| Walnut Ridge Regional Airport | |
| Iata: | ARG |
| Icao: | KARG |
| Faa: | ARG |
| Type: | Public |
| Owner: | City of Walnut Ridge |
| City-Served: | Walnut Ridge, Arkansas |
| Location: | Campbell Township, Lawrence County |
| Elevation-F: | 279 |
| Elevation-M: | 85 |
| Coordinates: | 36.1247°N -90.925°W |
| Website: | http://walnutridgeairport.com/ |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Arkansas#USA |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Walnut Ridge Regional Airport |
| Pushpin Label: | KARG |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| R1-Number: | 04/22 |
| R1-Length-F: | 6,001 |
| R1-Length-M: | 1,829 |
| R1-Surface: | Asphalt |
| R2-Number: | 13/31 |
| R2-Length-F: | 5,003 |
| R2-Length-M: | 1,525 |
| R2-Surface: | Concrete |
| R3-Number: | 18/36 |
| R3-Length-F: | 5,001 |
| R3-Length-M: | 1,524 |
| R3-Surface: | Concrete |
| Stat-Year: | 2023 |
| Stat1-Header: | Aircraft operations (year ending 3/31/2023) |
| Stat1-Data: | 40,000 |
| Stat2-Header: | Based aircraft |
| Stat2-Data: | 45 |
| Footnotes: | Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1] |
| Built: | June 20, 1942 |
Walnut Ridge Regional Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located four nautical miles (7 km) northeast of the central business district of Walnut Ridge, a city in Lawrence County, Arkansas, United States. According to the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2009–2013, its FAA airport category is general aviation.[2]
On August 15, 1942, the US Army opened Walnut Ridge Army Airfield, a pilot training school on 3,000 acres north of the town. During World War II, Air Cadets flew the BT-13 to learn the basics of flying in combat situations. 4,641 pilots graduated from the "basic" school while the flight school was open. On September 1, 1944, the airfield was transferred to the Department of the Navy and operated as the Marine Corps Air Facility, Walnut Ridge. The facility was decommissioned on March 15, 1945.[3]
In 1956, Walnut Ridge Air Force Station was opened at the airfield. Part of Phase II of the Air Defense Command Mobile Radar program, this facilities' role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes. The radar station closed in 1963.[4]
In 1964, The Beatles briefly stopped at this airport on the way to and from a retreat in Missouri. This visit inspired a monument, a plaza, and a music festival in Walnut Ridge.[5] [6]
In 1999, the a museum was opened at the airfield to interpret the history of the base. The Wings of Honor Museum has a collection of artifacts and airplanes including a BT-13 on display in the main exhibit hall.[7]
Walnut Ridge Regional Airport covers an area of 1800acres at an elevation of 279 feet (85 m) above mean sea level. It has three runways: 4/22 is 6,001 by 150 feet (1,829 x 46 m) with an asphalt surface; 13/31 is 5,003 by 150 feet (1,525 x 46 m) with a concrete surface; 18/36 is 5,001 by 150 feet (1,524 x 46 m) with a concrete surface.
For the 12-month period ending March 31, 2023, the airport had 40,000 aircraft operations, an average of 110 per day: 93% general aviation, 6% military, and <1% air taxi. At that time there were 45 aircraft based at this airport: 36 single-engine, 4 multi-engine, 1 jet and 4 helicopter.