| Carmel Valley Airfield | |
| Location: | Carmel Valley, California |
| Type: | Private |
| Timezone: | PST |
| Utc: | -6:00 |
| Summer: | PDT |
| Utcs: | -7:00 |
| Coordinates: | 36.4861°N -121.7239°W |
Carmel Valley Airfield (also known as the Valley Vintage Airfield)(ICAO: O62), is a defunct airfield that was a privately owned airpark in Carmel Valley, California, from 1941 to 2002.[1] The airport was later called the Carmel Valley Vintage Airfield. The Commission found that development of the airport was important as it represented the first airpark in the United States.[2] The airfield closed due to noise and environmental concerns.
In the 1930s, the property was used for growing oats by bush pilots before the airport development. Two hangar houses were built at the airport as well as a prototype hangar-house to serve as an example for the "airborne community of the future."[3] [4]
The airport opened on December 7, 1941. However, on the same day, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. During World War II, the airfield served to train pilots and as an alternative landing field for military planes flying out of Watsonville and King city.[3] [4] After the war, the house was turned into a flying school subsidized by the federal government, which lasted until the Del Monte Aviation got underway in Monterey.[5]
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors was intent on shutting down the airfield along with local residents. In response, a group of local pilots and residents formed the "Carmel Valley Historic Airpark Society" (CVHAS) in August 2000. They set out to fight the closure.[3]
In May 2002, after 53 years of operating the airfield, the Delfino family made a decision to close the airfield for commercial use.[6] It was closed due to noise and environmental concerns.[7]