Calverton Executive Airpark

Formerly Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant

In 1956, the United States Navy purchased a plot of land on eastern Long Island totaling ~6,000 acres for the purpose of research development and manufacturing of cutting edge aerospace defense hardware.

An enormous 10,000 foot long by 200 foot wide runway was constructed to support these endeavors.

During the space shuttle program, Calverton was listed as an alternate emergency landing site due to its enormous strength and dimensions.

The Grumman defense company occupied Calverton for nearly its entire military life. Plant 6 final assembly and plant 7, flight test were the largest of the operations on the airfield. Here fighter, jammer, and interceptor aircraft were assembled, flight checked, and released into service. Of the aircraft that Calverton gave birth to the most significant was the F-14 Tomcat.

Its variable wing geometry became iconic and forever immortalized in the minds of the masses following the famous aviator flick “Top Gun” in 1986. American power, through the aircraft carrier projected stronger than ever once Tomcat entered service. Other aircraft of significance tested, assembled, and retrofitted were the A-6 Intruder, E-2 Hawkeye, EA-6B Prowler and early on the F9F Panther, F-9 Cougar, and F-11 Tiger.

During the incredible “space race” of the 60’s& 70’s the lunar surface was recreated at Calverton in order to test the lunar rover (LRV). Several astronauts took part in the development of this vehicle.

Only a few years later the LRV became the first manned extraterrestrial automobile during the Apollo 15 mission exploring the moon.

After merging with Northrop, Calverton was abandoned by Northrop-Grumman in 1996. The facilities as well as the runways have remained dormant since.

A new era dawns. Luminati Aerospace has acquired a hangar and offices at Calverton to rekindle the faded spirit of this historic site. Research, development, as well as manufacturing are all returning. The afterburning decibel generating aircraft of old have now given way for a new generation to take their place.

Quiet solar-electric, lightweight carbon fiber aircraft will soon lead Calverton and in turn Long Island back to its former leadership role in developing new aerospace technologies to benefit mankind. The economic impact will be substantial. As an anchor tenant, in addition to the workforce required internally, supporting businesses will desire to be co-located especially when ramping up to full scale production.