Built in 1947 on top of a large mesa, the Los Alamos Airport supported the Atomic Energy Commission’s military requests by flying in top-secret equipment and personnel. Owned and operated by the Federal Government until 2008, the airport was essential to the operation of the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory that first created the atomic bombs, known as the Manhattan Project, that were used in WWII to end the war with Japan. The laboratory is also known for building state-of-the-art homeland securities technologies and the world’s fastest movie camera.

The once tiny town of Los Alamos doubled its population during WWII and the Cold War. The new residents, unaccustomed to arid, desert living, relied on the airport to provide resources and supplies.

Today, Los Alamos County owns the airport an remains as a small but useful airfield, covering only 89 acres and has a reputation for a difficult landing. Due to the restricted airspace from the military base to the south and the residential area to the north, aircrafts must adhere to a strict flight plan, regardless of wind direction. Landings and takeoff can be pretty bumpy.