Long Beach has been a flying field since 1920 and is known for its historic 1940s terminal and its official plane-spotting area.
Airliners and cargo flights within 25 nm of LGB. Routes come from a community database matched on flight numbers, so a few will be wrong or out of date. Flights without a route are marked "est." and judged from altitude and climb or descent.
History
Long Beach's flying field dates to 1920, when a 60-acre municipal field was dedicated on Christmas Day, and Amelia Earhart signed up for flying lessons after an air show there. Ground was broken on Daugherty Field on November 26, 1923, and Charles Lindbergh flew the Spirit of St. Louis into the airport in 1928.
The main terminal, built in the Streamline Moderne style in 1941, opened in April 1942 after World War II delayed it. It is a historic landmark and appeared in films including The Best Years of Our Lives. The airport covers 1,166 acres and has three runways, the longest 10,000 feet.
Quick facts
- Codes
- LGB / KLGB
- Field dedicated
- December 25, 1920
- Daugherty Field groundbreaking
- November 26, 1923
- Terminal opened
- April 1942 (built 1941)
- Runways
- Three, the longest 10,000 feet
Sources: History of Long Beach Airport (Visit Long Beach)
Watch and listen
Listen to live air traffic control for LGB on LiveATC. The feeds come from volunteers, so availability varies.
Where plane spotters watch
- Official LGB viewing areaIn the northwest corner of the parking lot at 3750-3900 Kilroy Airport Way, near Spring Street and Redondo Avenue. Generally open dawn to dusk, with bleacher-style seating, shade and picnic tables, first come first served. QR codes let you listen to tower communications.
- Terminal cafe and terraceYou can watch from inside the terminal.
As described in: LGB viewing area (City of Long Beach), Airports of Los Angeles - a spotting guide (Airport Spotting). Guides can be out of date. Stay on public property, follow posted rules, and never block roads or driveways.