Stockmar Airport

Earl L. Small Jr. Field / Stockmar Airport

Earl L. Small Jr. Field / Stockmar Airport is located in northwest Georgia near Villa Rica in Douglas County. The airport was the dream of the Stockmar family, stretching back to the 1940s when Dodgie Stockmar was just a little boy. The Stockmar family owned and operated The Flying S Dude Ranch, an airport adjacent to the property now known as the Mirror Lake Subdivision.

The Flying S Dude Ranch consisted of a 2,000-foot grass strip where visitors could fly in, rent a little cabin, take hay rides and enjoy a communal dinner. “Dodgie’s father started the airport in Villa Rica,” says former owner Earl Small Jr., “but when his father passed away, Dodgie actually built another airport across the street. And when Dodgie passed away, I took over and completed the dream they always wanted: a General Aviation airport out here.”

Earl L. Small Jr. Field / Stockmar Airport

From 1983 through 1999, Dodgie owned and operated Stockmar Airport with the philosophy of sharing the love of flight with the common man. “Dodgie loved to teach,” says his widow, Faye Stockmar. “He taught so many people how to fly in this area, nurturing the love and passion he had for flying. He also stressed good, safe flying and discouraged reckless or daredevil stunts. The airport was such a fun place to be! It still is, thanks to Earl. People love to gather here because the airport was the area’s attraction. Dodgie was so proud of that and he would be so pleased that it’s grown into the airport it is today. His spirit is still there!”

Earl L. Small Jr. Field / Stockmar Airport

The atmosphere of the airport was something Small had no interest in changing when he purchased the property in 2000. It was the “home town” feel that drew him to the airport to begin with. “On the west side of the state, there are not too many airports out this way to help the general aviation guys, guys with small planes.

I felt like Earl L. Small Jr. Field / Stockmar Airport was just the nice, normal general aviation airport that we needed-that’s the bill we’re trying to fit.” Small bought the property from Faye Stockmar to prevent the land from becoming another subdivision. It was important for him to maintain the general aviation atmosphere of the area and the risk of losing that ambience was rapidly becoming imminent. Small shut down the airport shortly after purchasing the land in 2000. After a few major renovations, the airport was reopened in October 2005.

Earl L. Small Jr. Field / Stockmar Airport

“It took us nearly four years to get everything moved, regrated, and releveled,” explains Small. “We moved over 378,000 cubic yards of dirt and rock!” One of the major renovations centered on the runway. “It had a 23 1/2 foot hump in the middle of it and you couldn’t see end to end,” says Small. “Back in the 1980s, there used to be a street that ran through the middle of it. There were stop signs for cars to make sure no airplanes were taking off or landing before they passed through the stop signs- that’s all been eliminated now!” Today, the runway is 4,500 feet long by 50 feet wide with pilot-controlled lighting. Other upgrades included a fuel system for self-serve Chevron fuel that is OPEN 24/7 for Pilots to gas up !

Earl L. Small Jr. Field / Stockmar Airport

Peggy Small, Earl’s sister, is the manager of the airport’s FBO, Flying S Aviation. Flying S Aviation provides regular FBO services along with fuel, pilot services, restrooms, and even a shower. The FBO is open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily. “We also have a part-time mechanic,” says Small. “He works as needed and helps maintain all the planes on field and helps out with annuals; things like that.” Small also added 40 T-hangars during the airport’s restructuring. The hangars are capable of handling single and most light twins without a problem and are available for rent by contacting the FBO.

Earl L. Small Jr. Field / Stockmar Airport

As the airport continues to grow, Small has ideas for continued improvement. “Eventually we hope to sell off some acreage to build a fly-in community, but we’re not ready for that yet,” says Small. “This airport is just the completion of a dream, more than anything else. We’re here for General Aviation; we’re here for the pilots.”

“This has been a really special place to Villa Rica and we want more people to share in that,” says Peggy. “No matter how big we grow, we will always have that down-to-earth atmosphere that we are known for around here.”

Earl L. Small Jr. Field / Stockmar Airport
9382 Stockmar Road
Villa Rica, GA 30180
770.459.5145
email. info@k20ga.com
Website.  http://k20ga.com/index.htm