Tucson Aviation
History
written by
Michelle Rouch with the
support of Tucson Airport Authority
Tucson
Aviation Timeline - Poster
A graphical, cartoon view of Tucson Aviation History.
Date |
Description |
1903 |
The City of Tucson passes its first speed limit, 7 mph, while the Wright Brothers take their first flight on December 17, 1903 on a cold, windy beach at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. |
1910 |
Aviation debut in Tucson when Charles "the Bird Man" Hamilton lands his plane downtown Tucson. |
1912 |
Arizona became the 48th state of the United States of America on February 14, 1912. |
1915 |
On November 4 - 6, 1915 Katherine Stinson, forth woman in the U.S. to receive a pilot's license from the Wright School of Aviation, performs aerobatics at the Pima County Fair on her "Looper" aircraft by flying low over Tucson she drops a mail pouch on a vacant lot behind the post office thus establishing mail route 668001. |
1919 |
First municipally owned airport in the United States (a.k.a. the Tucson Municipal Flying Field) opens on land on South Sixth Street, now where the Rodeo Grounds are today. |
| 1924 | Lowell Smith lands in Tucson during his "Around the World Flight." He returns back to Tucson 18 years later to become Field Commander at Davis Monthan. |
1925 |
The City of Tucson acquired 1280 acres from the State of Arizona for a military field. It was named after two native Tucsonans: Sam Howard Davis and Oscar Monthan. |
1927 |
Tucson Airport moves to a larger parcel of Land - Charles Lindbergh arrives in his Spirit of St. Louis to dedicate the new Tucson Municipal Airfield. |
| 1928 | Standard Airlines, currently known as American Airlines starts first scheduled services in Tucson. |
| 1930 | Regular airmail delivery to Tucson is inaugurated. |
1941 |
Davis Monthan Air Force Base (DMAFB) is established. The Tucson skies became too busy to handle both military and civilian traffic. Hudgin, first airport operator, builds hangar. |
1942 |
- Ground was broken in a field 13 miles west of Tucson to transform the desert into an Army base. Ryan School of Aeronautics trains pilots for WWII. - Consolidated Vultee (now General Dynamics) constructs three large hangers on west ramp for B-24 modifications. |
| 1948 | Tucson Airport Authority is created by state charter. |
| 1949 | Arizona Sundance Chapter of International Association of Women Pilots (99's) is created. |
| 1951 | - Hughes Aircraft (later Raytheon
Missile Systems) comes to Tucson - Tucson Airport Authority takes over management of Ryan Airfield. |
| 1956 | Arizona Air National Guard 162nd Fighter Group opens at Tucson Airport. Today, the Arizona ANG base is one of the world's top two F-16 training squadrons in the U.S. |
| 1960 | American Airlines begins its first jest service to Tucson. |
| 1961 | Tucson Municipal becomes International with the arrival of Aeronaves de Mexico, later becomes Aeromexico. |
| 1963 | Airport dedicates new terminal across the field. |
| 1976 | - Gates Learjet opens facility.
- The 355th Tactical Fighter Wing moves to Davis Monthan. |
| 1978 | Federal government deregulates airline industry. |
| 1983 | New International building opens at Tucson International Airport. |
| 1993 | A six story control tower opens at Ryan Airfield. |
| 1994 | Passenger traffic exceeds three million annually. |
| 1995 | Concorde lands in Tucson. |
| 2000 | Tucson Airport Authority begins a $65 million terminal expansion project. |
| 2003 | Centennial Celebration at Tucson International Airport |
| 2008 | Tucson Airport Authority celebrates its 60th year and the Tucson Control Tower turns 50. |
| 2008 | University of Arizona, first university to lead a NASA project. The Phoenix Mars Lander 5 month mission in digging up scientific 'firsts'. |
| 2009 | A-10 Squadron in-flight training resumes after Rework at AMARG of Wing metal fatigue. |
