Variety of Interesting Aircraft Can Be Found at St. Louis Downtown Airport

By Carmelo Turdo

St. Louis Downtown Airport has a long history of service to the greater St. Louis area, dating back to its founding in 1929 as Curtiss-Steinberg Airport. During World War II, Oliver Parks expanded his operations at the airport and later became sole owner.  During the war years, Parks Air College trained one-sixth of the U.S. Army Air Corps pilots at its facilities. During the 1960s, the airport (now called Bi-State Parks Airport) became a reliever to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, and currently it remains the third busiest airport in Illinois and is in the top 100.  The airport is home to a thriving aviation business community, including Ideal Aviation and Jet Aviation FBOs, Ozark Air Services, two flight schools, air charters, helicopter services, and the home of 2 historic 1929 Curtiss-Wright hangars. The Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum resides in C-W Hangar 2, and is open Friday-Sunday 10am-4pm.  For more information about the airport, please visit http://www.stlouisdowntownairport.com/.