The Future Takes Wing: San Diego International Airport: 75 Years of Flight

Description

A commemorative book on San Diego's rich aviation history and San Diego International Airport's past and present. ''The opening of Lindbergh Field helped attract new businesses, particularly in the aerospace industry, which were to play an important part in the economic development of San Diego. The Chamber of Commerce officially adopted the slogan "San Diego - The Air Capital of the West" to promote both the new facility and San Diego's importance in the aviation world.'' Seventy-five years ago, early aviation supporters saw their efforts rise from the mud when construction began on a long anticipated municipal airport. A cast of public and private agencies, military officers. elected officials, philanthropists. and engineers worked tirelessly to build upon the muddy ground that gave birth to San Diego International Airport on its Dedication Day, August 16, 1928. Celebrating 75 years of innovation, ingenuity and invention. San Diego International Airport looks to the future without forgetting the past. This book tells the story of San Diego's airport, from its earliest beginnings to the modern, thriving aviation transportation center it has become. Today's airport is a far cry from the first runway and single terminal of 1928. In 2003, total employment at San Diego International Airport has reached nearly 5,000, including Authority staff, employees of 19 airlines. seven air freight companies, airline support providers, concessionaires, airport passenger service tenants, ground transportation companies, parking operators and government entities. The airport's operations contribute almost $5 billion annually to the regional economy. The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority was established to operate San Diego International Airport and address the region's long-term air transportation needs. The Airport Authority is governed by a nine-member appointed Board representing all areas of the County. FRONT COVER SPLINE BACK COVER FRONT FLAP FULL TITLE PAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PREFACE: DREAMS OF FLIGHT THE FIRST FLIGHT IN MONTGOMERY'S WORDS JOHN J. MONTGOMERY, SAN DIEGO'S FIRST AVIATOR 1 NORTH ISLAND: BIRTHPLACE OF MILITARY AVIATION GLENN HAMILTON CURTISS-AVIATION PIONEER FLIGHT TRAINING BEGINS AT NORTH ISLAND SAN DIEGO AVIATION FIRSTS THE ARMY INFLUENCE ADVANCES IN U.S. AVIATION: WORLD WAR I AND BEYOND 2 COMMERCIAL AVIATION TAKES FLIGHT IN SAN DIEGO AIRMAIL LIFE OF AN AIRMAIL PILOT AN ACT OF CONGRESS CREATES A NEW INDUSTRY T. CLAUDE RYAN AND THE RYAN COMPANIES AIRMAIL AND COMMERCIAL AVIATION THE NATION'S FIRST YEAR - ROUND PASSENGER SERVICE: SAN DIEGO TO LOS ANGELES IN 90 MINUTES 3 LUCKY LINDY: THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS CONNECTION BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MAHONEY SIXTY DAYS TO CREATE A PLANE THAT WOULD CHANGE THE WORLD SAN DIEGO TO ST. LOUIS AND NEW YORK NEW YORK TO PARIS LINDBERGH'S TOUR ABOARD 'SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS' ON TOUR 4 AIR CAPITAL OF THE WEST: THE BUILDING OFSAN DIEGO'S AIRPORT U.S. MARINE CORPS TRAINING BASE SAN DIEGO THE SAN DIEGO MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN BREAKING GROUND NAMING THE AIRPORT BUT HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST? POUNDING THE PAVEMENT FOR THE AIRPORT BOND AIRPORT OPPONENTS MOUNT CAMPAIGN PROPONENTS PREVAIL SAN DIEGO'S "AAA" AIRPORT DEDICATION DAY: SAN DIEGANS LOOKED TO THE SKIES DEDICATION DAY IN 1928 5 THE OFFICIAL FIRST TAKE-OFF A NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOR SAN DIEGO AVIATION PIONEER CAPT. REUBEN H. FLEET IN 1917 CONSOLIDATED AIRCRAFT'S FLYING BOATS THE CONSOLIDATED AIRCRAFT COMPANY THE SOUND OF SUCCESS 6 THE WAR YEARS: SAN DIEGO'S ''ROSIES'' RYAN AVIATION THE ARMY TAKES OVER THE AIRPORT LIFE AS A ROSIE AVIATION INDUSTRY IN WARTIME ROSIE THE RIVETER THE B-24 LIBERATOR 7 BOOM TIMES: SAN DIEGO SETTLES INTO POST WAR LIFE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES AFTER THE WAR AIRPORT FINANCES AFTER THE WAR POST WAR AVIATION - CONTRACTION AND THE BEGINNINGS OF AEROSPACE END OF AN ERA FOR CONVAIR RYAN'S RETURN 50 YEARS OF FLIGHT SAN DIEGO'S HOMETOWN AIRLINE - PSA PSA: "POOR SAILORS' AIRLINE" 8 SAN DIEGO IN THE JET AGE SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - JET-READY! AIRCRAFT NOISE ABATEMENT NEED FOR NEW TERMINALS WIDE BODY JETS: THE RIGHT FIT SAN DIEGO'S OWN JET-SETTING AIRLINE CONTINUES TO BRING SMILES 9 SAN DIEGO SWINGS INTO THE SEVENTIES: 1970s AND 1980s SAN DIEGO TOURIST DESTINATIONS REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN AN INDUSTRY TRANSFORMS: CHANGES AT SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIRPORT SECURITY THE FIRE AND RESCUE STATION SAN DIEGO'S AIRPORT CONTINUES TO GROW THE RUNWAY EXPANDS AIRSPACE SAFETY DISASTER IN NORTH PARK TRAGEDY IN THE SKY STATE-OF-THE-ART TERMINALS PARKING, A MODERN AIRPORT DILEMMA 10 BUILDING THE ONE - RUNWAY MARVEL: 1990S THROUGH 2002 THE EAST TERMINAL BECOMES TERMINAL 1 THE WEST TERMINAL BECOMES TERMINAL 2 THE AIRPORT FLIES THROUGH THE 1990S THE COMMUTER TERMINAL THE FAA CONTROL TOWER SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 AND THE NEW TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION ART AT THE AIRPORT THE SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT EXPERIENCE 14 2003: CLEAR SKIES, VISIBILITY UNLIMITED THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY POWERING COMMUNITY PROSPERITY ONE RUNWAY MARVEL CONFIRMED THE LINDBERGH LEGACY AIRLINES EXPAND TRANSCONTINENTAL SERVICE EVOLUTION HISTORY OF AVIATION INNOVATION ENDNOTES BACK FLAP