Ok this is the best place to take kids on a weekend drive. You can drive right out to the tarmac and kids get to see airplanes and Jets up close. This is a staging area for all of the helicopters and water jets, so very exciting. Air races are always fun here and my kids come a few days early, before they close everything off, and get to watch the practice runs for free LOL. Quite often, the pilots are sitting around their jets and invite the kids to get up inside the cockpit, and explore. Amazing support for local flyers and children alike. Once or twice a year they also have the young eagles event here where kids get to fly for free. They have a huge group of pilots, with the help civil air patrol cadets, take kids up for a small flight so they get to have the excitement and hopefully stimulate an interest in being a future pilot. read more

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The Reno-Stead Airport is another of our favorite and premier local places to regularly visit. The Planes. The events. The facilities. The Aviation Enthusiasts. The history. The Biggest Little Air Attack Tanker Base. The museum. We make these treks of homage to those who Serve and who have Served because it means that those who wear the U.S. Armed Forces uniform or did wear the uniform were and are remembered The Reno-Stead Airport is a 5,000 or so acre lead general aviation facility owned and operated by the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority. It began in response to the deadly attack against the United States Naval Base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii Territory, on December 7, 1941. In 1942, the U.S. Army Air Corps started construction of the now clearly strategically located Reno Army Airport and Air Base. In 1951, the air base was renamed Stead Army Air Base to honor Nevada Native Lt. Croston Stead of the Nevada Air National Guard, who dies at age 27 on December 11, 1949, while training in a mock dog fight in a North American Aviation P-51 Mustang. The P-51 Mustang is an elegant American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. July 15, 1958, the 3635th Crew Training Wing was redesignated as the 3635th Flying Training Wing (Advanced), concurrent with the relocation of the USAF Helicopter Pilot School to Stead. The airbase served as the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command's Survival School, Flying Training Wing and Reno Air Defense Sector, a training center for some 80,000 U.S. Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, and foreign officers, as well as most of the pre-1965 NASA astronauts. The military officers attended classroom instruction on basic survival, evasion and escape. Their field training was to learn to survive with instructors simulating enemy trying to capture the students. The Survival classroom and field training lasted 15-21 days. In the 1960's inventor and promoter Bill Lear, founder of Lear Aviation and the Lear Jet, established operations at Stead which continued until the end of his life in 1978. In 1963, the U.S. Congress scheduled the base to close, along with 25 other military bases throughout the country. In 1966, the base was transferred to civilian ownership, and in June of 1966, it began operating as Reno-Stead Airport. In 1967, Maj. Robert E. Schricker, Purple Heart and Air Medal recipient, retired from a 27 year career as a USAF fighter pilot and became Chief Pilot for the AG Academy, now moved to Stead. Actress and air race pilot Susan Oliver, got her multi engine pilot license there in 1968. Susan Oliver played the female lead character Vina in "The Cage" (1964), which was the first pilot of Gene Roddenberry's then new show, Star Trek. The FAA Registry shows her to have earned commercial pilot ratings for airplane single engine land, airplane multiengine land, instrument airplane, and private privileges for glider. Here was the launch site of "Earthwinds" meteorological balloon system in the early 1990s, which attempted and failed multiple times to circumnavigate the globe. Since 1966, Reno-Stead Airport has been home to military operations including but not limited to Army Aviation Support Facility, and the 189th General Support Aviation Battalion of the Nevada Army National Guard, flying CH-47 Chinook helicopters. It is the birthplace of the Lear Fan, and home to the National Championship Air Races. It is home to several hundred tenants. It is home to U.S. Bureau of Land Management's Stead Air Attack Base aka Biggest Little Tanker Base aka Biggest Little Air Attack Tanker Base, that provides the required air support during regional wildfires. With Global Warming creating significant Climate Change, the importance and value of the Biggest Little Air Attack Tanker Base increases each year. On December 16, 2013, the new Reno-Stead Airport Terminal Building, The Freedom Flight Terminal which is dedicated to America's Veterans who Serve or have Served in the U.S. Armed Forces, opened to serve the General Aviation community. The two-story, 12,000 sq ft building provides an Emergency Operations Center, Administrative Office, Community Conference Room, a Pilot's Lounge, and a museum. The museum, named "Reno-Stead: A Proud History," has some 65 pieces of memorabilia and hundreds of photographs, collected from Service Members and their families. A video also depicts the training that took place at the survival school and pays tribute to the some 80,000 men and women who trained here. The museum is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. It is free of charge. read more

Pretty cool airport, the reason why I think it should be a 4 star VS. a 5 star is because their is so much dirt their. When the wind picks up it just hits your feet and it hurts. The air races were really cool and I recommend you come next time it's avalible. read more

Love this place!!! Been coming to the Reno air Races for 15 years!!! So exciting and loads of fun!!! RARA is amazing and puts on an amazing show every September!!! Look forward to coming every year!!! Been getting smaller the past couple of years, but we will come as long as they run!!!! read more

The Reno air races are amazing! Some of the most amazing planes and acrobats that I've ever seen. My advice, sunscreen and water! It was really hot when we attended and staying hydrated was a challenge. Since you are on the runway, there isn't any shade except for the tents that were put up by the vendors. Plan ahead or you will be one hot mess! Definitely worth visiting once. read more

I'll give Stead 5 stars because it's home to my favorite racing event in the world...the Reno Air Races :D

The Reno Airport Hosts the Air Races and that in itself is enough to grant the high rating. The Air races is a unique event, and the breadth of the show is fabulous. The large event, the huge crowd, the logistics of it all, are handled so well a this facility, I can only say Thank You to the Airport and Staff, and Go to the Reno Air Races once, You will know if you want to go again after your inaugural visit. See you at the Airport. read more

i have to go with the best air port because this is the home of the best racing event in the world...... the Reno Air Races every September

Reno Air race fan forever! We go to the races every Sept and visit for PRS every June. XOXO

Clean airport! It is easy to get in and out. The staff are friendly, and even TSA! The only thing I didn't like about this airport is the rather long walk to the long-term parking. I guess I'm just used to Sacramento airport where I walk out to front of terminal and a shuttle takes me to my car, or close. I understand that this airport is small so no need for shuttle, but the walk is long for me especially when I'm hauling a large luggage in super cold weather. read more

Love this airport and the Air Races. So unfortunate the tragedy that struck the races this year. God bless the families of those affected by this terrible accident! read more

Yes, another long overdue reveiw. I went here for the Reno air races which is total awesome, this isn't the commercial airport then one would use. The air races are sweet, all the planes, the stunts, the thrills, I couldn't find a place to reveiw the reno air races, so, this is the place. It's well worth the drive and the money you spend at the races is fun money, I haven't been to Reno many times, this was one of my better visits, I highly reccomend the Reno air races to anyone. It's a weekend full of thrills and frills!!! read more

This is a pretty cool airport for Reno. It's wel known for the Reno Air Races. The airport has a new terminal and there is never a delay for the Jet A. It is long enough for my Citation and the fares and tie downs were not too expensive. read more