Southern Texas Field Has Storied History
Houston's William H. Hobby Airport is getting ready to celebrate
80 years of service.
"We're very excited about the airport's 80th birthday and the
things we have planned," airport manager and former pilot Mary Case
told The Houston Chronicle.
Having formerly worked at the airport's Atlantic Aviation
Services, Case knows how Houston feels about HOU. "People in
Houston feel very connected to Hobby Airport," she said. "I heard
stories all of the time from people about how their parents or
grandparents flew out of the airport."
Kicking off the celebration is a children's art contest, a gala,
and maybe even a movie.
The airport will be receiving some cosmetic surgery for its
birthday as well. There are a number of renovation projects
underway from five of the airport's major fixed operators. Five
gate expansions are expected to be completed June 1 bringing all 25
operating gates to the central concourse, according to Case.
Originally the Houston Municipal Airport, Hobby was launched by
the City of Houston in 1937 as the first public airport in the
area. It had been a private airfield owned by the W.T. Carter
Lumber Company and was served by two airlines, Braniff and Eastern,
according to the airport's website.
Hobby served as the base of operations for native Houstonian
Howard R. Hughes during his earlier aviation ambitions. He was
responsible for several improvements to the airport including the
first control tower which was erected in 1938.
The airport's name was then briefly changed to the Howard Hughes
Airport in 1938 until it was discovered federal airport improvement
funds would not be granted to an airport named after a living
person.
1950 saw Houston's first international flight, a Pan American
Airways flight to Mexico City. The name became Houston
International Airport in 1954 to reflect its new international
status.
The first turbojet aircraft landed at Houston International in
1957. In 1959 it became necessary to extend Runways 4/22 and 13/31
to 7,600 feet to prepare for the new jet age.
In 1967, Houston International Airport received yet another
name, this time its current name in honor of the former Texas
governor (1917-1920), lieutenant governor (1914-1917) and president
and owner of the Houston Post.
Terminal Being Converted To Museum
The original terminal is currently
being converted into an air museum, a project spearheaded by The
Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society. The North Wing of the 1940
Air Terminal Museum opened to the public on January 9, 2004.
The first phase of the air museum is complete and included the
initial restoration of the North Wing of the Houston Municipal Air
Terminal. The Society has also nominated the Terminal building for
the National Register of Historic Places as well as for state and
local historic designation.
The North Wing of the museum houses the museum's gift shop and
"rapidly growing collection" that includes a 1943 Lockheed Lodestar
executive businessliner. It also currently serves as the museum's
base of operations for fundraising efforts, according to the
Society.
Phase II will restore the terminal's first floor balance and
fully restore the remaining four floors. Plans are to move the 1949
Precision Aeromotive Hangar, intact, to the museum and restore it
for use as an exhibit hangar. It will also house archives and serve
as a special events venue. Phase II construction is expected to
start this year.
Hobby houses 25 major tenants in 42 hangars. 255 aircraft call
it home with 91 of those being jets. In 2006 alone it served more
than eight million passengers.
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