As the nation marks National Aviation Week, celebrated each year around Orville Wright’s Aug. 19 birthday, the spotlight turns to two landmarks in the West Valley that have shaped American aviation for generations: Phoenix Goodyear Airport and Luke Air Force Base.
Together, they tell a story that spans from World War II’s heavy steel warbirds to today’s cutting-edge fighter jets, a testament to the enduring role the West Valley has played in both civilian and military flight.
A civilian airport with military roots
Long before Phoenix Goodyear Airport, GYR, began logging hundreds of thousands of takeoffs and landings each year, it was a hub of naval aviation.
In 1941, as war raged in Europe, the Goodyear Aerospace Corporation offered land to the U.S. Defense Plant Corporation. The U.S. Navy used the site to build aircraft flight decks and created the Naval Air Facility Litchfield Park to test fly and deliver aircraft.
The construction included a landing field, hangar and runway infrastructure that would serve a variety of military purposes for decades.
When the Korean War began in 1950, the airfield returned to active duty to support military operations. After the conflict, it was again decommissioned. Remaining aircraft were sent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, and the site was placed on the federal surplus list.
In July 1968, the city of Phoenix purchased the property to serve as an alternate airport to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The site was classified as a general aviation reliever airport, helping keep Sky Harbor’s commercial operations running smoothly by accommodating noncommercial flights.
A master plan completed in 1986 called for major upgrades: a new terminal, hangars, support facilities and airfield improvements. Since then, GYR has added a terminal building, T-hangars, ramp space, tie-downs and a maintenance facility.
A modern airport on the rise
Today, GYR is part of the city of Phoenix’s three-airport system, alongside Sky Harbor and Phoenix Deer Valley Airport.
“GYR is owned by the City of Phoenix and operated by Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport as part of a system of airports,” said Airport Manager Bradley Hagen. “We continue to collaborate and partner with the City of Goodyear … and we appreciate their support.”
Hagen oversees all aspects of the airport’s operations, from construction projects to budget planning to coordinating with tenants, the FAA, the Arizona Department of Transportation and other stakeholders.
“The average day varies significantly,” Hagen said. “Most days I am working with our team and tenants at GYR on the different events taking place at the airport, as well as taking part in meetings with different stakeholders.”
The airfield is inspected twice daily, once in daylight and once in darkness to check for debris, damage to markings or lighting, wildlife hazards and other concerns.
“Airport safety and security is our highest priority, and we pay very careful attention to those inspections and reports,” Hagen said.
In addition to its local role, GYR is a national player in pilot training. United Airlines operates its own flight school at the airport to help address a nationwide pilot shortage.
That activity has fueled a dramatic increase in air traffic. In 2020, GYR recorded 79,599 operations. By 2024, that number had surged to 212,081, a 166% increase in just four years.
“There are months where GYR is the busiest single-runway airport in the country,” Hagen said. In June 2023, it ranked as the nation’s busiest single-runway facility and 11th busiest general aviation airport overall.
Air Force One in the West Valley
For Hagen, one of the most memorable moments came in October 2020, when Air Force One landed at GYR for the first time in the airport’s history.
“That was the first time any President has flown into GYR,” Hagen said. “That visit in the West Valley was very prominent, and our team and tenants were very proud to support the first Presidential visit with Air Force One.”
Hagen said the event underscored GYR’s ability to handle a wide variety of aircraft, from small trainers to the Boeing 747 used as Air Force One, thanks to its long, high-quality runway.
Luke Air Force Base
While Goodyear’s civilian airport has grown from a naval airfield into a hub for flight training, just a few miles north, Luke Air Force Base has been shaping military aviation for more than 80 years.
Established in the early 1940s, what was initially known as Luke Field became a key pilot training center. At its height, thousands of pilots trained there in aircrafts.
Over the decades, Luke has transitioned through 12 different types of aircraft, always adapting to the needs of the Air Force.
Today, it’s home to the 56th Fighter Wing, the largest fighter wing in the U.S. Air Force, and the F-35 Lightning II training center. The wing also oversees Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field and manages the 1.7 million-acre Barry M. Goldwater Military Training Range.
A global training mission
Rick Griset, a retired Luke Air Force Base historian gave a lecture with the P.W. Litchfield heritage center on Buckeye’s Luke Field’s legacy. Griset said the transformation reflects both necessity and vision.
“Luke Field has been a cornerstone of military aviation training since World War II, and that mission continues today with the F-35,” Griset said.
The base’s mission extends beyond the U.S. Air Force. Pilots from allied nations train alongside Americans to enhance interoperability and strengthen global defense partnerships.
“Our role here is to ensure pilots are trained, mission-ready and able to operate in any environment they may face,” Griset said. “The base doesn’t just serve the U.S. Air Force, we train alongside allied nations to strengthen global security.”
While its operational focus is on combat readiness, Luke also works to maintain strong ties with neighboring cities in the West Valley.
“Luke’s connection to the West Valley community is strong, and we value the partnerships we’ve built over the decades,” Griset said. “From its origins in 1941 to today’s state-of-the-art fighter training, Luke has adapted to meet the needs of each generation.”
Parallel paths in aviation history
The histories of Phoenix Goodyear Airport and Luke Air Force Base run parallel in many ways, both born out of World War II military needs, both adapted for peacetime uses, and both revitalized in later years to meet new challenges.
At GYR, the focus is on civilian and commercial general aviation, flight training and future technologies. At Luke, the mission is to produce the next generation of fighter pilots for the U.S. and its allies.
Both, however, are defined by the people who keep them running.
“The people … are great to work with and very supportive,” Hagen said of his team at GYR. “We also have amazing business partners that run private businesses at the airport and are awesome to work with, and everyone works together really well. I’ve always loved aviation even as a kid. For me, this job is my avocation as well as my vocation.”
Looking to the future
As National Aviation Week honors pioneers like Orville and Wilbur Wright, Goodyear’s twin aviation landmarks stand as living reminders that the history of flight is still being written, and that the West Valley remains firmly on the map for both civilian and military aviation.
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