AIRPORT HISTORY
80 YEARS OF AVIATION IN FAYETTEVILLE (1911-1991)
By Michael V. Eckels October 5, 1911: First flight in Fayetteville by Glenn Martin. 1918-1919: First flight of the "Zerbe Air Sedan" constructed by Professor J.S.Zerbe, Fayetteville's first aircraft builder. 1919: Fayetteville's first test pilot was Tom Flannerty. Flannerty tested the "Zerbe Air Sedan". 1911 - 1929: Various open fields were used as landing sites such as the old fairgrounds, University of Arkansas farms, and the old Sportmans Club Golf Course. 1929: A tract of land was purchased for $5,000 to build the first permanent airport. 1936: Residents of Fayetteville approved a $20,000 bond issue to build a bigger airfield. This was the beginning of Drake Field. May, 1937: The Army Air Corps flew into Fayetteville with 73 aircraft for an overnight stay. The first military fly-in. November, 1939: The first class of the Civil Aeronautics Administration's Civilian Pilot Training Program began flight operations at Fayetteville Field. January 17, 1940: Maurice Ash became the first women to solo at Fayetteville Field. Her instructor was Ed Horton. September, 1940: Raymond J. Ellis took over the flight contract of Fayetteville Civilian Pilot Training Program. October 1, 1940: Fayetteville Flying Service began operations at Fayetteville Field founded and managed by Ray Ellis. December, 1941: The Civilian Pilot Training Program ended at Fayetteville, 122 students had earned their wings and became pilots here. January, 1942: The CAA's War Training Service began operation with the Spring of 1942 semester at the U. of A. and Fayetteville Field. December, 1942: Two C-47 Transport aircraft towing a pair of CG4A Waco Gliders were caught in a snow storm and had to land at Fayetteville Field. March 1, 1943: The War Training Service ceased operations at Fayetteville and the 305th College Training Detachment or College Indoctrination Course began. May 1, 1943: Ground was broken for a new 139'X 150' all wooden aircraft hangar to house planes used by the 305th College Training Detachment. June 28, 1944: Dedication of the new White Hangar and airport facilities. June 30, 1944: The 305th College Training Detachment pulled out of Fayetteville. Over 2600 students received their pilot training at Fayetteville Field from 1939-1944. April 11, 1946: Fayetteville Flying Service flew 5,000 baby chicks from Joplin, Missouri to Springdale, Arkansas for John Tyson. August 10, 1946: South Central Air Transport or "SCAT" left Fayetteville for Little Rock departing Fayetteville at 7:30 a.m. in a Cessna UC-78 twin engine aircraft. This event marked the beginning of the commuter era in Arkansas. 1947: Fayetteville Field was officially renamed Drake Field after Dr. N. F. Drake, the man largely responsible for acquisition of the land for the first airport as well as the present field. August 22, 1947: The community of Tontitown, Arkansas shipped grapes picked from their vineyards in Northwest Arkansas to President Harry S. Truman via Ray Ellis and South Central Air Transport. 1948: South Central Air Transport "SCAT" airline ceased operations. Fayetteville Flying Service began a new flight service for the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville called "Flying Professor Program". 1949: Drake Field built its first paved and lighted runway. this Northwest to Southeast (16 and 34) runway was 3000 feet long, part of the present landing strip. The first Flight Service Station was installed at Drake by the Federal Aviation Administration. It was housed in the southeast corner of the White Hangar. September 1, 1953: Scheduled Skyways, owned and operated by Ray Ellis, made its first flight to Little Rock. The Cessna 195 under the command of Ray Ellis flew three passengers, University of Arkansas President John Caldwell, John Barnhill, and Dwight Morris. December 7, 1954: Central Airlines began commuter service to Fayetteville. 1955: The City of Fayetteville expanded the runway at Drake Field by 800 feet, for a total of 3800 feet. This was necessary to accommodate the Douglas DC-3s flown by Central Airlines. 1956: Razorback Field was established as a private airstrip in the northern part of Fayetteville by Bob and Jim Younkin. 1959-1960: The first formal terminal building was constructed at Drake Field. September, 1960: Central Airlines moved its operations into the new terminal building. 1961: The City of Fayetteville expanded the runway at Drake Field. Another 1200 feet was added to the existing 3800 feet to lengthen the runway to 5000 feet. A parallel taxiway was also constructed at this time. 1962: The Flight Service Station moved its operations out of the White Hangar and into its new facilities next to the terminal building. 1964: A new fire station was completed at Drake Field. The Fayetteville Fire Department occupied this building later in that same year. 1965: The City of Fayetteville once again expanded the runway at Drake Field. The runway was expanded to its present 6000 feet. 1966: A temporary control tower was constructed to fit on the roof of the White Hangar. This tower was placed on the building during the University of Arkansas sporting events. October, 1967: Central Airlines merged with Frontier Airlines. It is at this point that Frontier begins service to the Fayetteville area with their fleet of Convair 580s. October, 1972: Scheduled Skyways and Fayetteville Flying Service was sold by Ray Ellis to Paul Jones. 1973: Drake Field received its first modern FAA control tower. This three-story structure was erected next to the southern end of the Flight Service Station. October, 1973: Ray Ellis retired from commercial aviation. His 38 year career includes such credits as owner-operator of Fayetteville Flying Service, South Central Air Transport or "SCAT", and Scheduled Skyways, and the three CAA pilot training programs. December, 1978: Paul Jones turns over controlling interest of Schedule Skyways to Ray Young. September, 1980: Drake Field opened a new terminal building just to the south of the old terminal and Flight Service Station. October 5, 1980: The formal dedication of the new terminal building. November, 1980: Royal American Airlines began passenger service out of Fayetteville. This Fayetteville-based airline was a joint venture by several area businessmen. September, 1981: Robert Shults assumed command of Skyways after Ray Young resigns his post as CEO of the airline (Young assumed another position with Emery Air Freight). February 1, 1982: Frontier Airlines ended operations at Fayetteville after 15 years of service to this area. 1982: Metroflight Airlines took over service from Fayetteville to Dallas/Ft. Worth from Frontier. In fact, Metroflight bought some of Frontiers old Convair 580s to service this route. About a year later, the name was changed to American Eagle. November, 1982: Royal American Airlines ceased its commuter service operation and begins a charter service. A year later, Royal American ceased all operations after three years of service to Fayetteville. 1983: Sunbelt Airlines began service to Memphis and Little Rock. January 17, 1985: Skyways merged with Air Midwest, one of the largest mid western air carriers. January 18, 1985: Air Midwest began service to Fayetteville's Drake Field. June 1, 1985: Atlantic Southeast Airlines, ASA, began service to Drake Field. They currently fly the Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia, 30-passenger twin-engine turbo-prop. September 16, 1985: Republic Express began service to Drake Field. In 1988, the name was officially changed to Northwest Airlink. Northwest Airlink currently flies the SAAB SF-340, a 35-passenger twin-engine turbo-prop aircraft. 1986-1987: Late in 1986, an idea was conceived to build an air museum at Drake. There was one choice that the city could make for a site to house this air museum, the White Hangar. A few of the local aviation buffs talked the city into using the hangar. The restoration of the hangar took about a year to complete. Late in 1987 the White Hangar was converted into the Arkansas Air Museum. However, the Museum was only opened part time through-out much of 1988. In 1989, the Arkansas Air Museum began year-round operation. It still is in operation on a daily basis. January 15, 1991: U.S. Air Express began service to Drake Field. It currently flies the Beechcraft 1900 twin-engine turbo-prop aircraft. February 1, 1991: Trans-World Express began service to Drake Field after purchasing Air Midwest's routes and assets. April 28, 1991: The first flight of the Trans-World Express' Aerospatiale ATR-42, a 48-passenger high-wing twin-engine turbo-prop, into Drake Field. October 5, 1991: The City of Fayetteville proclaimed this day, "Fayetteville Aviation Day". City Mayor Fred Vorsanger delivered the proclamation at gathering at the Arkansas Air Museum. LIST OF SOURCES:
Raymond J. Ellis, A1 Goss, Floyd Carl Reprinted with permission from author. |