Historic Stinson Municipal Airport Gets Facelift

On Wednesday, November 19, 2008, the City of San Antonio had the official ribbon cutting and opening ceremonies for a major addition to the terminal building at Stinson Municipal Airport (SSF).

Care has been taken to preserve the legacy of the old terminal building by leaving much of the original structure intact. The expansion provides space for several new tenants, including Palo Alto College, which will be moving most of their aviation studies to the terminal. In addition, there are improved weather and lounge areas for pilots and passengers, and the airport cafe's size has quadrupled.

Historic Stinson Airport is the second oldest continuously-operating general aviation airport in the United States, and is the designated general aviation reliever airport for San Antonio International Airport. Recently SSF has also been a major operations hub for Hurricane Ike relief efforts.

The airport's history dates back to 1915, when the Stinson School of Flying was founded by siblings Marjorie, Katherine, and Eddie Stinson, who rented the 500 acre tract from the City of San Antonio for $5 per year, Stinson Airport Manager Tim O'Krongley said.

After World War One, the airport reverted back to the city. "And it remained an airport used primarily by barnstormers and experimental pilots until the late 20's or early 30's, and that's when things really took off," O'Krongley said.

Soon the airport was a regular stop for American, Braniff, and Eastern Airlines, and a new terminal building was built by the Works Progress Administration in 1936.

During World War Two, the airport was used as a training base. The Air Force took over operations and constructed numerous buildings on the grounds, many of which are still standing.

SSF currently boasts two flight schools, an air cargo operator, an aviation museum and three fixed-based operators, and logs more than 150,000 aircraft operations annually. Recently experiencing a 110 percent increase in the number of aircraft based on the airport and a 100 percent occupancy rate, there are plans for even more expansion in the near future.

"So the Master Plan has driven a lot of new capital programs, including expansion of the Terminal building, new T-hangars, a possible runway extension and a lot of runway improvements," O'Krongley said.

"And of course behind it all is the spirit of the Stinson family, three people who had a love of flying so strong it continues to tower over San Antonio even today," the airport's website waxes nostalgically.

(Aero-News thanks Ryan Short for his pictures from the ribbon cutting event)

FMI: www.sanantonio.gov/aviation/stinsonairport.asp