Jazmin Li
Oklahoma's aviation history dates back to 1910 when Charles Willard made the state's first powered flight. In the following years, barnstormers, air shows, and fundraisers brought aviation to towns across Oklahoma. Oklahoma City's first airport was established in 1920, and Tulsa's first airport was founded in 1919 by former military barnstormer Duncan McIntyre. The earliest true municipal airport in Oklahoma City appeared in 1920, and Tulsa built a modern municipal airport in 1928, which became one of the world's busiest airports in the early 1930s. Oklahoma's aviation industry progressed significantly in the first half of the twentieth century, with many small towns and cities establishing airports.
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What You'll Learn
Oklahoma City's first airport was established in 1920
Oklahoma has a rich aviation history, with several airports established in the early 20th century. Oklahoma City's first airport was established in 1920, marking a significant milestone in the state's aviation journey.
The construction of Oklahoma City's inaugural airport was led by civic leader Stanley Draper. After his discharge from the US Army, Draper formed an aviation committee in 1919, which oversaw the airport's development. The airport was built on land leased to Oklahoma City, situated near the interurban rail line connecting the city with Norman. Buffalo wallows were filled to create a usable landing area, and a hanger was constructed to house aircraft.
This pioneering airport witnessed substantial use before its relocation in 1924 to Southwest Twenty-ninth Street and May Avenue. The original site was instrumental in fostering aviation in the region, with Oklahoma City becoming a hub for airmail services in 1926. The establishment of this airport set the stage for Oklahoma City's aviation future, including the subsequent development of the Will Rogers World Airport.
The early days of aviation in Oklahoma City were also marked by the endeavours of Clyde Cessna, who, inspired by an air circus in the city, embarked on aircraft design. Cessna's first successful flight in 1911 took him to an altitude of 200 feet, and he subsequently showcaseed his aircraft across various Oklahoma towns. Cessna's passion for aviation left a lasting impact on the state's aeronautical landscape.
Oklahoma's aviation history is further enriched by contributions during World War I and World War II. Fort Sill earned recognition as the birthplace of Army combat aviation during World War I, and Oklahoma pilots like William Ponder made their mark in aerial combat. As World War II unfolded, the US Army established airfields across the state, including the Midwest Air Depot (now Tinker Air Force Base) and Will Rogers Army Airfield.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the establishment of municipal airports gained momentum in towns like Guthrie, Chickasha, and Ponca City. Tulsa, a centre of oil wealth, boasted a bustling airport that was claimed to be the busiest in the world in 1929. Oklahoma's aviation industry thrived during this period, fuelled by the state's oil boom and the growing popularity of air travel.
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Tulsa's first airport was founded in 1919
Oklahoma has a rich history of aviation innovation, with Clyde Cessna testing plane prototypes in the Cherokee Outlet as early as 1911. Fort Sill earned its reputation as the birthplace of Army combat aviation in 1915, and during World War I, Pilot William Ponder of Mangum, Oklahoma, shot down more than five enemy planes while flying with the French army. The city of Mangum's first municipal airfield was later named Ponder Field in his honour.
In 1920, Oklahoma City's first airport was constructed on land leased to the city next to the interurban rail line between Oklahoma City and Norman. Buffalo wallows were filled in to make a usable landing ground, and a hangar was built to shelter aircraft. Tulsa followed suit in 1928 with the opening of Tulsa Municipal Airport, which became a hub of activity thanks to the city's booming oil industry. Tulsa oilmen quickly discovered the advantages of air travel, and by 1930, Tulsa claimed to have the busiest airport in the world, with 70,895 passengers passing through in the first 19 months of operation.
Over the years, Tulsa's airport has undergone numerous upgrades and expansions, including the construction of a new terminal in 1961, and in 1989, the airport was renamed Tulsa International Airport. Today, Tulsa is served by two airports: Tulsa International Airport and Tulsa Riverside Airport, which was built in the 1950s to alleviate congestion at Tulsa International.
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Oklahoma's aviation history began in 1910
Oklahoma's aviation history began on March 18, 1910, when travelling show pilot Charles Willard flew an exhibition with a Curtiss Pusher airplane. The flight took place near present-day Capitol Hill High School in south Oklahoma City, reaching an altitude of 300 to 400 feet at a speed of 30 miles per hour. Willard's flight kickstarted Oklahoma's aviation industry, with barnstormers, air shows, and fundraisers bringing aviation to towns across the state.
In 1915, Fort Sill earned its reputation as the birthplace of Army combat aviation when it received a squadron of Jennies for pilot training. Pilots were trained in navigation, map reading, and aerial photography, and vital improvements were made to airplane functionality, including wing supports and landing gear struts. Oklahoma's aviation history also includes the achievements of pilot William Ponder of Mangum, who made history in 1917 by shooting down more than five enemy planes while flying with the French army. The first municipal airport in Oklahoma City was established in 1920, with the help of civic leader Stanley Draper, who formed an aviation committee in 1919.
Oklahoma's aviation industry continued to develop in the 1920s, with the establishment of a modern municipal airport in Tulsa in 1928, and the expansion of airmail services to Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Tulsa's airport became a hub of activity, and by the early 1930s, it was one of the busiest airports in the world, fuelled by the state's thriving oil industry. During its first nineteen months of operation, 70,895 persons passed through its gates.
Oklahoma pilots also made significant achievements during this time, with Wiley Post and his navigator, Harold Gatty, flying around the world in just eight days and sixteen hours in 1932. Thomas Cox Allen and James Herman Banning became the first African Americans to complete a transcontinental flight in the same year. Unfortunately, tragedy also struck the aviation community in 1935 when Wiley Post and Oklahoma's patron saint of aviation, Will Rogers, were killed in an airplane crash near Point Barrow, Alaska.
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Oklahoma City's airport was relocated in 1924
Oklahoma's aviation history dates back to 1910 when Charles F. Willard made the state's first airplane flight. Over the following decade, several airports were established in Oklahoma, with Oklahoma City's first airport debuting in 1920. This airport was located on leased land next to the interurban rail line connecting Oklahoma City and Norman. Buffalo wallows were filled in to create a smooth landing surface, and a hangar was constructed to house aircraft.
Oklahoma City's airport saw significant use before its relocation in 1924 to Southwest Twenty-ninth Street and May Avenue. Civic leader Stanley Draper, who played a pivotal role in the development of early aviation infrastructure in the state, oversaw the construction of this initial airport and later created another small airport called Southwest Park, near the present-day Woodson Park.
The relocation of the airport in 1924 was likely driven by the growing popularity of aviation in the state and the need for a more permanent and accessible location. The new site at Southwest Twenty-ninth Street and May Avenue offered better connectivity and may have been chosen to be closer to the city centre. This move reflects the evolving aviation landscape in Oklahoma during the 1920s.
The early 1920s witnessed a surge in aviation activity, with Oklahoma City's airport gaining traction. The relocation ensured that the airport could accommodate this growing demand and provided a more permanent home for aviation operations in the city. The original airport site had served its purpose in introducing aviation to the region, but the relocation allowed for further expansion and the development of more advanced facilities.
Oklahoma City's airport relocation in 1924 set the stage for the airport's future growth and development. Over time, the airport underwent upgrades and expansions to meet the evolving needs of air travel. The relocation demonstrated the city's commitment to embracing aviation and positioned Oklahoma City as a key aviation hub in the state. The move also paved the way for future enhancements, ensuring that the airport could adapt to technological advancements and increasing passenger numbers in the ensuing decades.
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Tulsa's airport became the busiest in the world in 1930
Tulsa's airport became the busiest in the world due to the great oil boom of the 1920s, as well as the city's central location in the country. Tulsa had gained international fame by becoming designated the "Oil Capital of the World." The discovery of oil at the Red Fork Field secured Tulsa's presence in the world economy, and in the following years, Tulsa quickly became a central hub of industry. Tulsa's airport was also a stop on the original routes of Braniff Airways, TWA, and American Airlines.
The airport was first conceived by civic leader Stanley Draper, who formed an aviation committee in 1919 that oversaw the construction of Oklahoma City's first airport in 1920. A few years later, Draper created another small airport named Southwest Park, near the present Woodson Park. In his later role as the managing director of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, Draper was instrumental in locating the Midwest Air Depot, now Tinker Air Force Base.
In 1928, Tulsa built a modern municipal airport, and a year later, thanks to a booming oil economy, it was claimed to be the busiest in the world. The Tulsa airport, also known as the Tulsa Municipal Airport, was opened by oilman W.G. Skelly and became one of the world's busiest airports in the early 1930s thanks to Oklahoma's oil boom. Today, the airport is known as the Tulsa International Airport (TUL) and features various amenities, including shops, eateries, a chapel, meeting rooms, and a lost and found service.
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Frequently asked questions
Oklahoma's first airports were established in 1919, with the first airport in Tulsa founded by former military barnstormer Duncan McIntyre, and an aviation committee in Oklahoma City, led by civic leader Stanley Draper, overseeing the construction of the city's first airport in 1920.
Oklahoma's first airports were located in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. The Tulsa airport was founded by Duncan McIntyre, a New Zealand native and former military barnstormer. The Oklahoma City airport was built on land leased to the city, next to the interurban rail line between Oklahoma City and Norman.
The first airports in Oklahoma were rudimentary, with buffalo wallows filled in to create usable landing grounds and hangars built to shelter aircraft. The airports saw considerable use, with Tulsa's airport becoming a hub of activity due to the advantages of air travel for local oilmen.
Yes, Oklahoma had several grass airstrips as early as 1915, one of which was located near the Oklahoma Capitol in Oklahoma City. These grass airstrips were used by pilots from Fort Sill, who were trained in navigation, map reading, and aerial photography.
The first Tulsa airport, founded by Duncan McIntyre, became a bustling hub and was replaced by a modern municipal airport in 1928, which became the busiest airport in the world a year later. The first Oklahoma City airport was relocated in 1924, and a more modern airport was established near Southwest Twenty-ninth Street and May Avenue. The original site of the first Oklahoma City airport is now near the intersection of Southeast Eighty-ninth Street and Shields Boulevard.
