Planeloco From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 99 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 2438 times:
Sure, you know your American hometown's airport terminal and property like the back of your hand. But did you ever wonder what it looked like before the boring, two/three storey, monolithic, 1980's style pier and airbridge terminal with strips of tinted windows, remote, 100ft high control tower (and no observation deck)?
DCA-ROCguy From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 4402 posts, RR: 37 Reply 1, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 2323 times:
A terrific site, often referenced at this site, one to which I and (I think) others here have contributed materials.
Back in the 80's I was embarrassed by my hometown's (ROC) old brick 1950's terminal, and wanted to see it replaced with one of those "monolithic gray" terminals like you describe. Never took a photo essay of it before it was replaced with our current terminal in 1992. A new terminal was very needed, for sure, and our new facility works very well. But I didn't appreciate the history of the old one before it was gone.
Sounds like you grew up in the south....I never saw any of the terminals you list, but I did fly to old SRQ a couple of times, through old ATL once, and drove by old MCO. Eastern's wing at SRQ looked like a big tool shed...but it got the job done!
If you have any pictures of the old terminals you visited and would like to share them, be sure to contact the site editor.
Planeloco From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 99 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 2202 times:
I grew up in the DC area (Northern VA), but of Southern stock. Had relatives scattered all over. Our family travelled every year to call on family in SW Missouri (SGF - and once to JLN when SGF was closed for repairs), BNA, once to CRP, MOB a couple of times, CLT often, and finally GSP where my mom now resides.
7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 2198 times:
Anyone here remember the PHL green/blue concourses?
The next generation of aircraft is just around the corner!
Scintx From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 270 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 2166 times:
This is a great site. As a kid in 1975 my father took me out to GSW Greater Southwest Airport (Ft. Worth, Tx). It had been closed and they used the runways for weekend organized auto racing. My father use to fly out of this airport in the 1950's and had not been back since then when we visited in 1975. I don't recall how he did it but we got inside of the main terminal building and I had a chance to see how nice it still was. GSW at some point received a B-36 for display (uncertain of the year) and we had no trouble getting inside of the cockpit. My father gave a great tour since he had been a flight engineer on a B-36. This site brought back many great memories of my trips to GSW. I wish back then I would have taken some pictures.
Attention All Planets of the Solar Federation....We have assumed control.....We have assumed control......
7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 2151 times:
The one thing i don't miss about DTW is the old terminal when Northwest was over there...there would be times where you couldn't even find a spot on the ground because of the congestion.
The next generation of aircraft is just around the corner!
DCA-ROCguy From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 4402 posts, RR: 37 Reply 7, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 2090 times:
Anyone here remember the PHL green/blue concourses?
I think I can still see the big white Army-stencil gate numbers under the gray paint of B and C if I squint hard enough.
One neat feature of ROC's old terminal was the flagstone floor in the lobby that ran along the apron side in front of the terminal. It had been an outdoor area under a canopy before it was enclosed in 1962 to provide indoor access to the American Airlines gate addition that was built that year. Also neat was the mural above the counters in the old main ticketing area. The observation deck on the AA gate area roof was closed in 1969 and I never got to use it.
The new terminal was a vast improvement, functionally speaking, and badly needed. But it's good to remember the history of the old too.
Jsnww81 From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 1858 posts, RR: 17 Reply 8, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 2029 times:
That's my site you're referring to - I appreciate the compliments. It's always been a topic of interest for me and now that I've started the site, it seems I'm not the only one!
At this point I've already covered most of the "well known" old terminals - ATL, DEN, PIT, etc. - and what's left are a lot of smaller cities (Lynchburg, Savannah, Rapid City, etc.). It's much harder to find information on those buildings, so I could use all the help I can get. In the meantime, additional content for the existing pages is always appreciated.
Again, I'm glad everyone enjoys the site. I just posted a rather large update a few weeks ago, to prove that I haven't given up on it. I'm just running a little low on new content, so updates won't be as frequent in the future. Unless people on this site help me change that!