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1949-62,

as it was no longer depicted at all on the 1962 USGS topo map.



The 1999 USGS aerial photo shows that the western portion of the airfield area had been thoroughly covered with commercial buildings,

and the eastern portion with housing.

It is not apparent if any of the buildings on the west side of the airfield site were former hangars.

A few of the buildings used by Alexander Aircraft for manufacturing still remained,

although their main building had been removed & replaced with a smaller bank building.



A 6/19/06 aerial photo shows no obvious remaining trace of Nichols Field,

although a few of the buildings used by Alexander Aircraft for manufacturing still remained.



A circa 2008-2011 aerial view looking west showed that a few of the buildings used by Alexander Aircraft for manufacturing still remained,

although their main building had been removed & replaced with a smaller bank building.

It is not apparent if any of the buildings on the west side of the airfield site (in the foreground) were former hangars.



A 2011 photo by Jim Densmore of the former Alexander Aircraft manufacturing buildings.



The site of Nichols Field is located northeast of the intersection of Route 85 & East Filmore Street.

____________________________________________________



Black Forest Gliderport, Black Forest, CO

38.97 North / 104.68 West (South of Denver, CO)

Black Forest Gliderport, as depicted on the December 1968 Denver Sectional Chart (courtesy of Richard Doehring).



This general aviation glider airfield was evidently established at some point between 1962-68,

as it was not yet depicted on the 1962 USGS topo map.



The earliest depiction which has been located of Black Forest Gliderport

was on the December 1968 Denver Sectional Chart (courtesy of Richard Doehring).

It depicted Black Forest as a private field with a 6,000' unpaved runway.



The earliest topo map depiction which has been located of Black Forest Gliderport was on the 1969 USGS topo map,

which a north/south unpaved runway, with several buildings at the north end, labeled simply as “Landing Area”.



The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the Black Forest Gliderport

was on the 1970 Denver Sectional Chart (courtesy of Ed Granato).

It depicted Black Forest Glider Port as a private field with 2 parallel paved runways, the longest being 6,000'.



An undated photo of a Schweitzer SGS 2-32 glider tied down at Black Forest Gliderport.



A circa 1970s aerial view looking north at a very busy Black Forest Gliderport (courtesy of Mike Newgard).

It depicted Black Forest as having 2 parallel asphalt runways, 3 hangars, and dozens of gliders.



The logo of the Black Forest Gliderport.



An undated aerial view looking north at a glider overflying Black Forest Gliderport,

with the paved runway, hangars, and a few gliders visible on the field.



An undated aerial view looking north at a Schweitzer SGS 2-32 glider overflying Black Forest Gliderport,

with the hangars & a few gliders visible on the field.



An undated photo of a glider at the Black Forest Gliderport.



Mike Newgard recalled, “It was very active until the mid-1980s. Lots of high altitude flights & some contests.”



The last depiction which has been located of Black Forest Gliderport was on the 1989 USGS topo map.

It depicted the single runway of Black Forest,

but erroneously labeled the field as “Colorado Springs TRSA”, a dubious error by the mapmakers.



The Black Forest Gliderport was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1989-97,

as it was no longer depicted at all on the January 1997 Denver Sectional Chart (courtesy of Richard Doehring).



The 1999 USGS aerial photo shows that all of the hangars & other airfield buildings had been completely removed (why?),

with the ramp & hangar foundations remaining on the north side of the airfield site.

The entire length of the runway remained intact, though.



A 2005 aerial photo showed that streets & houses had covered the southern half of the airfield site at some point between 1999-2005.



An 11/5/06 aerial photo showed that the northern half of the Black Forest runway remained intact.



The site of Black Forest Gliderport is located north of the intersection of Forestgate Drive & Lochwinnoch Lane.

____________________________________________________



(Original) Pueblo Municipal Airport, Pueblo, CO

38.25 North / 104.66 West (South of Denver, CO)

The location & layout of the Pueblo Airport, as depicted on the 7/26/27 Commerce Department Airway Bulletin (courtesy of David Brooks).



The original airport for the town of Pueblo was located on the southwest side of the town.

The date of construction of the airfield has not been determined.



According to a plaque by the Colorado Historical Society,

the hangar was constructed at the Pueblo Airport in 1925.



The earliest directory reference to the Pueblo Airport which has been located

was in the 7/26/27 Commerce Department Airway Bulletin (courtesy of David Brooks).

It described Pueblo Airport as a municipal field owned by the County, and operated by the Pueblo Commerce Club, caretaker Carle Jackson.

The field was said to consist of a 190 acre T-shaped sandy loam field, measuring 3,300' north/south.

A steel 120'x x 66' hangar was depicted on the east side.



The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

described Pueblo as a municipal airport, located 3.25 miles southwest of the post office.

The field was said to consist of a 534-acre prairie grass field, “T” shaped,

containing a single 3,300' north/south runway.



The earliest aeronautical chart depiction of the Pueblo Airport which has been located

was on the December 1941 7M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).



The earliest photo which has been located of the Pueblo Municipal Airport

was a 8/2/43 aerial view looking north from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock).

It depicted Pueblo as having 4 paved runways.



The January 1944 Denver Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

continued to depict Pueblo as a municipal/commercial airport,

but it also depicted the newly-constructed Pueblo Army Air Field on the northeast side of the town,

which would eventually replace the original Pueblo Airport.



The 1945 Haire Publishing Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

described Pueblo Municipal Airport as a “class 4” field, owned & operated by the City.

It was said to have 4 paved runways, with the longest being the 5,200' north/south strip.

A hangar was said to be marked with the field's name.

The field was said to offer airline service by Braniff & Continental.

The Southern Colorado Flying Service was listed as an operator,

and the Airport Manager was listed as E.G. Wayman.



The 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock) described Pueblo Municipal Airport

as a 546 acre irregularly-shaped property having 4 asphalt runways, the longest being the 5,200' north/south & northeast/southwest strips.

The field was said to have a single 128' x 70' steel & stone hangar,

and to have airline service by Braniff & Continental.

The airport was described as being owned & operated by the City of Pueblo.



The most detailed depiction which has been located of the original Pueblo Municipal Airport

was in the 1950 USAF Pilot's Handbook (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It depicted the field as having 4 paved runways,

with the longest being the 5,280' north/south strip.

A control tower & a building were depicted on the east side of the field.



The last depiction which has been located of the original Pueblo Municipal Airport

was on the May 1954 Denver Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It labeled the field as “Pueblo #1”, described it as a shared Air Force & public field,

and depicted the field as having a 5,300' hard-surface runway & a control tower.



The original Pueblo Municipal Airport was evidently abandoned at some point during 1954,

as it was no longer depicted at all on the November 1954 Denver Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).



In 1959, the Colorado Historical Society converted the old Pueblo Municipal Airport hangar into the original El Pueblo Museum.



In the 1999 USGS aerial photo,

there was no recognizable trace of the original Pueblo Municipal Airport.



A 2007 photo by James O'Leary of the former Pueblo Airport hangar, since restored by the Colorado Historical Society.



A 2007 photo by James O'Leary of a plaque on the former Pueblo Airport hangar (with the word “hangar” misspelled).



A circa 2007-2010 aerial view looking north at the former Pueblo Airport hangar.



The site of the original Pueblo Municipal Airport is located northwest of the intersection of South Prairie Avenue & Route 78.

____________________________________________________



Aardvark Field, Colorado Springs, CO

39.03 North / 104.84 West (South of Denver, CO)

Aardvark Field was labeled simply as a “Landing Strip” on the 1986 USGS topo map.

Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.



This small airfield is located on the north edge of the property of the Air Force Academy.



The date of construction of Aardavrk Field has not been determined.

It was not depicted at all on the 1983 USGS topo map.

The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located is the 1986 USGS topo map,

which depicted the runway, labeled simply "Landing strip".



It was not depicted at all (not even as an abandoned airfield)

on the 1993 Denver Sectional Chart (according to Russ Roslewski).



A September 4, 1999 USGS aerial view looking northeast at Aardvark Field

depicted the field as consisting of a single 2,300 asphalt Runway 17/35,

with no other facilities.



The 2002 USGS aerial photo depicted the field as consisting of a single 2,300 asphalt Runway 17/35,

with no other facilities.

However, even though the airfield was not listed in the Airport Facility Directory as an active facility,

the runway was not marked as closed.



It was not depicted at all (not even as an abandoned airfield)

on the 2003 Denver Sectional Chart (according to Russ Roslewski).



According to a recent Academy graduate (via Russ Roslewski),

"The airstrip is used by the Academy's soaring training program.

The first flight or two before the cadets get into the gliders is done in a motorglider.

They use the runway for practicing patterns & approaches, though they do not touch down on it.

I suspect that may be due to lack of any support equipment or quick access in the event of a botched landing.

That explains why it's in good condition!

Operating here gets them away from the main airfield,

which at least up until several years ago I had seen listed as the busiest VFR tower in the world."

 

Therefore, this runway is not officially listed as an "airfield",

since the aircraft apparently never actually land at it!

Truly a unique facility.



Aardvark Field, as depicted on an Air Force Academy local flying area publication (courtesy of Matthew Zimmerman).



According to Air Force Academy Cadet Matthew Zimmerman,

"The airfield is known as 'Aardvark'.

It's listed on all our local area charts here.

It also can be (and has been) used as an emergency landing site for gliders

if they can't get back to KAFF (extremely rare though)."

 

The airfield is located northwest of the intersection of Interstate 25 & North Gate Boulevard,

only 4 miles north of the Air Force Academy's main airfield.

 

Thanks to Russ Roslewski for pointing out this airfield.



____________________________________________________

 



____________________________________________________