Grimes Field-Urbana
Grimes Field (KI74) (Urbana)
1636 N. Main Street Urbana, OH 43078 MAP
Phone: 937.652.4319
Longest runway: 4,400 feet, paved
Services: Fuel, aircraft maintenance, flight
training, car rental, restaurant
Grimes Field in Urbana is home to the Grimes Flying Lab
Foundation, the new Champaign Aviation Museum and the
Airport Café, a popular destination for weekend fliers.
Grimes Field is named for Warren Grimes, known as the
"father of the aircraft lighting industry," according to
airport information. The Tiffin native went to Detroit at
the age of 15 to work for Ford Motor Co. Later he became a
partner in an electrical business. His skill at designing
lighting fixtures drew the attention of Henry Ford, who
asked him to design new lights for the Ford Tri-Motor.
In 1930,
Grimes returned to Urbana with a plan to market his design
to Waco Aircraft in Troy. From 1932 to 1942, Grimes'
company grew from 20 employee to 1,300. Grimes purchased
the Johnson Farm just north of Urbana for an airfield in
the 1930s.
In 1943, he gave the field to the City of Urbana. Grimes'
company leased the airport from the city and continued to
operate it until 1987, when the city assumed operations.
Located on the field, the Grimes Flying Lab Foundation
operates the beautifully restored airplane Grimes used to
test lighting systems.
Another organization, the Champaign Aviation Museum, is
restoring a Boeing B-17G, ser. no. 44-85813, and has
acquired a North American B-25N, ser. no. 44-28866. Named
for Champaign County, where the airport is located, the
museum's purpose is to restore and preserve World War
II-era and other historical aircraft, and to operate them
for static and flying displays.
In 2008, Grimes Field became the host of the annual Mideast
Regional Fly-in, held in September.
On Field
Airport Café
Champaign Aviation
Museum
Grimes Flying Lab
Foundation
Mideast Regional Fly-in
(slide
show)
Nearby
RESTAURANTS |
HOTELS
Honeywell Aerospace
(1.6
mi. S)
Urbana University (2.3
mi. S)
Madriver Mountain Ski Resort
(13
mi. N)
Urbana Country Club
(4.2
mi. SE)
Woodland Golf Club (4.9
mi. E)
Links
Airport home page
Airnav airport data
Driving Directions:
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