Friday, January 10, 2020

Midwest Airport Visit: St. Louis Downtown Airport

By Carmelo Turdo
The Aero Experience continues with our first series on Midwest Airports in 2020 with a visit to St. Louis Downtown Airport, just across the Mississippi River in Cahokia, IL. Home to our sponsors Big River Aviation and Gateway Jets, the airport traces its history back to 1929 as Curtiss-Steinberg Airport. It quickly became a state-of-the-art facility, anchored by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation with the nearby Parks Air College and other flight schools. U.S. Army Air Forces Cadets were trained there during World War II, and the airport rebounded into a successful regional and reliever airport in recent decades. It is now operated as a Bi-State Development enterprise. 

Here we feature aircraft operations as viewed from the West Terminal, home to Big River Aviation and St. Louis Flight Training. Their training aircraft, along with several from Ideal Aviation and private owners, are included. While on the west apron, we visited the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum, located next to the terminal in historic 1929 Curtiss-Wright Hangar 2. On display in front of the hangar is a Lockheed JetStar, once owned by Howard Hughes. Inside the museum you will find memorabilia and aircraft associated with the area's notable aviation history.

 




























 








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