Moffett Federal Airfield

Moffett Federal Airfield is a joint civil-military airport located in the San Francisco Bay Area, within the city of Mountain View, California. Originally established as a naval air station for dirigible operations, it has served various roles for the United States Navy, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, and its successor, NASA. The airfield is renowned for its massive, historic Hangar One, a Santa Clara County landmark, and continues to support government, scientific, and limited civilian flight operations.

History

The airfield was commissioned in 1933 as Naval Air Station Sunnyvale, later renamed for Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, a key advocate for naval aviation. Its primary initial mission was to serve as a West Coast base for the Navy's rigid airship fleet, including the USS ''Macon''. Following the decline of the airship program after the loss of the Macon, the station transitioned to support conventional naval aircraft operations, playing roles during World War II and the Cold War. In 1994, the station was closed under the Base Realignment and Closure process, with much of the property transferred to NASA Ames Research Center, which had been a major tenant since 1939.

Facilities and infrastructure

The most iconic facility is the 1,133-foot-long Hangar One, a steel-framed structure clad in PVC-coated fabric that covers 8 acres. The airfield features three active runways, the longest being 9,190 feet, capable of handling large aircraft like the NASA Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Other significant facilities include the adjacent Hangar Two and Hangar Three, the 200-foot tall Moffett Field wind tunnels, and the NASA Advanced Supercomputing Facility. The site also contains the Moffett Field Museum and the historic Shenandoah Plaza residential district.

Current operations and tenants

Primary operational control is held by the NASA Ames Research Center, which uses the airfield for flight research, sensor testing, and airborne science missions involving aircraft like the Gulfstream III and ER-2. A major tenant is the California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing, which operates HC-130J combat rescue aircraft and HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. The United States Army Reserve and the Naval Reserve also maintain units. Limited civilian operations are managed under a joint-use agreement, primarily for general aviation and corporate flights by entities like Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

Environmental issues and cleanup

The site has been a designated Superfund site since 1987 due to extensive soil and groundwater contamination from historical operations, including PCBs, TCE, and fuel hydrocarbons. Major cleanup efforts have focused on the Westinghouse "Site 25" and the "Northeast Plume." A significant environmental project was the 2011-2015 removal and disposal of the toxic siding from Hangar One, led by NASA in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. Ongoing groundwater remediation and long-term monitoring continue under federal and state oversight.

In popular culture

The airfield's distinctive Hangar One and vast runways have made it a frequent filming location. It featured prominently in the 2005 film The Island, the 2006 movie The Pursuit of Happyness, and the 2013 superhero film The Avengers. The airfield and its hangars have also appeared in television series such as Nash Bridges and The X-Files, and served as a setting in the video game Need for Speed: The Run. Its futuristic appearance often represents advanced technology or government facilities in media.

Category:Airports in California Category:NASA facilities Category:Buildings and structures in Santa Clara County, California