New Richmond

New Richmond Regional Airport has 268 based aircraft housed in 119 hangars making it number one in Wisconsin for both categories. For perspective, 210 aircraft are based at the airport in second place. Nine of New Richmond’s aircraft are jets that make good use of the 5500-foot-long primary runway. It has a full parallel taxiway for better ground operations. The secondary runway is turf, there’s a helipad and seaplane base. Aviation gas and jet fuel are available as self-service or delivered to your aircraft.

Thanks to the miracle of Global Positioning Systems, the primary runway at New Richmond has instrument approaches to both ends. An Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) is located on the field to help determine which way to land and if an approach is needed.

New Richmond has a full-service Fixed Base Operator offering overnight hangar storage, apron space, onsite rental cars and complimentary vehicles for flight crews. Other businesses offer all levels of flight training, aircraft detailing, and most types of aircraft maintenance and avionics services. Aircraft charters and fractional ownership opportunities can also be had. A very active chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) keeps grass roots aviation alive and well. Like Ralph’s Pretty Good Grocery in Lake Wobegon, if they don’t have it at the New Richmond Regional Airport, you can probably get along without it.

One exception is scheduled air service, but the airport operates like one that has that. A Crash-Fire-Rescue (CFR) vehicle, that also serves local public safety needs is on site. Snow Removal Equipment (SRE) is first class, and the security system includes almost fifty cameras. Safety is a big part of the service at New Richmond.

Back in 1964 it opened as New Richmond Municipal Airport, a much more modest affair. The main runway was 3000 feet, the turf was 2200 feet as it is now, and the seaplane base soon became operational. In 1992 a new 4000-foot-long runway was built on the current alignment and the old primary removed. The main runway was extended to its current length in 2006.

New Richmond was a village of about 3000 when the airport opened. Now the population is over 10,000 and growing fast. Four lanes of highway connect New Richmond to Minneapolis and St. Paul thanks to the new interstate bridge over the St. Croix River. Proving the value of transportation access, New Richmond is now the economic hub of Western Wisconsin.

Michael Christopher Demulling is a local boy who made his first airplane flight at New Richmond when he was 16. He graduated from Mankato State University with a degree in aviation management in 1992 and took charge of his hometown airport in 1995. At the time, Demulling was the local CFI flying a Cessna 172. Mike’s growth in airport management and aviation parallels the airport and city. He’s now a Master CFI, still teaching people how to fly, and managing the airport. Demulling continues to fly a Cessna as a side job, but his current ride is a Citation XLS. He’s well known for his aerial photography and took over 5000 pictures of the new bridge that assisted the Minnesota Department of Transportation with their public information site as the structure was being built. That must leave Mike with some spare time, because he also volunteers to fly for the St. Croix County Sherif’s Department.

Jet pilot or not, Demulling can often be found on the lawn mower with “laser-like focus … on cutting rows … just this side of perfect.” The ground speed is lower than the Citation though.

Mike Demulling says the ongoing mission of the airport is “to promote economic growth.” In 2024 the city initiated a Master Planning study to define what comes next. Demand for hangar space remains strong and some of that is already in the works. Extending the City water system to the airport would improve fire protection. Widening the runway to 100 feet seems appropriate given the level of jet traffic.

In 1857 Hiram Foster settled on the banks of the Willow River and opened a sawmill. The settlement grew and became known as “Foster’s Crossing.” Richmond Day was a surveyor who platted the original village, so the name was changed to Richmond. However, there was already a town called Richmond in Southeast Wisconsin so in 1871 the place became New Richmond. Too bad they didn’t stay with the original name. Writing about Foster Regional Airport would have been fun.