| 1944 Fire destroys the hangar, office
and shop of the old Decatur Airport, plus 18 small planes. Construction
begins on the east-side site. |
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1946 Decatur
Municipal Airport opens for service , with three one-mile runways
plus hangars for private planes, a shop and repair facility and an
air school, but no regular passenger service. The $2 million cost
is paid entirely by the federal government. |
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| 1948 Air Ambulance Service plane
transports first patient from the airport. |
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| 1949 A temporary terminal opens.
Some 15,000 spectators are treated to stunt flying and air racing
at the airport. |
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1950 After years of wrangling over
routes, Parks Air Transport Inc. begins the first regular commercial
airline service to Decatur. Within weeks, however, it is replaced
by the fledgling Ozark Air Lines. |
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| 1952 First jet plane lands at the
airport. |
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| 1956 The airport's 10th anniversary
is celebrated. Charles Willard, first man to fly in Decatur, is guest
speaker. |
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| 1957 A new electronic navigation
system is installed, providing more precise flight tracking and greater
visibility. |
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1966 The
Federal Aviation Administration control tower opens at the cost of
$308,000. Decatur pilot Gary Gray, a Decatur Park District commissioner
and vice president of Walrus Mfg. Co., makes the first takeoff after
the tower opens. He flies a company-owned Beechcraft Bonanza to Kansas
City. |
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| 1967 U.S. Rep. William Springer dedicates
the new terminal building. Four times the size of the previous terminal,
the $375,000 structure is equipped with a baggage conveyor system,
covered passenger gates and air conditioning. It also has a coffee
shop, the Lincoln Inn. |
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| 1976 Ozark Airlines, to celebrate
the U.S. bicentennial offers free "Fly Centennial" airplane
tours over Decatur. |
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| 1977 The Illinois Army National Guard
opens a $1.8 million Aviation Support Facility. It is headquarters
for four Illinois Army National Guard helicopter units. |
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| 1984 President Ronald Reagan arrives
in Decatur aboard Air Force One. |
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1985 The
Main Hangar, a full-service restaurant opens replacing the Lincoln
Inn. UPS begins overnight air parcel service. |
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| 1988 Airport terminal expansion,
the second since its construction, adds new features, including a
baggage carousel, ticket counters and passenger waiting area. |
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| 1990 Traffic control tower handles
its 1 millionth takeoff or landing, with first pilot to use the tower,
Gary Gray, present for the milestone. |
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| 1992 Former Soviet President Mikhail
Gorbachev stops in for a visit aboard a Forbes Boeing 727 nicknamed “The
Capitalist Tool.” Then V-P Dan Quayle, aboard Air Force 2 also
dashes into Decatur as part of the campaign trail. |
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| 1994 The Airport again receives the
coveted “Primary Airport of the Year” award. |
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| 1995 A multiphase 1500’ extension
to the “crosswind” runway is completed bringing the length
of that runway to 6800’. United Express begins new service
to Chicago-O’Hare International. |
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|
 1996 Decatur Airport is named "Illinois
Primary Airport of the Year" by the Illinois Department of
Transportation for its general operations, public relations programs
and ability to attract grant funding. It won the same honor in
1988 and 1994.
An economic study determines the airport's total impact on the
community to be in excess of $32 million annually.
A banner flown aboard the space shuttle "Columbia" commemorates
the airport's 50th Anniversary .
In August 1996, Decatur Airport hosted a 50th birthday party featuring
air show, fireworks, displays of new and vintage military and civilian
aircraft and classic cars, food and entertainment.
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 1999 U.S. Customs office
opens at Decatur Airport, primarily servicing corporate and general
aviation aircraft. International Airport Status. |
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| 2000 Foreign Trade Zone
#245 established 11/21/00 at Decatur Airport with Decatur Park District
as the "Zone Grantee". |
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| 2003 Decatur Airport is again named "Illinois
Primary Airport of the Year in 2003" by the Illinois Department
of Transportation, the fourth such award in its history. Other awards
years were 1988, 1994 and 1996. |
