Huangtianba Air Base (黄田坝 Chengdu Wenjiang Airport)
Summary
Operating Country | 🇨🇳 China |
Location | 🇨🇳 China |
Status | ◉ Active |
Usage | Military only |
Year built | 1941 |
Operating Organization | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
Description
Chengdu Wenjiang Airport, also known as Huangtianba Airport, was first built in 1944 as a reserve grass airfield to support Operation Matterhorn during World War II. The airfield was abandoned after the war. In January 1957, the site was repurposed for the establishment of the No. 432 Aircraft Repair Factory, which would later become the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAC). The airport's name derives from its location at the time of construction, which was within Wenjiang County; the area has since been incorporated into the Qingyang District of Chengdu city. The airport was also used to handle transport aircraft carrying relief supplies following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
The airfield is currently operated by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group as its flight test center. It is not an operational military base for stationed combat units. The facility's infrastructure includes a single concrete runway measuring 2,550 meters in length and 50 meters in width.
Huangtianba Airport has been the site of the maiden flights for numerous aircraft developed and produced by CAC. These include various models of the J-7 series, the FC-1 Xiaolong (JF-17 Thunder) fighter, the J-10 fighter, and the J-20 stealth fighter.