Darke County Airport

Darke County Airport
Airport building, used as a waiting area
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerDarke County Commissioners
ServesVersailles, Ohio
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (-5)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (-4)
Elevation AMSL1,007 ft / 307 m
Coordinates40°12′16″N 084°31′55″W / 40.20444°N 84.53194°W / 40.20444; -84.53194
Map
VES
Location of airport in Ohio
VES
VES (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
9/27 4,802 1,464 Asphalt
Statistics (2021)
Aircraft operations12,775
Based aircraft29
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

Darke County Airport (ICAO: KVES, FAA LID: VES) is a county-owned, public-use airport in Darke County, Ohio, United States.[1] It is located two nautical miles (4 km) southwest of the central business district of Versailles.[1] It is along State Route 121 just south of Versailles. Midmark operates a private jet from this airport. The airport is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a general aviation facility.[2]

Although most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, this airport is assigned VES by the FAA,[1] but has no designation from the IATA.[3][4]

The airport holds events such as fly-ins that feature old warbird aircraft, medical helicopters, and highway patrol aircraft.[5][6]

History

The Darke County Airport, subtitled Spillers Field, was dedicated on 29 October 1967.[7] However, at least one airplane was using it earlier in the month.[8] The airport was built, in part, on 26 acres (11 ha) of land that had belonged to the Spillers family and previously been used by their son since 1960 to fly experimental aircraft.[9][10] The airport's 1,650 sq ft (153 m2) terminal was dedicated and the first airport manager, Waldon "Moon" Spillers, given the keys the following year on September 8th.[11][12][10]

As of August 1992, construction on a hangar for the Midmark Corporation's jet was underway and an 800-foot (240 m) runway extension was almost complete.[13][14]

In 2007, light lenses were stolen from the airport. Officials said the theft could endanger pilots.[15]

In 2012, a section of State Route 242 was closed to allow the airport to use all of its runway surface for landings; with the road in place, planes need to approach at a higher altitude and touch down further down the runway to meet FAA obstacle clearance requirements.[16]

A new airport manager was hired in May 2017.[17]

In 2022, the Dark County Airport received $1.35 million to replace its FBO terminal, including funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act.[18][19] Construction on the new building began in 2023, and a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the 2,500 sq ft (230 m2) terminal was held in April 2024.[20][21] The facility aims at expanding the airport's attraction, especially as traffic increases.[22][23] It received additional funding in April 2023 to improve the terminal's facilities and in August 2024 for a new parking lot.[24][25]

Facilities and aircraft

Facilities

Darke County Airport covers an area of 42 acres (17 ha) at an elevation of 1,007 feet (307 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 9/27 with an asphalt surface measuring 4,802 by 75 feet (1,464 x 23 m).[1][26]

The airport has a fixed-base operator that sells both avgas and Jet A. Services such as hangars, courtesy cars, and rental cars are available; amenities such as internet, conference rooms, vending machines, a crew lounge, snooze rooms, and more are also available.[27]

CareFlight Air & Mobile has a helicopter based at the airport, which serves as the company's northwest base. The helicopter was activated to respond to calls in early 2020.[28]

Aircraft

For the 12-month period ending September 29, 2021, the airport had 12,775 aircraft operations, an average of 35 per day: 87% general aviation, 5% air taxi, and <1% military. At that time there were 29 aircraft based at the airport: 25 single-engine and 2 multi-engine airplanes as well as 1 jet and 1 helicopter.[1][26]

Accidents & incidents

  • On 17 November 2018, a Piper Saratoga crashed while landing at the Darke County Airport. The left wing was torn off and the landing gear damaged.[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f FAA Airport Form 5010 for VES PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. effective November 15, 2012.
  2. ^ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF, 2.03 MB) on 2012-09-27.
  3. ^ "Darke County Airport (FAA: VES, ICAO: KVES, IATA: none)". Great Circle Mapper. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  4. ^ "IATA Airport Code Search". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  5. ^ "Darke County Airport Holds Fly-In". County News Online. 26 September 2023. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  6. ^ "Darke County Airport Fly-In". AllEvents.in. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  7. ^ Oliver, John E. (30 October 1967). "County Airport Dedicated Before Thousands Sunday". Greenville Advocate. p. 1. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  8. ^ Oliver, John (9 October 1967). "First Plane Ride for Advocate County Editor Turned Out to Be More Fun Than Frightening". Greenville Advocate. p. 2. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  9. ^ "And Don't Forget the Spillers". Sidney Daily News. 27 October 1967. p. 1B. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  10. ^ a b "Darke County Airport in Existence Since '60". Greenville Daily Advocate. 28 February 1977. p. 6B. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  11. ^ "Weather Clear, Visibility Unlimited for Dedication of Darke County Airport". Greenville Advocate. 9 September 1968. p. 1. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  12. ^ "Proposed Darke County Airport Terminal". Greenville Advocate. 15 November 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  13. ^ Lines, Shawn (6 August 1992). "Airport to Be Ready in September". The Daily Advocate. p. 1. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  14. ^ "Darke County Airport Work Nears Completion". Sidney Daily News. 10 August 1992. p. 5B. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  15. ^ "Details on Darke County's Plans for State Route 242 and the Darke County Airport". Versailles, Ohio: The Columbus Dispatch. April 11, 2007. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  16. ^ "Details on Darke County's Plans for State Route 242 and the Darke County Airport". Darke Journal. 24 April 2012. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  17. ^ "Darke Co. Commissioners Name New Airport Manager". Daily Advocate. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  18. ^ Brewer, Meladi (13 July 2022). "Darke County Receives $1.35 Million for Airport Terminal". Daily Advocate. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  19. ^ Bush, John (11 July 2022). "Darke County Airport Lands $1.4 Million in Federal Funding for New Terminal Building". Dayton Business Journal. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  20. ^ Auth, Art (30 April 2024). "Ribbon Cutting Celebrates Opening of New Darke County Airport Terminal". County News Online. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  21. ^ Brewer, Meladi (29 April 2024). "New Terminal Provides Gateway to Possibilities". Daily Advocate. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  22. ^ Jarrell, Zachary (30 August 2023). "Construction of New Terminal at Darke County Airport Underway". WKEF. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  23. ^ Cassick, Callie (1 September 2023). "'Able to Offer Much More': Darke County Airport Builds New Terminal". WDTN. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  24. ^ Schrock, Jeffery (29 April 2023). "Five Airports in Southwest Ohio Receive Grant Funding". WKEF. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  25. ^ "Major upgrades coming to Darke County Airport". 2 News. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  26. ^ a b "AirNav: KVES - Darke County Airport". www.airnav.com. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  27. ^ "VES Darke County Airport (VES/KVES)". FlightAware. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  28. ^ "CareFlight Adds Fourth Base of Operations in Darke County". Association of National Account Executives. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  29. ^ "Single Engine Aircraft Crashes at Darke County Airport". Sidney Daily News. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
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