Time flies, and so do we

During World War II, Bankstown Airport was established as a key strategic air base to support the war effort. Today, Bankstown Airport is Sydney’s primary general aviation airport, serving charter and cargo flights for various carriers.
Here we have a look back at the milestones spanning Bankstown Airport’s growth over the years.
1940
June – Bankstown acquired as airfield site for Defence. Site preparations begin
December – Formal establishment of Bankstown Royal Australian Air Force station. Bankstown was on of 125 airfields in NSW, and 1 of 23 in the NSW region.
1941
January – First aircraft arrived for assembly (Avro Ansons)
March – first aircraft assembled and first two hangars completed.
September – First Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) trained at Bankstown
September – wo more hangar and other facilities erected
1942
February – United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Headquarters Squadron and 7th Fighter Squadron 49th Pursuit Group arrive with their p-40 Kittyhawk Fighter aircraft. Bankstown quickly became known as “Yankstown”.
February – Establishment of Fighter Control Unit 1010 to co-ordinate fighter defence of Sydney.
April – USAAF 41th Fighter Squadron arrives with P-39 Airacobra Fighters
July – Re-establishment of RAAF 24th Squadron to defend Sydney
October – Completion of the American Hangar (building 114)
1943
Construction of the de Havilland factory on the southern side of the airfield
Construction of the hospital
Continued development of the barracks accommodation area. These buildings were standard military barracks measuring 18.5m x 5.5m.
Construction of Hangars 131,271,272 and the Bellman Hangars 16 and 17
1944
December – The first British Roayl Navy contingent reached Bankstown to establish Her Majesty’s Ship (HMS) Nabberley.
1945
January – The Bankstown Bunker which was located to the north-east of the airfield (now the corner of Marion St and Edger Ave) was commissioned as headquarters for the Air Defence of Sydney
January – RAAF Bankstown was handed over to the British Royal Navy as HMS Nabberley
August – Victor in the Pacific (VP day) and HMS Nabberley was involved I the return of Prisoners of War from Japanese camps and the disposal of aircraft.
1946
HMS Nabberley was closed and Bankstown was handed back to the RAAF
The Royal Aero Club arrived at Bankstown from Mascot
1948
January – The de Havilland Drover flew for the first time at Bankstown
November – Bankstown Airport came under the control of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA)
1949
January – the Bankstown Bunker ceased operations
June – the first flight of the de Havilland Vampire
1950 Floodlighting for the Air Traffic Control Tower
1952 First gravel runway constructed RUNWAY 11/29 (914m)
1956 Closure of migrant camps
1961 First Victa Airtourer flew. Aircraft was designed and built at Bankstown.
1962 3 runway directions (11/29 & 18/36 & 05/23)
1962 Second parallel runway in the 11/29 directions.
1962 Main runway upgraded to allow for Sea Venom jets to operate.
1965 Runway lights installed.
1970 Construction of current control tower.
1970 Bankstown was the largest general aviation airport in the southern hemisphere with over 250,000 aircraft movement per year.
1980 The Queen visited Bankstown Airport
1985 Access roads such as Miles, Link and Birch Roads were developed.
1987 First Blackhawk assembled in April and first flight of the PC9 RAAF trainer was in November.
1988 Federal Airports Corporation (FAC) took over Bankstown Airport.
1991 The Royal Aero Club ceased operations at Bankstown Airport
2000 The Sydney Olympic Torch visited Bankstown Airport.
2000 Widening of the northern taxiway (now known as TWY A)
2001 Bankstown Airport Limited (BAL) and Camden Airport Limited (CAL) separated from Sydney Airport Corporation Limited (SACL)
2004 Bunnings was developed on Milperra Rd.
2006 Closure of RWY 18/36
2006 Construction of Nancy Ellis Leebold Dr and TOLL Priority building
2010 Runway Centre was re-sheeted
2013 Taxiways renamed and MAGS installed
2015 TOLL Ambulance building developed
2019 New POLAIR Facility development began