George M. Bryan Airport


George M. Bryan Airport is a public use airport in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States. It is owned by the City of Starkville and located three nautical miles southwest of its central business district. This airport is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a general aviation facility.
Also known as Starkville / Oktibbeha County Airport or George M. Bryan Field, the airport was named in honor of World War II veteran and Starkville native George Martin Bryan.
Although many U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, this airport is assigned STF by the FAA but has no designation from the IATA.

History

Opened in 1934 as Starkville Municipal Airport. During World War II the airport was taken over abruptly by the government to be used as a glider training base. Plans for the AAF Basic Training Detachment were for 150 students using the TG-5 gliders. The gliders were towed by the BT-13 Vultee "Vibrator". Students lived in the dormitories at Mississippi State College, where they also used its classrooms and dining facilities.

Facilities and aircraft

George M. Bryan Airport covers an area of 635 acres at an elevation of 333 feet above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 18/36 with an asphalt and concrete surface measuring 5,550 by 150 feet.
For the 12-month period ending January 19, 2012, the airport had 22,520 aircraft operations, an average of 61 per day: 98% general aviation and 2% military. At that time there were 40 aircraft based at this airport: 72.5% single-engine, 17.5% glider, 5% jet, 2.5% multi-engine, and 2.5% helicopter.