Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana

Fort Wayne International Airport

21Country: Fort Wayne Aviation Museum hopes to soar to greater heights by Daniel Beals posted October 14, 2021 on YouTube
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA21) - In the early 1900's, Fort Wayne was home to several aviation pioneers: Art Smith, Paul Baer, & Margaret Ringenberg. Before the Fort Wayne International Airport was what it is today, it was a World War II military base. For the last several decades, the Fort Wayne Aviation Museum displayed artifacts and the history behind those topics, and many others. “The museum was started in 1984 by local air aficionados,” president Greg Bosk told us. “They collected memorabilia, historical facts, and we built a museum on the 2nd floor. For at least 10-15 years it was well-received.” But after 9/11, with the TSA and bolstered security at the airport, the museum wasn’t as accessible to the public. Bosk said it was also inconvenient — guests had to have a plane ticket, or make arrangements two weeks in advance to get clearance. He also said as times changed, younger visitors weren’t impressed. “We had a lot of things displayed — not much depth, not much knowledge, but a lot of items to look at,” he explained. “We’re trying to go from that old look of items sitting on the shelf to a very digital look that would appeal to the kids and schools, through their phones and their tablets.” 21Country: Fort Wayne Aviation Museum hopes to soar to greater heights by Daniel Beals updated: September 30, 2021 on 21AliveNews.com.

  1. In 1925 Baer Field opened where Smith Field is today. In 1941 Fort Wayne bought land south of the city and given to the government for the new Baer Field and old Baer Field is renamed Smith Field. An August 28, 2022 post on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook shows a 1925 to 2001 Smith Field Timeline from the March 26, 2002 The News-Sentinel newspaperfor Baer Field at Smith Field.
  2. An image of the Saturday, April 1, 1944 The Beacon newsletter titled Baer Field And Its Boss--1917 Version! posted July 30, 2022 by the Greater Fort Wayne Aviation Museum on Facebook shows an article with an aerial photo of a farm house south of Fort Wayne about Korah Micheals who bought a farm in 1917 whose fields became the ariport runways and hangars.
  3. Fort Wayne International Airport Airport History at FortWayneAirport.com. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flyfortwayne
  4. Over 40 Baer Field search results and Baer Field beacon "Baer Field's weekly newspaper" began with vol. 1, no. 1 (July 16, 1942). Ceased with vol. 4, no. 20 (November 24, 1945) at the Allen County Public Library.
  5. Over 60 items are found in a search for Baer Field on Internet Archive.
  6. Photos and memorabilia at Baer Field Memories at The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
  7. Welcome to FWA: the Fort Wayne International Airport published March 19, 2012, The Greater Fort Wayne Aviation Museum by Kayleen R. posted January 18, 2012, and Fort Wayne Airport Offers Hoosier Hospitality – And a Cookie on the Side! published March 28, 2012 on the Visit Fort Wayne blog.
  8. The New York Times newspaper states the airport is a well-financed partnership with regional economic interests, and the fact that 75 percent of the passengers fly in and out of the airport on business, a high rate in their article Airlines Head Abroad, and Also Inland by Joe Sharkey published September 15, 2014.
  9. Since the late 1980s, volunteers have welcomed arriving passengers with almost 2 million individually wrapped Ellison Bakery Free cookies at Fort Wayne, IN as published in February 2015 by CNBC.com.
  10. Fort Wayne is the hometown of Lt. Paul Baer, who flew with the French forces in World War I and was the first US pilot to achieve ace status. Fort Wayne is also the hometown of Arthur "Art" Roy Smith, who was one of the pioneer acrobatic fliers in the pre-World War I era. From Allen County Public LibrarySummary of the book Fort Wayne Aviation: Baer Field and Beyond by Roger Myers, 2011.
  11. Fort Wayne Aviation: Baer Field and Beyond by Roger Myers, Geoffrey Myers, Larry Myers online as a Google book or borrow the Fort Wayne aviation : Baer Field and beyond Publication date 2011 version as on Archive.org.
  12. "Book celebrates city’s aviation history" January 14, 2012 newspaper article in The Journal Gazette newspaper about the new book Fort Wayne Aviation: Baer Field and Beyond with stories and photos of local aviation history by Roger Myers.

  13. August 20, 2020 post by Fort Wayne International Airport on Facebook:

    Take a look!

    We're excited to begin unveiling some sneak peeks at what the future of the FWA terminal building will look like with the completion of the highly anticipated Terminal Expansion and Renovation Project! Take a stroll by the future terminal exterior and see just how we plan to transform the curb appeal of FWA.This project is a huge part of Project Gateway - FWA’s airport expansion and improvement project which includes the Parking Lot Rehabilitation Project, East and West Terminal Apron Improvement Project, and the FWA Terminal Building Expansion.

    You can find more information on Project Gateway here: Project Gateway

  14. December 5, 2022 post by NEI on Facebook [shared the same video above and below]

    Check out an interview with our own Stéphane Frijia featuring big improvements at Fort Wayne International Airport and major investment from Amazon that are fueling the emergence of what some describe as an e-commerce hub in Northeast Indiana.

    December 8, 2022 post by Inside INdiana Business on Facebook:

    WATCH: Big improvements at Fort Wayne International Airport and a major investment from Amazon are fueling the emergence of what some describe as an e-commerce hub in northeast Indiana.

    Emergence of e-commerce in Northeast Indiana on YouTube

  15. June 15, 2023 post by Fort Wayne International Airport on Facebook:

    Going places!

    This morning FWA held a groundbreaking ceremony to officially kickoff Project Gateway's East Terminal Expansion and Rehabilitation project!

    The East Terminal Expansion and Renovation project will continue to bring the Fort Wayne International Airport terminal building into the modern era – continuing the work started with the West Terminal Expansion and Rehabilitation project, which wrapped construction at the end of May. The East and West Terminal Expansion projects aim to transform FWA into a modernized facility capable of handling the momentum and growth that the Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana communities have experienced over recent years.

    Clayco, a full-service, turnkey real estate, architecture, engineering, design-build and construction firm, was awarded the East Terminal Expansion project in December 2022. Mead & Hunt will continue to serve as the design and architecture firm on the project, as they did for the West Terminal Expansion and Rehabilitation project.

    “We are proud of the work accomplished with the West Terminal Expansion and Rehabilitation project, and the beginning of the new FWA passengers are able to enjoy,” said Scott Hinderman, Executive Director of Airports. “We are excited to continue the progress with the beginning of the East Terminal Expansion and Renovation project with Clayco. As we continue to move toward completion over the coming years—we are ensuring that we will offer a spectacular gateway to our region and the best possible experience for travelers.”

    Read more Fort Wayne International Airport and Clayco Break Ground on East Terminal Expansion and Renovation Project Katie Robinson June 2023

  16. June 16, 2023 post by City of Fort Wayne Government on Facebook:

    Fort Wayne International Airport breaks ground on $70 million East Terminal Expansion and Renovation project.

  17. February 6, 2024 post by Fort Wayne International Airport on Facebook:

    "Northeast Indiana has shown that they’re more than ready to take to the skies, and we are happy to see that flying local is a priority for many in the community."

    This week The Journal Gazette featured Scott Hinderman, Executive Director of Airports for the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority in their "Five Questions" feature. Questions ranged from what exciting airport projects we've been working on over the last couple of years, to how FWA's efforts to become a more accessible airport for our community are taking us to the next level.

    Read the full article here ➡️ Five questions for Scott Hinderman, executive director, Fort Wayne International Airport

  18. FWA is proud to announce that for a record TENTH year in a row, the airport has passed its annual FAA Part 139 safety...

    Posted by Fort Wayne International Airport on Monday, April 22, 2024

    Monday, April 22, 2024 post by the Fort Wayne International Airport on Facebook:

    FWA is proud to announce that for a record TENTH year in a row, the airport has passed its annual FAA Part 139 safety and certification inspection with ZERO discrepancies!

    “The staff at the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority works very hard to make sure that we provide a safe and efficient airfield for all aircraft operators as well as our passengers. Our team also works diligently to maintain a top-notch airport facility for the Northeast Indiana community. Ten years with zero discrepancies is a huge accomplishment that not many airports can claim, and every Airport Authority employee should be proud of that.” said Scott Hinderman, Executive Director of Airports.

    Read more ➡️ Fort Wayne International Airport Celebrates Zero Discrepancies for TENTH Consecutive Year

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