Starstream707 From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 174 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 1753 times:
I was flying on flight sim today and happened across Mueller Mun in Austin, Texas. When did the airport close? Why did it close?
Was this the main airport in the old days? I saw a pic in the database of a
DC-8 in there. I would guess noise abatement is why they closed the place. I couldn't imagine the neighbors being happy with DC-8's and 707's climbing out of there. Did that size traffic ever come into KAUS regularly? Who was the last commercial airline flight out of there?
I have no idea when Berg. was built but I'm guessing later on when capacity and noise abatement became issues.
Quote: What was open farm land in the 1920's was now the center of town, with upset residents all around it. A drive down I-35 was not complete without an airliner buzzing overhead. As the airport needs of the city continued to grow there was simply no place to go.
Near that same time a series of events were set into motion that seemed fortuitous. In a cost saving measure, the military was closing bases across the country and Bergstrom Air Force base was on the cut list. In the 1940's the city of Austin donated the land to the US government for use as an air base with the stipulation that it be returned to the city when no longer used. With the base closure the city had land already paid for that was farther from the center of town and that already had runways more than large enough for most modern jet liners. Mueller was doomed.
DCA-ROCguy From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 4402 posts, RR: 37 Reply 2, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 1724 times:
Here's a presentation of the history of Austin-Mueller terminal, with photos:
TripleP From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1703 times:
Austin saw very few DC-8s and 707s.
Continental flew 720Bs for a time - and its likely that Braniff flew in occassional 707s. American, Delta, Eastern were later arrivals to Austin and never used 4 engine a/c to Mueller. Emery was probably the only DC-8 operator of any regularity.
American flew DC-10s/757s in the early to mid-90s.
Austin-Mueller was certainly less than ideal when all things were considered, so it was to be a new airport in Manor until the Air Force and BRAC obsoleted Bergstrom.
Starstream707 From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 174 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1677 times:
Thanks you all SO MUCH for the info! Learn something new everyday.
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