Crystal Airport is a public airport named after the city of Crystal in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. Most of the airport is in the city of Crystal. Portions north of taxiway C (62nd Avenue) are in Brooklyn Park, and the north east corner of the airport is in Brooklyn Center. It is eight miles (13 km) northwest of the central business district of Minneapolis and is owned by the Metropolitan Airports Commission. The airport covers an area of approximately 430 acres.
It opened in 1946 as a privately owned, public use airport. In 1948 the Metropolitan Airports Commission purchased the airport. The Crystal Airport became the second airport acquired by MAC. Extensive construction actives began in 1950. Additional land purchases were made in 1951 and 1954. The additional 34 acres of land was purchased for runway expansion and noise relief.
Facilities and aircraft
Crystal Airport covers an area of which contains four runways:
Runway 14L/32R: 3,268 x 75 ft (995 x 23 m), surface: asphalt
Runway 14R/32L: 3,267 x 75 ft (995 x 23 m), surface: asphalt
Runway 6L/24R: 2,500 x 75 ft (762 x 23 m), surface: asphalt
Runway 6R/24L: 2,123 x 150 ft (647 x 46 m), surface: turf
The open area on the west side of the airport between Runways 24L and 32R is large enough to support blimp mooring.
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2014, the airport had 42,351 aircraft operations, an average of 116 per day: 1% air taxi and 99% general aviation. In January 2017, there were 177 aircraft based at this airport: 159 single-engine, 11 multi-engine and 7 helicopter.
The airport has a viewing area open from 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM from May 1 until the first snowfall. It is free to the public, has a picnic shelter, and offers unobstructed views of the airfield and air traffic control tower.
The airport has a full-service FBO offering flight training, charters, air-taxi, scenic flights, indoor and outdoor aircraft parking, rental cars, aviation fuel, pilot shop, and aircraft service. Wentworth Aircraft, an aircraft salvage businesses, is located at the Crystal Airport in the former Crystal Shamrock facilities. The oldest active business at Crystal is Maxwell Aircraft Service, also known as "The Prop Shop". It was founded by Ken Maxwell at the now closed Northport Airport in 1946, moved to the Crystal Airport in 1951.
Several flying clubs are based at the airport including Club Cherokee, Gopher Flying Club, and Yankee Flying Club.
Wiley Properties started in 1954 owns and rents approximately 100 hangars at the airport.
There are approximately 250 hangars at the airport.
History
The Robbinsdale Airport located in Robbinsdale, MN hosted an airfield from the early 1920s. It was located near the intersection of West Broadway and 49th Avenue N. It closed before the Crystal Airport opened.
The current Crystal Airport is located one mile northeast of the original airfield. The airport site was acquired by the Metropolitan Airports Commission in 1948.
Hinck Flying Service, founded by Clarence Hinck, moved to the Crystal Airport from Minneapolis Wold–Chamberlain Field. The company was a Republic Seabee distributor and dealership. The company took initial delivery of 27 aircraft from August 1946 through June 1947.
The FBO Crystal Skyways was established in 1947. This was an Aero Commander dealership. The business was closed by 2004.
By 1950 Clark's Flying Service was located at the Crystal Airport. The business was known as Lysdale Flying Service before being purchased by Carlos A. Clark.
In 1952 the airport had a 2500 foot by 75 foot paved northwest–southeast runway, a parallel turf runway, and two crosswind northeast–southwest turf runways. In 1961 the primary runway was expanded to its current length and the crosswind runway was paved.
Bolduc Aviation Specialized Services was started after World War II by Wilmer Eugene Bolduc at the then-new Crystal Airport. The business was sold to Darrell Bolduc in 1978. The company moved to Anoka County–Blaine Airport in 1983.
Lakeland Skyways was founded by Niels Sorensen just after World War II at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International airport. The business moved to the Crystal Airport in 1952. The FBO was a Piper Aircraft dealership. Sorensen sold the business in 1977. Lakeland Skyways facility was sold in 1975 to Thunderbird Aviation.
By 1954, Ford Aviation was established at the Crystal Airport and was a Mooney Aircraft sales and service center. The business closed sometime after 1986.