Corpus Christi NAS (Truax Field)

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ICAO Code KNGP/NGP
Last Validated 11-2024
City Corpus Christi
Position 27°41'34"N 097°17'25"W
Runway(s) 04/22, 13L/31R, 13R/31L, 18/36
Elevation 18 ft

General

NAS Corpus Christi was commissioned on May 5, 1941. The first flight training started on May 5, 1941. In 1941, 800 instructors provided training for more than 300 student pilots a month. The training rate nearly doubled after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. By the end of World War II, more than 35,000 naval aviators had earned their wings there. Corpus Christi provided intermediate flight training in World War II, training naval pilots to fly SNJ, SNV, SNB, OS2U, PBY, and N3N type airplanes. In 1944 it was the largest naval aviation training facility in the world. The facility covered 20,000 acres (81 km2), and had 997 hangars, shops, barracks, warehouses and other buildings. Future President George H. W. Bush was the youngest pilot to receive his wings at NAS Corpus Christi in June 1943. NAS Corpus Christi also was home to the Blue Angels from 1951 to 1954. It also served as a Project Mercury Tracking station in the early 1960s. Training Air Wing FOUR consists of four squadrons. VT-27 and VT-28 handle primary training in the T-6B Texan II, VT-31 and VT-35 provide advanced training in the twin engine T-44C Pegasus aircraft along with the T-54A Marlin II. Other aircraft found at NAS Corpus Christi include the P-3 Orions and General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper drones operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. NAS Corpus Christi is also home to the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD). In support of the base's training mission are three nearby outlying landing fields owned by the Navy: Naval Outlying Field Waldron, Naval Outlying Field Cabaniss, and Naval Outlying Field Goliad.

Layout

Corpus Christi NAS has four runways which are all used throughout the day. On the Northeast are large platforms with shelters for all based aircraft. Access is limited due to the position onto the water.

Getting There

Access to Corpus Christi NAS is via Interstate Highway 37 towards Corpus Christi and then TX-358 towards Corpus Christi NAS.

Around the Airport

1Afternoon Landing RWY 36

When passing the bridge onto TX-358, take a right for Flour Bluff Drive. After leaving the highway, take a let at the traffic lights onto Flour Bluff Drive. At the end there is the Turtle Cove Park, which is a good early morning spot to read all aircraft under the sheds. At the end, take a right onto Jester Street and park. Here you have a good position for afternoon landing shots and to spot aircraft lining up on runway 36. A pick up truck or some ladders are recommended for some elevation.

2Morning Landing RWY 36

When passing the bridge onto TX-358, take a right for Flour Bluff Drive. After leaving the highway, take a let at the traffic lights onto Flour Bluff Drive. Take the first right onto Matlock street, take a right at the end onto Military Drive, then take a left at Jester Drive to the end. You can drive up a bit into the wasteland or walk a bit for best position.

3Landing RWY 31

When passing the bridge onto TX-358, take a right for Flour Bluff Drive. After leaving the highway, take a let at the traffic lights onto Flour Bluff Drive. Take the first right onto Matlock street, take a right at the end onto Military Drive. Follow it to the end, and take a left onto Skipper Lane to park at the end.

4Morning Landing RWY 13

Driving on TX-358, take a right onto Ennis Joslin Road. At the traffic lights, take a left onto Ennis Joslin Road and follow it to the end, to the T crossing with Ocean Drive. At the traffic lights, take a right and drive to the end and position yourself. In the early morning the aircraft under sheds can be read, however take care of the open gate with security. For morning shots onto runway 13 you can position yourself next to the road.

Piet Luijken

In the morning, this T-44C was shot with 500mm from spot 2 while driving a bit into the wasteland with a pick up truck.

Piet Luijken

From spot 1, the later it gets, the better the shot swill be. This is a nice banking T-6B shot with 500mm.

Frequencies

314.300Clearance Delivery
257.850 / 118.700Ground
340.200 / 134.850Tower (north)
360.200 / 125.525Tower (south)
343.750 / 128.675Departure
343.750 / 120.900Approach
348.725 / 120.900Approach (HI-TACAN 13R)
259.300 / 127.500Approach (HI-TACAN 31L)
290.900 / 127.900ATIS
346.650Base Ops
339.700 / 139.000Army Ops

Based Operators

VT-27T-6B (G-xxx)
VT-28T-6B (G-xxx)
VT-31T-44C/T-54A (G-xxx)
VT-35T-44C/T-54A (G-xxx)

Preserved

161036/G-712T-34C, mid of the field at the Catalina Club
161185UC-12B, mid of the field near CNATRA
163130/4F/A-18A, Blue Angels c/s, mid of the field near CNATRA
176455T-45A, mock-up, mid of the field near CNATRA

More Info

FAA Airport MapFA Airport Map

Other Airfields

Arlington MAP
Austin-Bergstrom IAP
Corpus Christi IAP
Corpus Christi NAS (Truax Field)  
Corpus Christi-Cabaniss Field NOLF
Corpus Christi-Waldron Field NOLF
Dyess AFB  
Fort Worth - Alliance  
Fort Worth - Sycamore Strip  
Fort Worth Meacham IAP
Fort Worth NAS - JRB Carswell Field
Houston-Ellington Field  
Kingsville NAS  
Lackland AFB & Kelly Field  
Martindale AHP
Orange Grove NOLF
Randolph AFB
Sheppard AFB - Wichita Falls MAP
TSTC Waco

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