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Lunken Airport, officially known as Cincinnati Municipal Airport – Lunken Field, is a public airport in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is owned by the city of Cincinnati and primarily serves private aircraft, including the fleets of local corporations. The airport is named after Eshelby Lunken, whose family provided financial backing for the airport's expansion in 1925. In 1946, major airlines began to pull out of Lunken and started operations at the Greater Cincinnati Airport located in Northern Kentucky.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Lunken Airport, Cincinnati Municipal Airport – Lunken Field, Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport |
| Location | 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Downtown Cincinnati |
| Area | 1,140 acres (460 ha) or 2,000 acres |
| Owner | City of Cincinnati |
| Purpose | Serves private aircraft, including the fleets of local corporations |
| Other Features | 18-hole golf course, playgrounds, walking/biking paths, public recreation areas |
| History | In 1925, the Lunken family provided financial backing to purchase 204 additional acres of land from various owners; In 1928, brick aircraft hangars were built in art deco style; In 1936, construction began on the terminal building; In 1937, the airport was inundated by the greatest flood in recorded history; In 1947, the terminal building was decommissioned; In 1964, The Beatles landed at Lunken Airport for their concert at Cincinnati Gardens; In 1971, Neil Armstrong taught students about aviation at Lunken Airport; In 2024, a report noted that the airport was operating at half capacity |
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What You'll Learn
- Lunken Airport is owned by the City of Cincinnati and serves private aircraft
- It was once called Turkey Bottoms, home to Cincinnati's first settlers
- It was officially dedicated as Cincinnati's municipal airport in 1930
- It has been the site of celebrity visits, including The Beatles and US presidents
- It is currently an 1,140-acre airfield for general and corporate aviation
Lunken Airport is owned by the City of Cincinnati and serves private aircraft
Lunken Airport, also known as Cincinnati Municipal Airport – Lunken Field, is owned by the City of Cincinnati. The airport is located on 1,140 acres of land east of downtown Cincinnati, between the Linwood and East End neighbourhoods. It was officially dedicated as Cincinnati's municipal airport in September 1930.
The history of the airport dates back to the early 1920s when it was known as the Dixie Davis Flying Field, where John Dixon "Dixie" Davis offered flying lessons. In 1924, it was referred to as "Lunken Airport" for the first time, and a year later, in 1925, the Lunken family donated the acreage to the city of Cincinnati, with the stipulation that the airport bear their name. The airport was named for Eshelby Lunken, whose father, Edmund H. Lunken, was the owner of the Lunkenheimer Valve Company.
Lunken Airport soon became a hub of aviation activity in Cincinnati. In 1925, the Embry-Riddle Company was formed at the airport, providing airline, air mail, and flight training services. By 1928, the airport featured brick aircraft hangars built in the art deco style, and metal monoplanes called Flamingos were being constructed by the Metal Aircraft Corporation. The airport also attracted celebrities and famous pilots, including Howard Hughes, Jimmie Doolittle, and Jean Harlow, who attended its dedication ceremony in 1930.
However, Lunken Airport faced challenges due to its location in a floodplain. In 1937, the Ohio River flood inundated the airfield and the two-story main terminal building, with only the top of its control tower remaining visible above the floodwaters. The airport experienced flooding again in 1945 and 1948, leading to a decline in its usage as major airlines began pulling out. As a result, it was supplanted by the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, which offered longer runways to accommodate larger aircraft.
Today, Lunken Airport primarily serves private aircraft, including the fleets of local corporations, and a few commercial flights. It is the second-largest airport serving Cincinnati, catering to corporate, private, and charter aircraft. The airport continues to be a significant aviation hub, with various proposals and developments aimed at enhancing its facilities and services.
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It was once called Turkey Bottoms, home to Cincinnati's first settlers
Lunken Airport in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a public airport owned by the city of Cincinnati. It is located on 1,140 acres of land, about 3 miles east of downtown Cincinnati. The airport primarily serves private aircraft, including corporate fleets, and a few commercial flights.
The land on which the airport sits was once called Turkey Bottoms. This area was home to Cincinnati's first settlers, pioneer settlers, wild turkeys, and recreational polo players. It was a flat, low-lying area near the Ohio River and along the Little Miami River. The wide-openness of Turkey Bottoms began attracting pilots, such as John Dixon "Dixie" Davis, who gave flying lessons at the field by 1921.
Two wealthy investors, Talton Higbee Embry and Eshelby F. Lunken, saw Turkey Bottoms as a desirable location for an airfield due to its land availability and proximity to the city. Embry and Lunken were associates of Grisard, which was initially considered a better site due to its high ground. However, postal authorities deemed it too far from the town for airmail services.
In 1925, the Lunken family donated 204 acres of land from Turkey Bottoms to the city of Cincinnati, with the stipulation that the airport bear their name and that the land would return to the family if the city ever gave up the airport business. By 1924, the site was already being called "Lunken Airport." The donation of land and the subsequent expansion of the airport quadrupled its size, making it the biggest and busiest airport in the country by the end of the 1920s.
Thus, what was once Turkey Bottoms, home to Cincinnati's first settlers, transformed into Lunken Airport, a bustling aviation hub that played a significant role in the history of flight in the United States.
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It was officially dedicated as Cincinnati's municipal airport in 1930
Lunken Airport, officially known as Cincinnati Municipal Airport – Lunken Field, is a public airport in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is owned by the City of Cincinnati and serves private aircraft, including the fleets of local corporations. It also serves a few commercial flights. The airport is located on 1,140 acres of land, east of downtown Cincinnati, between the Linwood and East End neighbourhoods.
Lunken Airport was officially dedicated as Cincinnati's municipal airport in September 1930. The three-day dedication event was attended by celebrity pilot-millionaire Howard Hughes, famed pilot Jimmie Doolittle, movie star Jean Harlow, and at least 25,000 locals. This was the last big public event at the airport for a while, as the Great Depression set in, and the business of aviation became more local. The airport was flooded in 1937, with only the top of its control tower visible above the Little Miami floodwaters. It took over a year for the refurbished terminal to be dedicated.
The history of the airport dates back to the early 1920s when Turkey Bottoms, a flat, low-lying area near the Ohio River, attracted pilots such as John Dixon "Dixie" Davis, who began giving flying lessons there by 1921. In 1924, the site was already being referred to as "Lunken Airport" after its owners, the Lunken family. Embry-Riddle, a partnership between Talton Higbee Embry and Eshelby F. Lunken, established the first U.S. government-sanctioned flight school at the airport in 1925. By 1928, another aviation company, Metal Aircraft Corp., had developed an all-metal plane called the Flamingo, which revolutionised aircraft design and paved the way for larger, more passenger-friendly planes.
By the end of the 1920s, Lunken Airport had become the biggest and busiest airport in the country, boasting three concrete runways. In 1929, the airport was the site of a historic landing by Charles Lindbergh, who was mobbed by well-wishers. However, the airport frequently experienced fog, and in 1937, a major flood submerged its runways and terminal building. Despite these challenges, Lunken Airport continued to play a significant role in the aviation history of Cincinnati and the surrounding region.
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It has been the site of celebrity visits, including The Beatles and US presidents
Lunken Airport, also known as Cincinnati Municipal Airport – Lunken Field, has been the site of several celebrity visits, including The Beatles and US presidents. The airport is a public airport in Cincinnati, Ohio, owned by the city of Cincinnati and serving private aircraft, including the fleets of local corporations. It is located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Downtown Cincinnati.
The Beatles visited Lunken Airport in 1964, arriving and departing by air for their concert at Cincinnati Gardens. A large crowd of fans greeted the band as they flew in and out of the airport. The concert, which took place on 27 August 1964, almost got cancelled due to demands from the Musicians' Union. However, a telephone campaign by Beatles fans led to the union withdrawing their request.
Several US presidents and other dignitaries have also arrived at Lunken Airport. On 30 October 2007, Air Force One landed at the airport as President George W. Bush visited the abutting Cincinnati neighbourhood of Hyde Park for a fundraiser for Republican Congressman Steve Chabot. On 22 October 2008, Republican presidential candidate Arizona Senator John McCain and his running mate, Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin, held a rally at the airport, drawing a crowd of 12,000 enthusiastic supporters.
In addition to these notable visits, Lunken Airport has a rich history dating back to the early days of aviation. It was Cincinnati's main airport until 1947 and was the site of flying lessons as early as 1921 when the field was known as the Dixie Davis Flying Field. The airport covers 1,140 acres and features public recreation areas, including an 18-hole golf course, playgrounds, and walking/biking paths.
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It is currently an 1,140-acre airfield for general and corporate aviation
Lunken Airport, also known as Cincinnati Municipal Airport – Lunken Field, is a public airport in Cincinnati, Ohio, owned by the City of Cincinnati. It is currently an 1,140-acre airfield for general and corporate aviation. The airport serves private aircraft, including the fleets of local corporations, and a few commercial flights. It is the second-largest airport serving Cincinnati, after Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, which is the area's primary airport.
The airport is located on 1,140 acres of land, east of downtown Cincinnati, between the Linwood and East End neighbourhoods. The airport is bounded by US Route 50 (historic Columbia Parkway and Eastern Avenue) to the west, US Route 52 (Kellogg Avenue) and the Ohio River to the south, the Little Miami River (which originally flowed through the airfield but was diverted) to the east, and Ohio Route 125 (Beechmont Avenue) to the north.
The history of Lunken Airport dates back to the early 1920s when pilots like Dixie Davis began offering flying lessons in the area. In 1925, the Grisard Company, partially owned by Eshelby Lunken, dissolved, and the Lunken family provided financial backing to purchase additional land for the airfield. The airport was officially dedicated as Cincinnati's municipal airport in 1930, and it soon became a hub for aviation in the city, attracting celebrities and increasing airline traffic.
Over the years, Lunken Airport has faced challenges with surrounding communities and the City Council regarding noise restrictions and expansion plans. The airport has been proposed as a site for additional air services, but these plans have often been met with opposition from local pilots and special interest groups. Today, Lunken Airport continues to serve as a vital airfield for general and corporate aviation in the Cincinnati area.
Lunken Airport also contains public recreation areas, including an 18-hole golf course, playgrounds, and walking/biking paths on the levee surrounding the airfield. The airport is home to various aviation companies and has played a significant role in the history of aviation in Cincinnati.
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Frequently asked questions
Lunken Airport, or Cincinnati Municipal Airport – Lunken Field, is a public airport in Cincinnati, Ohio, owned by the city of Cincinnati. It is located 3 miles east of Downtown Cincinnati and serves private aircraft, including the fleets of local corporations.
The airfield was known as Lunken Airport by 1924, but it was not until September 1930 that it was officially dedicated as Cincinnati's municipal airport.
Lunken Airport presently covers 1,140 acres of land, but there are attempts to bring in regional airlines and increase size limits for larger aircraft to land at the airport.
No, but in 1946, major airlines moved operations to the Greater Cincinnati Airport in Northern Kentucky. Lunken Airport is sometimes referred to as a "reliever" airport as it handles most General Aviation traffic operations in the Cincinnati area.
