Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport or Welland/Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Aerodrome, , is a registered aerodrome located in Pelham, west of

Welland Welland is a city in the Regional Municipality of Niagara in Southern Ontario, Canada. As of 2021, it had a population of 55,750. The city is in the centre of Niagara and located within a half-hour driving distance to Niagara Falls, Niagara-on ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, Canada. Niagara Central accommodates a flight school, aerial photographers, itinerant light aircraft and an automatic weather station. It was built in 1940 by the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...

as part of the

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), often referred to as simply "The Plan", was a large-scale multinational military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand during the Second Wo ...

and served as the relief airfield for the No. 6 Service Flying Training School in nearby Dunnville. The airport is the home of the 87th Eagle Squadron of the

Royal Canadian Air Cadets The Royal Canadian Air Cadets () is a Canadian national youth program for young individuals aged 12 to 18. Under the authority of the National Defence Act, ''National Defence Act'', the program is administered by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) ...

who have training and administration space in the airport's former meeting place of Welland Fire Company Number 1. The Southern Ontario Gliding Centre (SOGC) of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets also use the airport for spring and fall familiarization flights for the cadets. In 1995, various members of Fonthill Branch 613 of the

Royal Canadian Legion The Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canadian veterans' organization founded in 1925. Members include people who served in the military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial or municipal police, Royal Canadian Air, Army and Sea Cade ...

lobbied to have the airport renamed "Bud Ker Welland Airport" in recognition of a local

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. It was the only British fighter produced continuously throughout the ...

fighter pilot, but were unsuccessful. In 2015 the airport was renamed Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport, in honour of the legendary Canadian pilot Dorothy Rungeling, CM. File:Niagara Central DR Airport Weather Station.jpg, Environment Canada automated weather station File:Niagara Central DR Airport Skydivers.jpg, Skydivers landing File:Niagara Central DR Airport Main Area.jpg, Public areas

References

External links

Page about this airport
on COPA's ''Places to Fly'' airport directory
Official website
see ''About Us'' {{authority control Registered aerodromes in Ontario Transport in Welland Royal Canadian Air Force stations Military airbases in Ontario Airports of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Military history of Ontario 1940 establishments in Ontario

See also

References

External links