At one point, the world's largest airport was planned for the middle of the Everglades, but it was scrapped. This is the most interesting piece of aviation history I have ever learned.
I wrote about this back in April of 2021. I was on a flight from Tampa to Miami and saw the airport for the first time, so I wanted to share some pictures. The basics of the airport are explained.
The story of the Jetport.
There were plans to build a jetport in 1968.
This was supposed to be the world's largest airport, as the Dade County Port Authority purchased 39 square miles to build it, and the airport would have been five times the size of JFK.
The airport was supposed to be six miles from the park and 36 miles west of Miami.
There was a plan to build a road and high-speed rail connecting the airport to both the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.
This plan was developed before the Concorde was launched, and at a time when we thought supersonic travel would be the future, with the Boeing 2707 also under development.
The location of the airport allowed planes to come in over the ocean and avoid populated areas, which was a priority due to the sonic boom.
What went wrong?
After the 1968 plan was revealed, construction on the airport began, with a 10,000 foot runway being built quickly. The plans for the airport were completely called off within a couple of years.
Residents and activists came out against the idea of the airport in 1969 after a report was released stating that it would destroy the South Florida environment.
The need for an airport like this decreased when the Boeing 2707 program was called off.
The plane never became a reality.
The airport is still there.
The airport is still open as a general aviation airport, and it is known as Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport. It is operated by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department.
The airport used to be used for training pilots for Pan Am and Eastern Airlines, and it was equipped with a new instrument landing system. It was possible to use the airport for training 24 hours a day because of its isolated location.
The airport is mostly used by general aviation aircraft due to how sophisticated flight simulators have become. In 2015, the airport saw an average of 12 takeoffs and landings per day. The runway has been used for car races.
The airport is only open from 8AM to 5PM due to limited demand. The airport is located on a map.
Transition airport and training
How did I not know?
This is the most interesting aviation fact I have ever learned. I went all these years without knowing. There are many other aspects of aviation in Miami, from our 64 year old cargo planes to suspicious Swift deportation flights.
I could have gone to what would have been the world's largest airport if I had gone to the Everglades. I am going to this airport at some point, even if it is just to drive up to the perimeter fence.
I wonder what other secrets are out there, but not to the point of joining a questionable cult.
I saw the airport for the first time.
I have been looking out the window to see the airport since I first wrote about it. I have only flown to Miami a few times since April, and I wasn't seated on the right side, so I couldn't see the airport.
I chose a seat on the left side of the plane when I flew from Florida to Miami. My eyes were closed for most of the flight, and I was using Flightradar 24 to track our flight. We passed just south of the airport.
Transition airport and training
I took pictures of the runway.
The Transition Airport can be seen from above.
The Transition Airport can be seen from above.
It was kind of sad. It looked like a runway. For a moment, I was very excited. If things would have worked out differently, what would this airport have been like?
The world's biggest airport was to be built in the Everglades in 1968. At that time, supersonic travel was the future, and the airport's location presented a unique opportunity to avoid inhabited areas.
The concept was aborted due to environmental concerns and the Boeing 2707 program was canceled, but a 10,000 foot runway still exists and is open to general aviation aircraft. I have seen the airport with my own eyes.
I don't know about this, but I find it fascinating.
