Acres Once Roamed By Indians Now Airplane Port;
Lunken Field Is To Rank With Best When Developed
The Enquirer, Cincinnati, Wednesday, September 26,
1928
Where once Indians roamed on spotted pintos, where later tall corn stuck
its browned tassels into frost laden air while its firm stocks swayed
golden ears of corn in a Miami Valley breeze; where since polo ponies
have sensed victory, is today the municipal airfield of
Cincinnati—Lunken Airport.
The first drawings appearing in the Cincinnati Enquirer, showing the
proposed development of the field which eventually will be the largest
commercial landing field for airplanes in the country, approximately
1,000 acres were made public yesterday by Colonel C. O. Sherrill and
Robert N. Olin, Service Director under whose guidance the airport will
be built and the various buildings erected.
Elaborate arrangements for the airport have been worked out by Colonel
Sherrill and Mr. Olin who has made a study of airports in Conjunction
with Edward H. Kruckemeyer and Charles R. Strong, architects for the
Administration Buildings, hangars and other airport accessories will be
asked for. It is hoped that the airport will be ready for dedication
next year in time for the completion of the air races in Cincinnati. The
Administration Building which is to be the center structure for the
group and from which additional buildings will radiate will be two
stories high. On top of the building will be the glass encased office of
the operation officer, who will have a wide range of the field from his
lofty position. In his office, will be built a public address system
which will enable him to call to any pilot on the field.
The Administration Building will house the offices of the municipal
officer in charge of the field, as well as the offices of the
Embry-Riddle Company, present commercial operators at Lunken Airport and
largely responsible for the development of aviation there. To the left
of the administration office proper will be the waiting room for
aircraft passengers, and from this room will run a covered steel
structure which will enable passengers to walk to the ships immune from
the elements.
Sherrill and Mr. Olin, who, in the plans of the building have included
space for a radio room, light control rooms and a weather bureau room.
Here all information necessary to fliers can be had on instant inquiry.
Ample lighting facilities will be provided by the installation of two
lamp changing floodlights. These flood lights, a new development in
aviation will carry one ten-thousand watt light each, and in case one
light should go out another one automatically moves into place. There is
but a two degree angle to the light, giving the pilot plenty of light on
the ground and enabling him to land without difficulty. The light will
show no higher than the pilot compartment.
A ceiling light, throwing a shaft of light straight into the air, will
be mounted on top of the operations office. Border lights will be placed
along the edge of the field, showing its boundaries. All of the hangars
will be flood-lighted, as well as other necessary lighting arrangements
installed.
The transportation facilities to the field will be increased. Colonel
Sherrill has authorized the widening of Turkey Bottom Road to 40 feet
and Davis Lane and other approaches leading to the field will be made
authorization having been obtained for a right of way.
It is the hope of Colonel Sherrill and Mr. Olin that in some future
period the wide bend in the Little Miami River can be eliminated and the
field made larger. To care for the possibility of high water, a large
dike is to be built along the field graded in such a manner as to keep
it dry as much as possible.
Sewerage facilities will be installed and city water piped and extended.
Every advantage which the city can supply the municipal airport of
Cincinnati will be given, making the airport one of America’s best.
The field as it is today won the enthusiasm of the fliers who finished
in the Cincinnati Airaces. Arthur Goebel, winner of the non-stop race
said it was one of the best he had landed on and expressed surprise that
it had not been developed---------transportation would mean nothing if
all the time gained in flying would have to be spent getting to and from
the airport.
The Lunken Airport Company took over the property of the polo club,
reconverted the barn into a machine shop and clubhouse, moved the
hangars from Grisard Flying Field and improved the approach to the field
by building a road. Electric lines were installed and the water supply
furnished. A runway for airplanes a mile and a half long was built and
other necessary improvements made with the result that the former corn
field and polo course became the landing field for the latest modern
invention in transportation.
Approximately $45,000 was spent improving the property, and shortly
thereafter the company leased this property to the Embry-Riddle Company,
Inc. which started the first commercial air service in Cincinnati and
which company is responsible for the development of commercial aviation
to a greater degree than any other company or individual.
With Major Hoffman as the Army representative here, the airport was
placed on the United States Airways and other army reserve air pilots
now operate from the field..
Captain John G. Colgan is now in charge of the air reserves, while Major
Hoffman is in Dayton experimenting with the development of several new
types of parachutes; one for individuals and the other for airplanes.
Commercial aviation started in a small way in Cincinnati. Those were the
lean years for aviators when the country was less air minded, and trans
Atlantic and transcontinental non-stop flight were discussed with all
abhorrence. Pioneers in the industry were considered fools to experiment
with so fragile a proposition.
Perseverance over a period of years finally placed the Embry-Riddle
Company in a position where today it is considered one of the best
commercial companies in the United States. It operates Contract Air Mail
Line No. 24 between Cincinnati and Chicago and is the only commercial
company located on Lunken Airport.
Credit for starting the commercial flying era in Cincinnati must be
given to Hugh Watson and John Paul Riddle------was undertaken by the
Embry Riddle Company and gradually it commenced to grow, until today the
company is the only commercial company operating on the municipal
airport, employing 54 persons of whom 30 can fly.
Upon this field, once an Indian hunting ground, later a corn field, and
since, a polo field will land the future aircraft visitors to
Cincinnati. The field, the property of Cincinnati, will prove to a
nation of air-minded persons that Cincinnatians are alive and awake to
the possibilities of aviation from a commercial and manufacturing point
of view.