We welcome you to watch airplanes take flight from the airport, and to learn more about the science of flight from our educational landmarks.
Over the years, Founders' Plaza has become a favorite spot for families, aviation enthusiasts, and Airport employees, to enjoy the Plaza’s observation area with its magnificent views of different aircraft as they takeoff and land. In addition, the Plaza provides telescopes, picnic tables, historic information, a commemorative monument, convenient parking, and a radio that broadcasts air traffic control communications from the FAA tower.
DFW’s Founders' Plaza is open daily from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
In 1995, Founders' Plaza was dedicated as a tribute to the founders of DFW International Airport. Their vision was to create not only an airport, but also a major economic engine for the entire North Texas region. Thanks to the efforts of the Airport’s owner cities, Dallas and Fort Worth, DFW Airport employees, and the world travelers that visit our Airport, the vision of DFW’s founders has become a reality.
• DFW is the world’s only airport with three (3) FAA control towers.
• In 1972, the world’s largest paving contract was issued for the construction of DFW’s initial runways – three (3) million yards of concrete.
• At the time DFW was built, it was the largest and costliest airport in the world. $700 million was spent and more than 18,000 acres of land was used, which is larger than the island of Manhattan.
• The first U.S. landing by a supersonic Concorde was at DFW Airport.
• DFW was the first U.S. airport to offer an automated foreign currency exchange machine.
• The NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis and its Boeing 747 transport jet landed at DFW Airport on May 15, 1989, making it the first commercial airport to host a space shuttle landing.
DFW travelers planning to jet set to Australia or the Middle East will soon have the chance to experience the best-in-class onboard amenities on the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380. Qantas Airways will begin direct service on the A380 from DFW Airport to Sydney on September 29, 2014, and Emirates Airlines will begin service to Dubai on October 1, 2014.
Designed for 21st century growth, the double-deck Airbus A380 has the capacity to carry 525 passengers in a comfortable three-class configuration, and up to 853 in a single-class configuration. The A380 also provides wider seats and 50% more floor surface than any other high-capacity aircraft, yet its cabin is the quietest and most spacious in the sky. It is no wonder passengers opt for the comfort of the A380 when given the choice.
With more than 60 million passengers carried since it commenced commercial operations, the A380 has proven itself as a true 21st century flagship for airlines across the globe. Here’s your chance to have an insiders look at the history-making Airbus A380.
DFW Airport is accessible from State Highway 183 on the south and State Highway 114 or Interstate 635 on the north. The Airport has one main road, International Parkway, which runs the length of the Airport, north to south. All terminals, parking areas and on-site hotels are accessible from this road.
The Founders’ Plaza is located at Texan Trail and N. Airfield Drive, and is positioned for visitors to witness arrivals and departures from Runway 18R/36L.
Click here to view a map of all seven runways, including five north-south parallel runways and two diagonal runways.
• 17L/35R is 8,500 feet long
• 17C/35C is 13,400 feet long
• 17R/35L is 13,400 feet long
• 18L/36R is 13,400 feet long
• 18R/36L is 13,400 feet long
• 13L/31R is 9,000 feet long
• 13R/31L is 9,300 feet long
As DFW Airport grows and competition for natural resources increases, our future success depends on strengthening and preserving today's assets - our people, our airport and our community - for tomorrow.
DFW embraces sustainability as a way to protect our environment, support our neighbors, and develop our business, and we are taking the steps today to ensure tomorrow's success. We believe Environmental Stewardship is a responsibility to our planet in which everyone can be involved.
To demonstrate our commitment to this belief, the Airport has developed a Sustainability Program to influence good business decisions and actions. One such decision was to create sustainable landscapes that are resilient and can survive naturally over time by incorporating native and adapted plants which are drought tolerant and low maintenance. A series of informational plaques have been installed throughout the landscaping to share these practices with our visitors and neighbors in the hope that they might use them at home.
The granite monument located in Founders' Plaza was funded by generous donations from the Friends of DFW as well as various civic leaders, and community members. Certain dimensions and features of this monument have been established to represent significant facts about the Airport. These include:
A. The panels are symbolic of the Airport’s general layout.
B. The four (4) panels represent the Airport's four (4) original passenger terminals.
C. The 35" wide side panels represent 35 miles between Dallas and Fort Worth. The Airport's seal in the center symbolizes the Airport's central location.
D. The four (4) center panels are bound on the top and bottom by horizontal bands symbolizing the Airport’s physical relationship between Highway 114 and 183 respectively.
E. The total height of the center panel is 8.11' representing the 8.11-mile length of the Airport’s property.
F. The overall thickness of the monument is 17.638" representing the 17,638 acres originally contained within Airport property.
Give the gift that lasts a lifetime by purchasing a Founders’ Plaza personalized brick paver to commemorate someone special.
For only $125, you or a loved one can cement a timeless connection to Founders’ Plaza. Each personalized brick is installed as a permanent part of the Founders’ Plaza viewing–area walkway. A Certificate of Commemoration will also be included with your purchase.
To order, visit www.dfwairport.com/founders or email founders@dfwairport.com.