New London Airport — Forest, Virginia
New London Airport is a private general aviation facility near Forest, Virginia, in Bedford County on the eastern side of the Lynchburg metropolitan area. Forest is an unincorporated community that has grown into one of the most affluent and rapidly developing areas of the Lynchburg region, with a substantial professional and business community whose members represent the primary market for private aviation in the area. Bedford County's terrain transitions from the rolling Piedmont to the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills, creating a scenic flying environment to the west while maintaining the relatively benign terrain of the eastern Piedmont to the east.
The New London area of Bedford County was the location of New London Academy, a historic colonial-era school, and the broader New London community retains its rural-residential character while accommodating growth from Lynchburg's expanding suburbs. Pilots at New London Airport operate within the broader Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH) service area, roughly 10–15 miles to the west, and must be aware of LYH's Class D airspace structure when operating in the vicinity. The Blue Ridge Parkway, accessible by road from Forest, provides pilots with visual landmark reference to the west, and the Bedford Valley floor offers good emergency landing terrain for aircraft operating in the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Forest, Virginia known for?
Forest is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Bedford County that serves as one of Lynchburg's most prominent suburban growth areas. It is home to Liberty University's airport facilities and numerous professional families who work in Lynchburg's healthcare, education, and manufacturing sectors. The community has developed rapidly since the 1980s as a preferred residential destination for the Lynchburg area.
How close is New London Airport to Lynchburg Regional?
New London Airport is approximately 10–15 miles east of Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH) in Bedford County. Pilots operating from New London must be aware of LYH's airspace and coordinate accordingly when transitioning between the two facilities' service areas.
Are there other private airports in Bedford County?
Bedford County has several private aviation facilities including Smith Mountain Lake Airport and Windy Ridge Airport near the Smith Mountain Lake area, reflecting the county's active recreational aviation community. The presence of Smith Mountain Lake — a major regional recreational reservoir — generates aviation demand from property owners and visitors throughout the county.
New London Airport Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Forest, Virginia.
Bedford County Aviation — Eastern Lynchburg Metro General Aviation
Bedford County's eastern sections near Forest represent a growing suburban aviation market driven by the demographic shift of Lynchburg-area professionals into newer residential communities east of the city. Private airstrips in this area serve homeowners who maintain aircraft for personal transportation, recreational flying, and business travel, typically using Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH) for instrument work and commercial connections while operating from private strips for local day-flight operations. The terrain here is friendly — rolling Piedmont with good emergency options — making it suitable for the full range of general aviation activity.
Liberty University, headquartered in Lynchburg and one of Virginia's largest universities, has developed its own aviation program that uses facilities in the Bedford-Lynchburg area. The university's growth has contributed to the region's aviation ecosystem, adding student pilots, flight instructors, and institutional demand for local flying facilities. Virginia DOT Aviation's airport system planning recognizes the Lynchburg region's need for diverse general aviation facilities to serve both the Liberty University aviation program and the broader professional community's private aviation needs.