Stirling From Italy, joined Jun 2004, 3943 posts, RR: 35 Posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 4795 times:
Spending a Sunday morning here reading some old back issues of Airliners.
Got the Sept/Oct 1996 edition in front of me....
Cover story is "Idlewild to JFK"
So it got me thinking.....
What are the world's most historically significant, still operating commercial airports? If UNESCO attached "World Heritage" designations to airports, who would be deserving?
What airports have made the biggest contributions toward the development of airline travel...through innovation; historical events; connectivity of what were once isolated places;....you name it; who stands out and is worthy of recognition?
I am going to go with, My Top Five, in order,
1. Berlin Tempelhof
2. New York JFK
3. Tokyo Haneda
4. London Heathrow
5. Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont
There are many I considered but left off the list...Le Bourget, Croydon, Kingsford Smith, Boeing Field, Long Beach, Lindbergh, Atlanta, the former seaplane bases at Treasure Island SF Bay, Miami's Dinner Key, and LaGuardia, Gander, Prestwick, DeGaulle, Toulouse and Hamburg, Anchorage, Honolulu, Wake Island, Casablanca, get honorable mention.
HAJFlyer From Switzerland, joined Sep 2005, 1385 posts, RR: 11 Reply 1, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 4750 times:
IMHO the most significant ones are not necessarily those that eventually turned into major O&D airports or hubs, but rather those in remote places that served as stepping stones in the early days of transcontinental traffic.
Without places like Prestwick or Gander transcontinental traffic would only have arrived at a later stage. So these airport enabled airlines to connect continents and cultures well before the first (jet) aircraft with transcontinental range arrived.
They also demonstrated how disruptive a new technology can be, as the jet engine basically wiped out the reason for existence.
LTBEWR From United States, joined Jan 2004, 9375 posts, RR: 7 Reply 2, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 4740 times:
Another one I would consider is Newark (EWR). It has been a commercial airport since the 1920's (except during WWII, when a Navy facility). It was the first major commercial airport in the NY City area. Several technical innovations came early to EWR. It is a major airport in the world market, and has been for the last 15 years. It expanded considerably in the 1970s creating the major parts of the terminal buildings that are part of it today.
JFK/Idlewild is up there to as it became and still seen as the international gateway for New York City and area and for the USA as a whole from Europe, Africa and Eastern Asia. It has (and still has) a historic terminal (ex-TWA Sarrasan designed terminal building). It became the defacto headquarters of the 'Jet Age', particulary as to Pan Am and TWA.
Heathrow - defentiely. It became and still is the 'hub of the world' and one of the greatest trancontinential and long haul airports in the world.
Stirling From Italy, joined Jun 2004, 3943 posts, RR: 35 Reply 3, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 4710 times:
Quoting HAJFlyer (Reply 1): IMHO the most significant are not necessarily those that eventually turned into major O&D airports or hubs
And that's the very reason why Berlin Templehof is at the top of my list. Even considering the fundamental placeholder it has in aviation is military/political based...it was one of Aviation's greatest moments.
Santos Dumont as well, while now relegated to a domestic role, it was the shining star of commercial aviation in South America for many years, when it's location deemed it incapable of growing with the very demand it helped create.
Quoting HAJFlyer (Reply 1): Without places like Prestwick or Gander transcontinental traffic would only have arrived at a later stage. So these airport enabled airlines to connect continents and cultures well before the first (jet) aircraft with transcontinental range arrived.
On my honorable list as well. But I'm unsure if inclusion in a list of "Greats" is warranted solely on geographical considerations...only to be mooted by advances in technology.
Mhodgson From United Kingdom (England), joined Dec 2002, 4970 posts, RR: 40 Reply 5, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 4633 times:
Somewhere like London Croydon/Biggin Hill, or Paris Le Bourget I'd have said in Europe.
No trees were harmed by this message. However, several million electrons were terribly inconvenienced
Greenjet From Ireland, joined Aug 2001, 845 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 4617 times:
Shannon deserves a mention too. It may be hindering development of Irish transatlantic services but it has a great history. Its location meant it was an important refuelling point in the days of shorter range transtlantic aircraft, and today, controversially, for USAF operations. Also, it was the birthplace of Duty Free shopping - very popular in the airport's good old Aeroflot days.
WhiteHatter From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 4604 times:
Quoting Stirling (Reply 3): And that's the very reason why Berlin Templehof is at the top of my list. Even considering the fundamental placeholder it has in aviation is military/political based...it was one of Aviation's greatest moments.
I'd go with that as well. The first real example of civilian aviation getting its act together on a huge scale.
CHI787ORD From United States, joined Jun 2005, 517 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 4496 times:
ORD definetly. It was a the major transfer hub for trans-continental flights across the US for so many years. It still remains a hugely busy airport with a good balance of O & D and transfer passengers.
Flyingbabydoc From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 4460 times:
Quoting HAJFlyer (Reply 1): Without places like Prestwick or Gander transcontinental traffic would only have arrived at a later stage. So these airport enabled airlines to connect continents and cultures well before the first (jet) aircraft with transcontinental range arrived.
I think nowadays pretty much FRA and LHR have assumed the post of these above mentioned. From the Lonely Planet Travel Guide: "everyone, but everyone has connected flights in Frankfurt at some point in their lives"
Shannon was also on top of my list. So much went on there over the years...
Stirling From Italy, joined Jun 2004, 3943 posts, RR: 35 Reply 11, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 4421 times:
I was thinking along some other lines....the world is filled with monuments to the dead of war; having never been to Tenerife? Is their any memorial?
I know the airlines are not so keen on reminding their customers of events where hundreds died before them...but if we can glorify the lost souls of battle......
The Pennsylvania UA site comes to mind, but it is far away from the nervous eyes of joymakers off on holiday.
Quoting Tavong (Reply 4): Kitty Hawk of course, without KittyHawk thert would not be any other in your top list. (IMHO)
I strongly support Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills being made such a site..Not just a US National Park, but the aforementioned World Heritage designation as well.
But for the purpose of this question, it does not represent a functioning facility. I am more interested in the still functioning bits of history.
But that is a good sidebar...As we could nominate many, many more Aviation related locations, that are not airports.
The Hill Otto Lilienthal died on.
The site of the Hindenburg disaster in NJ.
The Pan Am building in NY
The Boeing 747 Assembly Building
474218 From United States, joined Oct 2005, 3781 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 4389 times:
I would say Le Bourget has to be at the top of any list of Historical Airports. Everyone knows that's where Lindbergh landed, but who knows where he took off?
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 11088 posts, RR: 84 Reply 13, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 4371 times:
I'd put LHR on the list for modern civil aviation.
First Jet airliner services
First Turboprop airliner services
First (with CDG) supersonic services, last commercial flight SST landing, (BA002, 24 Oct 2003).
First to have extensive use of autoland (BEA Tridents)
Floorrunner From United States, joined Jan 2004, 248 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days ago) and read 4335 times:
EWR would be on my list because of the fact that before JFK and LGA it was said to have 25% of the world's air traffic. That fizzled out after a while when other airports took over. When deregulation came into effect and People Express took over the North terminal, it began its comeback. Continental absorbed them and Continued building the hub at EWR. Its again a major player in commercial aviation
TheSonntag From Germany, joined Jun 2005, 2757 posts, RR: 30 Reply 15, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days ago) and read 4311 times:
I would add Kai Tak to the list. Not only because of the approach, but also because of the fact that this airport was so popular that it was known by many people all over the world, thus showing the importance of worldwide air travel.
I was surprised to see, Stirling that you added THF. I agree, but I would not have expected it!
STT757 From United States, joined Mar 2000, 12167 posts, RR: 55 Reply 17, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days ago) and read 4247 times:
Newark Airport:
Built in October 1928 it was the NYC Area's First Commercial Airport, and it quickly became the World's Busiest airport at the time.
During WWII it was taken over by the Army Air Corps, it's main purpose during the war was transfering aircraft that were flown into EWR from manufacturing plants to ships at adjacent Port Newark where they were transported to the European thearter.
One tid bit, the WWII bomber that crashed into the Empire State building was trying to find Newark Airport in the Fog.
In 1935, Amelia Earhart dedicated the Newark Airport Administration Building, which is considered by many to be the world's first commercial airline terminal.
From the Port Authority's Website:
"For many years, Building One was the centerpiece of an airport that played an important role in U.S. aviation history. Aviation firsts that took place at Newark Airport include:
• The nation’s first passenger terminal.
• The nation’s first air traffic control tower, which is still housed in Building One and has been restored.
• The nation’s first paved runway.
• The nation’s first runway with lighting, which permitted nighttime operations.
• The nation’s first airport weather station.
By 1939, Newark Airport was the nation’s busiest, handling 481,000 passengers – a huge number then"
From the US National Park Service Website:
"Newark Metropolitan Airport in New Jersey was the first great commercial airport in the United States. Development began in 1928, and during the early years of the airport's existence, one-third of the world's air traffic passed down its runways."
AwysBSB From Brazil, joined Sep 2005, 352 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 4119 times:
I would love to be 100% sure that JFK is the World`s most historically significant airport, but looking at its current T4 and its future T5 I start to think history is losing importance, and that the name John F. Kennedy International Airport can even be changed for another name.
T4 no more has the New Yorker identity it used to have and the Eero Saarinen Building is to be segregated from T5, by losing its ‘747 gates’ and ‘rotunga’ for a new terminal emerge.
It is really sad to see aviation temples being substituted by immature terminal projects.
Why historical things have to be so volatile or banal?
N1120A From United States, joined Dec 2003, 23591 posts, RR: 89 Reply 19, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 4084 times:
We seem to be leaving out the various sea plane ports that were very significant in the development of early air traffic. San Fransisco, New York, Limerick, Honolulu, etc. were all very significant. Come to think of it, their land airports have all been significant, with SFO being the historical pacific gateway, HNL being where planes from SFO and LAX had to stop on their way to Asia and Australia, Shannon airport being built near Limerick as a stop over for atlantic hops and JFK/Idlewild being what it has been.
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
Stirling From Italy, joined Jun 2004, 3943 posts, RR: 35 Reply 20, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 4051 times:
Quoting N1120A (Reply 19): We seem to be leaving out the various sea plane ports that were very significant in the development of early air traffic. San Fransisco, New York, Limerick, Honolulu, etc. were all very significant. Come to think of it, their land airports have all been significant, with SFO being the historical pacific gateway, HNL being where planes from SFO and LAX had to stop on their way to Asia and Australia,
Most people associate Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay with the site of the World's Fair, but few remember it as the original San Francisco Sea Plane Terminal.
The crescent shaped building now houses a museum among other things...and has been used as a stand-in for Berlin in one of the Indiana Jones films (can't remember which one....)
Next time you are passing through on the SF-Oakland Bay Bridge, I strongly recommend pulling off for a quick step back in time...
STT757 From United States, joined Mar 2000, 12167 posts, RR: 55 Reply 21, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 4013 times:
Although Lakehurst New Jersey is not a Commercial airport the Naval Air Station did host commecrial Zeppelin flights from Germany, the most famous being the Hindenburg.
FlyMIA From United States, joined Jun 2001, 3858 posts, RR: 5 Reply 24, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 3837 times:
MIA.
Built in 1928. Beggining of Pan Am. Eastern Airlines, National Airlines. Even in the 1950s in was on of the largest airports in the world. International Gateway. 707 Service to JFK.
Miami Diner Key too. Pan Am Clipper service.
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
N1120A From United States, joined Dec 2003, 23591 posts, RR: 89 Reply 25, posted (4 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 3833 times:
Quoting FlyMIA (Reply 24): MIA.
Built in 1928. Beggining of Pan Am. Eastern Airlines, National Airlines. Even in the 1950s in was on of the largest airports in the world. International Gateway. 707 Service to JFK.
Miami Diner Key too. Pan Am Clipper service.
Remember that MSY was a very important early latin american and carribean gateway as well.
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
26 Ckfred: There used to be a sign as you drove into the terminal at MDW that said, "Welcome to Chicago-Midway Airport, the birthplace of modern municipal aviati
27 SHUPirate1: Don't forget about Terminal Three, the former Pan Am WorldPort, although it is now just the World-Of-Confusion-Port...
29 JFKLGANYC: Well, LGA was the world's largest when it opened it 1939 . . . hard to believe, huh? And so was JFK. Of course certain airports in the world have play
30 Wr70beh: Maybe not THE most historically significant, but one that might warrant some attention is Love Field, mainly because of it's role in the whole Kennedy
31 ERJ: Maybe not a 'top 5' nominee, but Pitcairn Field (now NAS JRB Willow Grove) is worthy of an honorable mention.
32 Ctbarnes: Here's mine: Berlin Templehof, mainly for the reasons everyone above has stated, plus because it was the site of the Berlin airlift. Le Bourget in Par
33 SuperD: C'mon, you have to at least throw some recognition to tiny Albert Whitted Field in St. Pete, FL.....the birthplace of airline travel. The first regula
35 ODAFZ: Here some other nonetheless histarically important airports : 1-DAKAR , a necessary stop on routes to South America. Its role dwindled with the advent
36 Fuffla: SYD.....the first officially declared international airport in the world, in 1935. (please do not quote me on this, i am not sure, but i have heard so
37 United Airline: My vote goes to Hong Kong Kai Tak International Airport.
38 Keesje: Flew over / drove past Tempelhof last week. Surely an impressive sight. Rich good/bad history. Taxi driver told me Berlin has a problem making up its
39 GoldenArgosy: I would also include Saigon with its role in the Vietnam War (i.e. Operation Babylift).
40 Carpethead: Nagasaki Airport - world's first man-made island airport. (First opened 1975)
41 Jet-lagged: What a wonderful thread! In the category of 'modern aircraft technology has reduced their influence', I would suggestion mention is due for: - Honolul
42 Stlgph: he began his trip in St. Louis departing to New York before Paris. St. Louis is also the airport from where first U.S. President to ever fly in a pla
43 Ssides: Don't forget DAL. Site of a presidential swearing-in following JFK's assassination.
44 Contrails: I'd like to add my two cents' worth: 1. Le Bourget - has to be included. Lindbergh landed here and showed the world that transatlantic air travel was
45 Pilotpip: STL also had the first recorded "controller" This guy used to head to the middle of the field every day with a wheelbarrow that contained flags, an um
46 Stlgph: wonder what they're gonna do when he retires.
47 F27XXX: JFK and LHR are my two votes. So many firsts have happened from (and between) these two! Tony
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