Garner Field Airport: From World War II Training Base to Modern Aviation Center

By Carmelo Turdo

Garner Field Airport in Uvalde, Texas offers a unique combination of historic atmosphere and advanced technology businesses serving the local community and aviation industry customers from around the country. The airport is home to the Uvalde Flight Center FBO, Skyway MRO Services, Lancair, Hangar 6 Air Cafe, the Garner Field Aviation Museum and Huff Air Warbird Collection. The meteorological conditions offer the steady thermals needed for glider operations, and Garner Field Airport has previously hosted two World Gliding Championships (with the third coming in 2024). The 5256ft. x 100ft. runway can accommodate most general aviation and business aircraft types.

Garner Field was named for John Nance Garner, a Uvalde, TX lawyer and judge who served as Congressman, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President under Franklin Roosevelt for the 1932 and 1936 terms. The airport opened in January of 1942 and served as a U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) Contract Pilot School until June of 1945. The facility then became a municipal airport and the training buildings were purchased for use by Southwest Texas Junior College. Post-war operations at the airport included flight training for Trans-Texas Airlines, conversion of military aircraft to civilian use, general aviation flight training, air charters and light manufacturing. 

The Aero Experience recently visited Garner Field Airport to cover a future story for our sponsor, Big River Aviation. We were kindly given a brief tour of the Garner Field Aviation Museum and Huff Air collection, located in adjacent hangars. The museum is housed in the remaining World War II-era hangar, and it features a Fairchild PT-19 representing the aircraft used to train USAAF pilots along with more recognizable modern aircraft types. Included here are Burt Rutan's first commercial design, the Variviggen, and a rather imposing LET Zlin Z-37 used for glider towing.

 

The Huff Air hangar contained an eclectic collection of flying aircraft, including the Lancair racer Breathless, two Pitts Specials, a Sport Trainer, SNJ-4 Texan, Arcus M motor glider, a Mooney Mite and Classic Aircraft Waco YMF.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016: Experimental Aircraft - The Evolution of Lancair

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016 featured an exhibit by Evolution Aircraft, manufacturer of the sleek piston and turboprop-powered Evolution series that has emerged from the Lancair stable (Lancair legacy aircraft will be supported by a separate entity).  The Evolution series has become a very successful high-end experimental aircraft, and the current model takes advantage of digital design methods that make a complex contoured design manageable for the (skilled) homebuilder.  Following views of the exhibit, we included a few Lancairs we saw during the week as well.

  

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015: Exhibitors - The Heart of the Alphabet

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

We made it to the heart of the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 alphabet, with great representation of the J-N exhibitors.  Our selection includes aircraft in the light sport, experimental and production categories along with other suppliers.     

Just Aircraft

The Walhalla, SC-based Just Aircraft has become known for its brand of Light Sport bush planes that takeoff and land in very short distances.  The aircraft come in kit and quick-build forms, and have options for advanced aerodynamic and avionics packages.  With names like SuperSTOL, Highlander and Escapade, it is no secret that these aircraft are both practical and fun to fly.

Kitfox Aircraft

Located at Homedale Municipal Airport in Idaho, Kitfox was acquired by John and Debra McBean in 2006 to continue the development of quality kit-build aircraft based on the Denney/SkyStar designs.  The current S7 Super Sport is the latest Light Sport Aircraft offering that can be fitted with various landing gear and power plant options. 
   

Lancair International

The Redmond, OR-based Lancair International has been manufacturing advanced composite aircraft kits since its founding by Lance A. Neibauer in the early 1980s.  Since then, Lancair has gained a reputation for designing and producing some of the most beautiful and aerodynamically efficient aircraft for customers around the world.  Powered by piston and turboprop engines, the Lancair, Legacy and Evolution lines have become standard high-performance general aviation and racing aircraft.  Often they are easy to spot with their curvy shapes and bold paint schemes!

Lycoming

Since 1929, Lycoming has been powering aircraft with radial and in-line engines (following the manufacture of automobile engines starting in 1910).  Since then, Lycoming has become a premier supplier of reliable and high-performance aircraft engines found on many types, including those flown by many airshow performers who rely on their engine during low-speed, low-altitude, high angle of attack passes.  The Lycoming exhibit often features aerobatic aircraft, including this Extra 300L.

Mahindra Aerospace

Mahindra Aerospace was formed in 2009 to expand the global market for Indian aerospace manufacturing of support equipment worldwide.  In 2010, Aerostaff Australia was purchased, and the Australian GippsAero Airvan 8 and 10 have become their staple utility aircraft capable of operating in difficult to reach areas around the world.  A notable site in the U.S. is the fleet of 16 GA-8 Airvans used by the Civil Air Patrol, the USAF Auxiliary. 

Meyers Aircraft

The Meyers Aircraft Company has had many forms and owners over the years since Allen Meyers founded the company in the 1930s.  The OTW and Meyers 200 series were the most well-known of his designs before the rights to production were bought by Rockwell in an ill-fated attempt to gain civilian aircraft market share.  Later versions of the Meyers 200 series were marketed as the Rockwell Commander, Interceptor turboprop and a FAC/COIN derivative.  The current exhibit was under the Meyers Movement, a community of Meyers owner/operators who work to keep the fleet flying and growing.
  

Mooney International Corporation

Mooney International Corporation is the current form of the legendary Mooney Aviation Company with its main facility in Kerrville, TX.  It was most recently purchased by the Soaring American Corporation, backed by Taiwanese investors, to restart production of the Acclaim and Ovation models and increase access to the Chinese market.  Several new models are to be offered in the next several years.  Here we have the exhibit and some classic Mooney aircraft flying in and out of the airport.

Nextant Aerospace

Cleveland, OH-based Nextant Aerospace offers remanufactured and enhanced aircraft to the business aviation market.  Currently, they offer the Beechjet 400A/XP and Beech C90XT King Air with advanced flight controls, avionics and environmental systems installed.  A beautiful King Air was on display during the week.