Lois Larson
San Diego International Airport, formerly known as Lindbergh Field, is located just minutes from downtown San Diego. The airport was originally called San Diego Municipal Airport – Lindbergh Field, named after Charles Lindbergh, who flight-tested the Spirit of St. Louis before his historic 1927 transatlantic flight. The airport has a rich history, serving as a testing facility for early US sailplane designs and contributing to World War II heavy bomber production. It was also the first federally certified airfield to serve all aircraft types, including seaplanes. Today, San Diego International Airport is a major gateway for travellers, offering convenient access to the city and various transportation options, including the new San Diego Flyer, an electric shuttle-bus service.
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What You'll Learn
The airport was named after Charles Lindbergh
San Diego International Airport, formerly known as Lindbergh Field, was named after Charles Lindbergh, an American pilot who made the first solo transatlantic flight in 1927 in his plane, the Spirit of St. Louis. The airport is located near the site of the Ryan Airlines factory, where Lindbergh flight-tested the Spirit of St. Louis before his historic transatlantic journey.
Inspired by Lindbergh's groundbreaking flight, the city of San Diego passed a bond issue in 1928 for the construction of a two-runway municipal airport. Lindbergh not only encouraged the building of the airport but also agreed to lend his name to it. The airport, originally named San Diego Municipal Airport – Lindbergh Field, was dedicated on August 16, 1928, with a flyover involving 140 Navy and 82 Army planes.
Lindbergh Field played a significant role in aviation history. It served as a testing facility for early US sailplane designs, including those by William Hawley Bowlus, who was the superintendent of construction on the Spirit of St. Louis. Bowlus also operated the Bowlus Glider School at Lindbergh Field from 1929 to 1930. The airport witnessed several milestones, including the national and world record for women's altitude established by Ruth Alexander in 1930, and the first transcontinental glider tow by Captain Frank Hawks in the same year.
The airport gained international status in 1934 and continued to grow and evolve over the years. In 1942, the US Army Air Corps took over the field, improving it to accommodate heavy bombers being manufactured in the region. During World War II, two camps, Camp Consair and Camp Sahara, were established at the airport. By the 1950s, the airport was handling jet aircraft, with the first scheduled flights using jets taking off in September 1960.
In 2003, the airport's name was changed from Lindbergh Field to San Diego International Airport by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (SDCRAA). Despite the name change, the airport's historical connection to Charles Lindbergh and its significance in aviation history remain notable aspects of its past.
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It was the first federally certified airfield for all aircraft types
San Diego International Airport, previously known as Lindbergh Field, was the first federally certified airfield to serve all aircraft types, including seaplanes. The airport was constructed in 1928, inspired by Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight in the Spirit of St. Louis the previous year. The site was chosen due to its proximity to the Ryan Airlines factory, where Lindbergh had tested his plane.
The airport has a rich history in aviation, serving as a testing facility for early US sailplane designs and contributing to World War II heavy bomber production. It was also the site of several aviation records, including the first transcontinental glider tow in 1930 and a women's altitude record set by Ruth Alexander in the same year.
The airport's original terminal was on the northeast side, and it gained international status in 1934. The current Terminal 1 opened on the south side in 1967, and a new Terminal 1 is under construction, with completion expected by the end of 2024.
Today, San Diego International Airport is a major gateway for travellers, conveniently located just minutes from downtown San Diego. It offers a range of transportation options, including the San Diego Flyer, an electric shuttle-bus service, and Bus Route 992, which offers connections to the San Diego Trolley and other transit options.
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It was a testing facility for US sailplane designs
San Diego International Airport, formerly known as Lindbergh Field, has played a significant role in aviation history, including its involvement as a testing facility for early US sailplane designs. The airport has a rich history, with its roots tracing back to the pioneering days of aviation. Before the airport was constructed, the area was a delta river outlet for the San Diego River. The nearby Ryan Airlines factory holds historical significance as the place where Charles Lindbergh flight-tested the "Spirit of St. Louis" before his famous 1927 transatlantic flight.
The airport was more than just a gateway to San Diego; it was a hub for aviation innovation and a testing ground for cutting-edge aircraft designs. One notable figure associated with the airport's history is William Hawley Bowlus, the superintendent of construction on the "Spirit of St. Louis." Bowlus played a pivotal role in the testing of early US sailplane designs at the airport. From 1929 to 1930, he operated the Bowlus Glider School at Lindbergh Field, contributing to the advancement of sailplane technology and training a new generation of pilots.
During this golden age of aviation, Lindbergh Field witnessed numerous milestones in aviation history. In 1930, Ruth Alexander established a national and world record for women's altitude, adding to the airport's growing list of achievements. That same year, Captain Frank Hawks made history by embarking on the first transcontinental glider tow from Lindbergh Field, a journey that concluded in New York City. These feats attracted worldwide attention and solidified Lindbergh Field's reputation as a centre of excellence for aviation.
The airport's connection to Lindbergh and its role in the development of aviation in the United States are key reasons why it was named Lindbergh Field. The airport was officially dedicated on August 16, 1928, as San Diego Municipal Airport – Lindbergh Field, with a grand flyover involving 140 Navy and 82 Army planes. The name change to San Diego International Airport in 2003 was intended to reflect its status as a major commercial airport, attracting travellers from around the world.
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It was the headquarters of Consolidated Aircraft (later Convair)
San Diego International Airport, formerly known as Lindbergh Field, was the headquarters of Consolidated Aircraft, later known as Convair. Consolidated Aircraft was a major defence contractor and contributor to World War II heavy bomber production. The company built many of its military aircraft at Lindbergh Field and used the airport for test and delivery flights from 1935 to 1995.
The airport was the first federally certified airfield to serve all aircraft types, including seaplanes. The original terminal was on the northeast side of the field, on Pacific Highway. Convair's presence on the border of Lindbergh Field contributed significantly to the airport's development and transformation into a jet-ready facility.
In 1942, the US Army Air Corps took over the field, making improvements to accommodate the heavy bombers being manufactured in the region. The construction of an 8,750-foot (2,670-metre) runway played a crucial role in making the airport capable of handling jets long before jet airliners came into service. This development positioned the airport as an important aviation hub.
Convair's operations at Lindbergh Field spanned several decades, and during this time, the airport witnessed significant growth and milestones. The airport gained international status in 1934, and in 1949, Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) established its headquarters in San Diego and commenced operations at Lindbergh Field. The first scheduled flights using jets took off from Lindbergh Field in September 1960, marking another pivotal moment in the airport's history.
The rich aviation history of San Diego International Airport, intertwined with Convair's presence, has contributed to the airport's evolution and its role as a significant gateway for travellers to and from San Diego today.
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It was renamed San Diego International Airport in 2003
San Diego International Airport, previously known as Lindbergh Field, is located near the site of the Ryan Airlines factory, where Charles Lindbergh flight-tested the Spirit of St. Louis before his transatlantic flight in 1927. Inspired by Lindbergh's feat, the city of San Diego passed a bond issue in 1928 for the construction of a two-runway municipal airport, which was named San Diego Municipal Airport – Lindbergh Field. The airport was dedicated on August 16, 1928, with a flyover involving 140 Navy and 82 Army planes.
Lindbergh Field played a significant role in aviation history. It served as a testing facility for early US sailplane designs, including those by William Hawley Bowlus, who was the superintendent of construction on the Spirit of St. Louis. The airport also witnessed Ruth Alexander setting a national and world record for women's altitude in 1930. Additionally, it was the site of the first transcontinental glider tow, with Capt. Frank Hawks departing Lindbergh Field in 1930 and ending his journey in New York City.
The airport gained international status in 1934 and became the first federally certified airfield to serve all aircraft types, including seaplanes. During World War II, the US Army Air Corps took over the field, transforming it to handle heavy bombers. This included the construction of an 8,750-foot runway, making the airport "jet-ready" well before the introduction of jet airliners. In 1949, Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) established its headquarters in San Diego and began service at Lindbergh Field.
Over the years, the airport underwent various improvements and expansions. The first scheduled flights using jets at Lindbergh Field were operated by American Airlines and United Airlines in September 1960. Nonstop flights to Chicago and New York were introduced in the 1960s. In 2001, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (SDCRAA) was established, assuming jurisdiction over the airport in December 2002. Finally, in 2003, the airport's name was changed from Lindbergh Field to San Diego International Airport. This renaming reflected the desire for a more fitting moniker for a major commercial airport.
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Frequently asked questions
San Diego Lindbergh Airport, now known as San Diego International Airport, is the main gateway for travellers to San Diego. It is located just minutes from downtown San Diego.
The airport was originally named Lindbergh Field after Charles Lindbergh, who flight-tested the Spirit of St. Louis before his historic 1927 transatlantic flight. The airport was built shortly after this flight.
The airport gained international status in 1934.
The airport was the first federally certified airfield to serve all aircraft types, including seaplanes.
The San Diego Flyer is a free electric shuttle-bus service that operates seven days a week between the airport and the Old Town Transit Center, where travellers can connect to the San Diego Trolley, MTS bus lines, Coaster and Amtrak trains.
