<– Click to enjoy It’s a Long Way to Tipperrary, a song from the 1910’s when Stinson Field was first built!
Stinson Field is the oldest operating airport in San Antonio. It was established in 1915, 12 years after the Wright Brothers’ first flight, and is still open for service today. In its early years, Stinson Field was a barn storming (performance airplane pilots) airport and was used by many civilian airplane owners. Because Stinson Field had a flight school it was a prime location for military pilot training and it also served as the city’s airport. In 1928, American Airlines started offering passenger and mail service, and by 1935 it was host to three airlines and was able to build its first terminal.
Read through the two plaques below found at Stinson Field which commemorate its history. In the plaque on the left, notice all the important positions represented in 1936 when the Stinson Field Administration Building was dedicated, including the mayor. In the plaque on the right, notice how the Stinson Family started Stinson Field, and that it was used to train pilots during two World Wars. Stinson Field has sure been a busy and important place!
Watch this two-minute film to learn more about Stinson Field’s beginnings and impact on San Antonio over the last 100 years. What was it like to fly a plane in the 1910’s?!
Ever wondered what it’s like to land an airplane from the cockpit? The following two-minute film is footage of a plane landing in the rain at Stinson Field!
Next we will look at the important role that Stinson Field played, in the war effort, during World War II.
