2/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“Beautiful place, Beautiful experience!”
Crys G5★ on Google
Airports / Missouri / SZL
Medium airport · SZL
Whiteman Air Force Base.
Knob Noster, Missouri · 870 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.6/5
Google rating
55 ratings
0
Operators based
870
Elevation ft
Knob Noster, MissouriELEV 870 FTMedium airport
4.6
Google rating
55
Google reviews
ratings on Google
870
Field elevation
feet above sea level
54
Nearest alternate
nm to MKC
Field standing
#8 / 31
Missouri airports by Google rating
4.6★ across 55 Google ratings , ranked against 31 rated MO fields.
54 nm
To the nearest alternate
Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC).
Overview
Located in Knob Noster, Missouri, Whiteman Air Force Base (KSZL / SZL) operates as a mid-sized airport. The field lies at an elevation of 870 feet. The field has no airline schedules, which keeps it focused on private and general aviation flying.
SZL has no resident charter fleet; trips here are typically flown by operators repositioning from surrounding airports. Useful alternates include Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC, 54 nm), Columbia Regional Airport (COU, 62 nm), and Kansas City International Airport (MCI, 64 nm). SZL offers a single 12,400-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the VIP airliner class.
Quotes for flights out of SZL vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as Sedalia Glider Base. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from SZL, or browse verified operators serving the area.
Run an FBO at KSZL? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
2/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“Very professional”
Tony johnson5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Whiteman Air Force Base, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
KSZL
IATA
SZL
FAA / Local
SZL
Elevation
870 ft
Coordinates
38.7303° N · 93.5479° W
Airspace
D · DeltaClass D, DeltaA control tower runs the immediate airspace. Pilots establish two-way radio contact before entering, typical for busy business-aviation fields.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs MO fields
state range 262–1,348 ft
At 870 ft, SZL sits lower than 56% of the 45 Missouri fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 12,400 ft
- 01/1912,400 ft × 200 ftConcreteLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 12,400 ft
SZL's 12,400 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 54nmMKCCharles B. Wheeler Downtown AirportKansas City
- 62nmCOUColumbia Regional AirportColumbia
- 64nmMCIKansas City International AirportKansas City
- 89nmSTJRosecrans Memorial AirportSt Joseph
- 89nmTBNWaynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport-Forney FieldFort Leonard Wood
- 89nmSGFSpringfield Branson National AirportSpringfield
Location
Open the full mapKSZL · Whiteman Air Force Base · Knob Noster, MO
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from SZL on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago (ORD) | 323 nm | 1h 9m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 363 nm | 1h 15m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 388 nm | 1h 18m |
| Denver (DEN) | 521 nm | 1h 37m |
| Austin (AUS) | 551 nm | 1h 41m |
| Houston (HOU) | 552 nm | 1h 41m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 622 nm | 1h 51m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 624 nm | 1h 51m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use SZL?
- Whiteman Air Force Base's longest paved runway is 12,400 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at SZL?
- Whiteman Air Force Base has one runway; the longest measures 12,400 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to SZL?
- The closest alternate is Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC), about 54 nm away, followed by Columbia Regional Airport (COU) at 62 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from SZL to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Chicago about 1h 9m (323 nm), Nashville about 1h 15m (363 nm), Dallas about 1h 18m (388 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.