Tonopah Test Range Airport

Tonopah Test Range Airport is a US Air Force airfield located 27 nautical miles southeast of Tonopah, Nevada. Established in 1957, the site originally supported nuclear weapons testing programs for the United States Atomic Energy Commission. It is currently owned by the Department of Defense, operated by the US Air Force, and controlled by Air Combat Command.

The facility served as a base for classified aviation programs during the Cold War. In 1977, the 4477th Tactical Evaluation Flight relocated to the airfield to operate a fleet of Soviet-designed aircraft, including the MiG-17, MiG-21, and MiG-23. Between 1982 and 1983, the 4450th Tactical Group moved to the site to achieve initial operating capability for the F-117A Nighthawk. This period involved the addition of a control tower, maintenance hangars, and 24 aircraft hangars. The 37th Tactical Fighter Wing assumed control of F-117A operations in 1989 before the fleet relocated to Holloman Air Force Base in 1992.

Current infrastructure includes more than 50 hangars and support facilities. The flight line is secured by a double-fence perimeter with monitored checkpoints. The site maintains fuel storage, liquid oxygen storage, and a fire station. Navigational aids and instrument approach facilities support flight operations.

The airfield currently functions as a storage location for retired F-117A aircraft. The Department of Energy utilizes the facility for approximately 15 flights per week to support missions at the Tonopah Test Range. The airport also facilitates the transport of government employees between the range and Las Vegas. Detachment 3 of the 53d Test and Evaluation Group utilizes the facility for foreign aircraft evaluation. The 30th Reconnaissance Squadron was previously stationed at the site before relocating to Creech Air Force Base in 2012.