Van Nuys Airport

Hollywood Fame at Van Nuys Airport

Van Nuys Airport gained fame not only as a celebrity hub but also as a popular filming location since the 1930s. Dean Daily, a former cameraman, sought to support his grandmother and then-airport owner, Drusilla Daily Warner, and also grew banana squash to make ends meet. The airport nearly closed during the Great Depression but was saved by Hollywood’s interest.

Stars like Gene Autry, Cecil B. DeMille, and Howard Hughes used the airport for both travel and movie scenes, providing crucial financial support.

In Movies: Scenes featuring Van Nuys Airport appear in films like Hell’s Angels, Casablanca, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, The Bodyguard, and Patriot Games.

On TV: The airport has been featured in shows such as Entourage, Airwolf, Dynasty, and CSI.

In Music Videos: It has appeared in Britney Spears’ “Stronger,” Metallica’s “The Memory Remains,” and Blink-182’s “All the Small Things.”

Marilyn Monroe: In 1945, Norma Jeane Baker, who worked at the airport’s Radioplane Company, was photographed for Yank Army Weekly. This exposure launched her career as Marilyn Monroe, leading to a successful film career before her tragic death in 1962.

Van Nuys Airport Through the Years

1920s and 1930s
When Van Nuys Airport opened, biplane hangar fees were $35 per month, and landing fees were 50 cents. Despite the 1929 stock market crash and the financial struggles of many aviation businesses, the airport thrived, partly due to planes smuggling bootleg liquor from Mexico.

1940s
After the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, the U.S. Army took over, expanding and improving the airport into Van Nuys Army Airfield for fighter pilot training and defense manufacturing. In 1944, the U.S. Navy and Lockheed Corporation established the Navy Lockheed Plant. Post-war, the City of Los Angeles acquired the airport for $1 as surplus and renamed it San Fernando Valley Airport.

1950s and 1960s
The 1950s saw significant growth in general aviation and local industries. In 1957, the airport was renamed Van Nuys Airport. The 1959 construction of the Sherman Way underpass allowed for the main runway’s extension from 6,000 to 8,000 feet. The 1960s brought aerospace companies, leading to further expansion, the construction of Van Nuys Golf Course, and a new control tower still in use today.

1970s and 1980s
In 1973, the Apollo 14 command module was featured at the Van Nuys Airport Aviation Expo. The FlyAway Bus Terminal opened in 1975, offering nonstop service to LAX. During the 1980s, Bob Hope departed from Van Nuys for his final USO tour.

Today
Van Nuys Airport hosts around 800 aircraft, from corporate jets to small planes, offering options for both private aircraft ownership and charter jet rentals.

Races, Records, and Firsts

In the early days of aviation, Van Nuys (formerly Metropolitan Airport) attracted pioneering pilots. Waldo Dean Waterman, a test pilot and engineer, ran non-stop races and set records, including a seven-day flight with mid-air refueling.

In 1929, Bobbi Trout, one of the first female pilots, set an endurance record by flying for 12 hours, 11 minutes without refueling. Later that year, Amelia Earhart set a speed record of 184 mph, which was surpassed in 1930 by Florence “Pancho” Barnes, who flew at 196 mph.

During World War II, the airport was used for testing the P-80, America’s first fighter jet. In 1965, National Guard pilots Clay Lacy and Jack Conroy set a record for a transcontinental round-trip flight in a Learjet.

The term “jet-setter” was popularized when Frank Sinatra bought a Learjet to travel with his Rat Pack friends. In 1996, the B-2 stealth bomber made its public debut at the Van Nuys Airport Aviation Expo.