Skywatch Friday – Harvey Young Airport

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I was out geocaching in east Tulsa the other day when I noticed a sign for Harvey Young Airport. The name sounded vaguely familiar so I drove down the road until it dead ended into the airport which had no gate or fence but a big No Trespassing sign. I always respect those and so stopped and took a couple of photos. There was not a whole lot to take photos.

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There was this old hangar. I posted this on Forgotten Oklahoma facebook group and somebody responded that it once housed an aircraft mechanic’s facility. The glassed in part was the office and the rest of it was where the work took place.

The airport was started by a guy named Harvey Young who landed in a pasture back in 1940 and ended up buying the land. It became a base for training military pilots during World War II and then reverted back to General Aviation afterward. Somebody bought the airport and announced big plans in 2017 to demolish the buildings and build new and cater to vintage airplanes. It doesn’t look like much has happened since then. The developer still has his web site up.

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This was the only aircraft I saw. A Beechcraft Bonanza. They have been in production since right after World War II. The V tail is its distinctive feature although there are Bonanza’s out there with the conventional tale. I found out that the Bonanza is also known as the Doctor Killer because it is a very expensive, high performance aircraft, and lots of professionals like doctors buy them but don’t have the necessary skills to fly it. Someone who is a pilot and has flown it told me that the V tail model in particular is very hard to control if you get into a spin.

A brand new Bonanza will cost you about one million dollars.

I am linking with Skywatch Friday.

20 thoughts on “Skywatch Friday – Harvey Young Airport

  1. tomthebackroadstraveller

    …and Trump’s supperspreader event won’t help your Civid-19 cases!!! Thanks for hosting.

  2. Peter B.

    Wow, I had no idea a plane like a Bonanza is so expensive! I wonder if those extensive plans will ever happen? Interesting post.

  3. Ellen

    You always have the most interesting stories. I think I’ll pass on the million dollar plane.

  4. junieper2/Jesh StG

    That’s why I move from Bonanaza Road to somewhere else, lol. Seriousuly, I am moving when escrow closes in 3 weeks, so now I am addicted to packing, and will only be on my blog for All Seasons, (4-6 weeks) when i can’t see another box! Wishing you a terrrific month, Jesh

  5. Angie

    Alan – I am shocked that a new Bonanza would cost $1M. Love the photo of the old hangar – it would be a tragedy if it was torn down! Enjoy your weekend.

  6. Eileen

    Hello,

    The plane is too pricey for me, I will pass. Great find with the old hanger and plane. Happy Father’s Day weekend.
    Thanks for hosting Skywatch!

  7. Alana

    A million dollar plane! I’ll have to pass, too. I read your link on Harvey Young – he must have been quite a character. Good luck, Tulsa, on Saturday. I have to think that will not end well. I hope I’m wrong. And I thank you for blogging about the Tulsa tragedy earlier this year – I had never know – ignored history is the saddest history.

  8. A ShutterBug Explores

    What a wonderful post about the history of this ‘airport’ and the small aircraft ~ neat photos too ~ Happy Weekend to you.

    Be Safe, Be Well,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

  9. JM Illinois U.S.A.

    One million dollar Bonanza plane … holy smokes that is a lot of cash. Interesting find on a dead end street. All the stories the walls of this hanger must have. Happy first day of summer!

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