Fort Myers Airport History

8/6/2019 Fort Myers Airport History

1/41


2/41

AHilstoryof Aviati'on in

Lee C,ou,nl1~F ' , l lo r i i ,d !a l

B yP n J d T a y i:o rBoard

an d E sther B . C o lco rd

Commissionedby~eLee C o un tyPort .AiJtlhortty

o n theo c c a s i o no f them e n t hb i r r. h , d a yo fSouthwestFlorida ~ntemational)lij rport

M ay 114.1993IFort M yers, FI'o rida


3/41

M ay '~9B3LeeCounty

lBo ard o f C o un ty C -o m m issio ners

Fred l B a l 1 l e . r o nR o la n d E a iS rM io o d

Bill fussellPOflerGoss

R ol8nd O . R obel1S

CountyM Dm ey -Jim YaegerC ount}fM m inism :C 1D r - Lavon Wi5her

IDJrocrorof t\irpons -G8ryLelellier

May 1993Lee(runty Pon:Authority

Bo ard o f Po rtCommissioners

John E . M'ann ing~Cha i lm3nJonn J ! J b r o n .\/lee'Pre~tdent

R a yJudlahF ran 'k lfn B. M a n nDoug51.Cerney

PortAttom ey -Jim 'taeg,erExecu rive D irecto r-P au l D o hen y


4/41

A His,t1oryof AV'i,aliolnlin L ee,COUinty,IF'loriida

By P.rudy Taylor Boardand .lEsher B., Colcord

W~Dg walkers,Bam stunning.Daring pnQUS, 1 , 111 ,irpl


5/41

"The hydroplb~ngton. D.C. where he asked f]or,idSenators l~lc1Jchcr and Drane to in'Q:crccdc on hts bebalf. They d!d

J.nd he became the Rrs,l Aor~dian to j;oin the Ariny A.v~aUonCor.ps.Page was 1:IJ~ '50the n_r&l F~(ldcUOIn to recei'i.'e a comrnissjon as, an

omflcr 'in t I 1 0 1 tbranrh, Oflkially, he'd been rredmlc,d with bringingdown ~hree German plane OB 'the' weS'leJ'D :rron'l dUlrioc \VorldWar J and, acron.ling to the Press. was -known 1!ohave two otherborhe lGenmm :ilirlf)lancs) marhlnas 10 his. credlll."

]01918, Pa~ hadreccived th e Oi sti n Rl:!tsbcd SCHvi.C(! Cross.~he CWI,\: de Gucrre and olhc r cUatlo315..Hill ~oss was l:een~y feltin U'I~ small mmml.!!nil)'.

The nexr siglllliliranl event 'in the h~!itoifY 0 ""'iatioQ 'n LeeCOU1Uy oerurred on November ." 19'24 wlb.CD the eily of Fon~'Iyer.s acquired a quarter of a secuon of land south of 1;0J1.Myer.s lcr S] 8,000 from Charles A. Stadler. p~side]jiJl of the:-;~ader bah)r ,r.om,pan), '_

The Chy intended to IlSC the land as a munirwpa] goU course,' 11101\ 'Wasn't to be and .. I;'>U'niol'l 0 11 ' ~he 'IOlnd, [JO'i'lof kno,,"'D as iJ.ag~Ficld ;,uild So named decades later to honor CllIanntill,g rage, W3.Sused as Lee COUl1!t)~'5 Jtrsi atrpen,

By 1'926, me alrport ,cow;i.swd of lWO runways, 300 ~eel w~de\~'hi('h '-ormed an L ..Io,ng ~\,~,O sides of the chY(I\,'IIncd qua.McrS!'!nJion off Illh~Tamfaml Tra.il.

111 Ch"nuber of Commerce, lnreresaed in b~ing,ing daily airsesvice to i:=ort'l ers. invii."d R~i,d 11 0 1 ' .Chillmbers, presidenl of

2


6/41

Florida Airways ,r.oI"IlQration, [0 a dirmer meetmng on r-ebruary 15~u the R o y a l Palm Hotel, ChambGFS told the audien,ce tber in orderJior his pian(!s to fly into '~lIld out of Fo:rt MYers on a regular basis,the runways at the munlcipal. ailrpon must be widGl:u~d,smoothed and an additiona:! 2,000 feet of m approach provided.

The main problem, he explahl,ed, was that the ground wiils

uneven and fun .o f snags, palmertn j-eots and ruts. The largeplanes needed to atram O J, take-otf .speed of 60 m.p.h. and a]a:l'ldi.ngspeed of ~!)6rn..p.~ . When the planes, whtch had h'lllUoonwheel,s; str!J.d: roots and snags, they ve;e~ed OlInd i~ W'IlS bard form e pHotl;to keep 'them 0 1 1the nalTOw runrwa}'S. Maj 0 1 "Chil'mbcrs.m akiln g a d LffiC 'I!!Udecision, :s.a~dno m o r e flQrida Alrways p1anes""1'ouM 1!.ceUentfor ordl n a.ry sized

atrcraft, but for [JileHying monsters that wi]] be used in the airservice, it i s inadequ ... e,"

C ham b ers w as an:orn.pan le d by f.. LeR(1YPeUeue.r, .ad'll'erllsingmanager for the Rlcke.nbacke r Motor C O T > npll ny. TIlc me n hadI 1m ,,'n :in l:OlOWIl in tlu:ir sister airships, lI'I.f "M]S5 Mia~d" and tbe~M~ssTampa,." creating quite a sdr and luring a sizable luf:m:m'lof 1 '0 i l l ctnzens who galilered ar the field toosee them land and

take off. The e-vent warranted front page coverage in the r 'O nMyers 1topical News.Among in~errcswd lipcct,nor~ ili.u. day were Thomas and Mina

Edison. Whl!D ask.ed


7/41

Ch

S. O . G o o d m a n , [ 'Ires-idemo r (b e Fort H)'ers Ch ~('lpot(.ed oilJ1ilI~Y 16, li1:;n CI1:amlxlr lLn MIS "0.11 .:!in:iI1JSfUlI Ct!O'1 tour of a new ailrlHlc tba~ ", 'mOO.fl~ect both coasts, offlorid1l lo'I'ith New York. ~ On'ly si:ll wee'ks e3i(1 ier, C]n.amberli [I hadmade bi.slo.r)!.

In 1~H9, New York ho~eI owne F R:~}rmoll.d O.~lilj g ha,d aa-aouneed ~e ,,"'"-IS putting up a $25,000 prize '''~iO die' .r.FSt avi,alO '!"who shall cross ~he Alrnantic ~n ~ 'b.llnd 011 water ,ain:raft thea vler' 1 f I ' 11 I1 I1alr) f i lO : l i l Parts or ~e shores, o rFr


8/41

The prize had excited se:vemW piliOlS of the day. Ad mi ... IRichard Byrd. 'Charles lind.bergh, and several others, inc]udi.ngC h a m b e rru iD ~ 1 ld .b e gl;ll]to. preplEire.

eh'ambelili(l, wh o declded to '[:like 3. lDaJvig.nor. was jj,eadyfivedill''!;'bef(lf'l~ Undbc:rgh; iI.owever, fue :navigator. UO: ltd liI 'e J Jl" 1n lnd ,demanded we)" take ilion!!: beavy r-adio eq,u.i,pB1l

C~.arle.!l ~,riDe. l'Il


9/41

In 1'937. Nadonal Airlines, a ndgling airlhine estllblish d hI, 1934,e)lpre~sed an micrest in, bdlJlRing passenger servloe, air mail andair express to tile Fort M. rs area,

Accordlng to the October ] 969 issue of The N':llljonaJ' R~poner.a uade m3 g 3 1 Z~ n epublished by NaliOr.iand. Al a meeli~'R of til, Fonl\~}' rs Cil), ' Council, Baler f!!IIplained that the present airport andII nR~,r :l,ccomluooatiom; \!,,'ould be adequate ror lbe unson trt-motor planes which would be' serving iliis area. However, byNo\'ember ]. NationaW \\rould be llsing (he ne .... La kbeed VgaI~~gbspeed passenger planes, Ry that Ume, the' rUrlwa:rs,wouldhave to be much ~ollg~r .

.il.!aker' ",< lJS :.u:comp'..Il lIi,cd by H, c. Wb~me}{. DilTeClor or th cAl'Jaliorl Dlvlston or me State Road Dcp[l]"itm.~1'Il. Whitn.e)' rseom-mended eoasrruettoa of it .:I,OOo-root t"UDlway IIIHldc o.f shcUcovered "fitb ""sphah~ .

0[1 july H), -less than two ~~'eeks later, ahlmuJth the runwayswere [101 complel'c~)' lnard-,surraccd. Ihi. '!y were sufflelent for anintermedlare !llOp 011, lh.e initial night or Natio~ .. 1 Al.rUnes b "-tween Tampo and (\'lianli. tayur 03.\'1.1Sb.apOird. joined byP o: su n a stcii" Wa U e r Wa lle rs ,gllf,~eted lhe planes.

I'he Ilrse airmail and pass BEer plane arrtved ut [be ForlMyers Alrpon .:IlS:H a.m, and lefl (,OI.rry'ifnl!:more lIiI.an 25,000Ietters to be returned to stamp rollcctors < In over the COu.TI~ry.ShallaI'd and \'\iahl!l1i were passengers fOIl' the nigilt over theEvergbde.'>.

On July] 1. 1937. the Fori Myers: News Pres,~ reported, ~'Ia)'orSh~lp.u-d 'reuJ.mocd e~~nlsi"Mi(' ever lhe ,i:lirma~l ,;uild palS'cngcrscn'h:e and sahl ..l project had IJcC'1IJ\'O'rli:ed up lo make thl!' FunMycn Airport lhofounhly modem. This would mean tille c:'on-SU"UCliUil of t\'\IO iliad. suo-faroo rum'o'ays "',000 ~ Cl. l.oliIg 10 ac-commodate Iast alrsh i:ps."

[[I (he same .ilFli.c1Ie, 1he f; r s 'Were Uncd. On~'",;IY to 'Miami'V i ~ , '7.50; round trip, was $13.50. The fJil:ie 1 0 Tampa. OIlC-W.OIYWJSSi .. 9S and round trip \ s12.95.

Accordjjjl~ to Karl. Grisrn,er writing in MThe Story o r Fon!\':lyer5.~Nnional began making regular Slaps at ;he Foltt M)lersAj rpcrt 011 AUgUSl ~. 19'.:17. ~ulter 'the airline was forced 10 cancelman)' m,ght;!;because or 'Wc,1.l"ounds ;;Ji_J'ld tate 1n th e )'eill' omchd:.

l ~u'Cau~ncd ro d,iron lh],ue servtee u nul conrre te run",d.~It ~~'asn't ~hal the Cit)' dldn'~ """011 '1 '1 lOcOIIl1i:P~Yith National's

ruqulrernents. The pmbl.em was a 1.00e ' "of money, ll1c area W;lSstill in th e throes. or the d presi()m. Futoilly., tn 193.9 1 in order tollu,diry fOil Fede.r:.d monies lrom ~he 'Worl{s ,Pmjens Adl11inisu-aHon


10/41

(\\l'PA~. (he eily of .FoWl:M~rs deeded the aiff,)'Qr~ 1.0 Lee 'CotU1ilyand on November 7, U939. voters ap:p~"tI a $75,000 bond issue(0 !pay tb~ ~ond share of l~~ co.'il of the :lmpro\~e.mefiJ[s,.

Work on the 'l.&Q,ree rOrnil,Crel'~ TU11t'ways Wil,~ commencedJ!lIlI1Uary I, 19-10by ti'leW1......Soon, tlue project. was taken iJI"!.'cr byl]te Cb.;U AeroDiil!l!liCli Authol"i t.y (eM) and finally by (me U. s,

Ann),."[he a irlP Orl wa sdescribed l!i1 1i.heNO'IlCmbil r 2 :g, 194'0 i:5


11/41

Field, t1rl~s;was not a:ccepm ble to the Arm)' li'>'Il"ichuntinued ttlOpe:r-flU'eunder the name or rnhc:ForI M y el.s A rm yAjr Bas~"

r> lcan whU e,. M alio ]lillI A.:I.rI.i.lJieshad once a~~~.3.ppe3.Fed all UNlSCI1n.e.Once lher1!linway.s b

The bat:de of the becdbu,gs lasted abou~ U.\"O weeks and by til tsU m e. tn e so ~dlC !rs JilO id stiU


12/41

In ~lIIt o ro il, b isro ry ~ o ]1 Le fO E tb e F o n ,M yers H iSlO neal ~: IU!oouIll.C reel. rc1 Wh:l1e


13/41

H eld ius~ befo:!",e d a wn a n denjoy


14/41


15/41

En December of 1942, ~he Centra] tnstruetors Schoo~ was,esu.lIbh8hcd OlI'III,d n the tnstrursers to the n~dO[l!S 5i)!. aerlOliIgU. l1neryschoob: 'weJc ~""ql.lirud 1 0 go throuHh 'm e 'I:rni'lling coerseau Bucki.ngham.t'~WU peak, Ute 6,500 acre base housed U " : i , O O OMen. B y l~Ctwme BUf"kingham "ms shut down WilliSeplc'Dlbell' of 1945, 50,000

soldiers had been Ui:J: i1iLedth ere as < l i m "crew P;UIliI'l em.AI~II' Ibe wa:r, the bail'Tack.sat Buckil1gham were us,cd as, [heEdison Collcge which closed down in the summer of' 1948.

[",'en ~hon.tS:h he mosqlll~to~ wer'~ 31 menaee, lhl' soil sand)", the~llmmelrSmis'Il! 'rabl)o'hot .lind the ndd I


16/41

It was a mO.lllCIUOUS occasion and Nalional I?res~dent L U.Ma)'l'lg, jr, pf'e&ented .. plaque prab~ng lFon Myers Jor i.'I.sm[OQlntUl'lit)' endeavor to promote p:rowcss llilrou.gII, aviatiol'l.mi\p:eptilflg lhe plaque "" rc te COimly Commission ChairmtlnJu~ian nud.son, Fun Myers 11. '13) '01; ' Paul My~rs and !Fort. MyersChambelF of LoT1!lmcn:cl>rc;s.ideluW of the Jl\jrpol"lwere atse g~ven, fhefighL!ng lI'espollsjbiUUcs :.IS weU asperfanning Lhe~r primary job ,rlll"lctiO]'lS 10 provide slalfin.i!l for liteservlces .. In ]96'5,. ~hc lirsl new fire 'U"ud; was purchased by tilecoU'Ilt)' and the departme.nt \\laS formally organi:r.cd.

[n 1971,. the County dCi"ided to cstabltsh its o .....n nrcdepartment and George DeTar was appointed, by the Board ofCount)' Commissi.onc["s o l . A.dmiI.'lJSllr.lli'io'(!mrectoli' of Lee Count) 'Dh'isio[l o rProllXUHl Services, The 1-\:irpO'rtr:~re Dcpa.rtm.tlil '{w;n;lncorporased [ISa d.,ep.a.rtmenu o r lhe CUUnl}1Fire Serdce Ph tsion,The need to add perso I'll'le~ 'lio t IH~fieri IlhUmg crew prom ptedc~pansiofl of the deparun em whh ])HlrC5Sional firellghUngpersonnel who were hired and 'l:r:aincd-hi! complianre ",,'i~11henC!.'"State siandards ;u thtll time.

lihe .su n do w n ers

No history of' avtmton in Lee Coumy would be completewillwuu rnamlon of tlrn~ Sundewners, ll J community servlrc clubslaned in Movem her 1965 by a group or 1.0(':1pi ~ots ~II d boa~cr5inchldi~g Simon Mii.Tlhl, Bob Ilampuo~, Jol1l1 Langan, DaleRef.\nier, l>cwis Stanke.!", [)Ol'l Andenun,\'1hdter Uorli1. GeQr!lcCanwrLgbu .uu.l lou Ileadey. They ",'e~ a n (rom lhe Civil ,\iTPatrol and, in Ute beginning, mK'~ the CAP plane to make SC


17/41

Care 11 C 8ChamberUnPl 'I( )l~ OOlJd .r rsyMm .Clarence Chamberlin

Fort My&1'S iMunicipalAilPOrten Edisol'llAV,llmHI'.uS iid b:,l priv ate a lrcra ll' w lmen P ag e IF iIlld w as'Ia ke n o v erby the A rm y A irF o r,o o fo r W o rild W a ~ II.Photo co(Jriesyp (J{lY S lle (l, Jr.

1 4


18/41

15


19/41

IN8Ik)lu i IA r tl ioos beganscheduledla irm a n serv ice in to F o rtMyers!n ~ 9 3 1usingth e IRyanplanespiclu:~edhere.phoro, COlll tesyFred Biyam

,J"I:&iu lh pIan D"'w i ih G a r y L e ill 'i( j'IIi 'Q r .Airpcn1:M 'a n a g Q l',an d IfAA,cl'ific laJls 00 boaJrd.1es1s, 1heruii lW ayS pl 'l ibrW'lreceiv,lngltheirC Eln , [f~ Q 0 1 o p e ra U o l1 \

P h a r ocoWiOOyI'M M y e ,t s'N9Ws.Pr~$'

16


20/41

StaUon] ,agent&lIldpilot p & r m : ySnell,J r.5 ' laOOS at th e Nationa l Airlinesticket C(U.ll ' lterready 1 :0wel'oome -194 71ouris ls .

Photo,cclllllesyPeTtYSn9f1

Two Piper J4 C ubs fly ,o verL he co ncrete ap r,o l'lillid ~ h~ ngar.sr romWo iild Wa r II.FOIiII~'1i1'$AilW ays now lISQSUte,rarJ1lp$bJt ~h!i'liliangarsI1lfll '101lg g01l9.

Photo'collillfiT Piny SIlBII


21/41

--I


22/41

.Al'laeria~ photo vl!lW~ajo;e ,nnJuneUIS3sh!)ws Ioodi~ ram,p,te rm in a l .a i'i ldruniway"it oega_nopera t ion"

P o o r oalurl:e&1Lee CoUll/y P:o!ftAtdhoril,

Sou thwest F1 o.ridaJrflLemationa~AirpolApfFI 113 , ~ssaP ilat(} b yCI9mllli:ltPfIQ.fOgraphic5e.MOOs


23/41

World W'a_~~Io om b ardis'r 'inUar(!r~ ~.18 '~cki!19h;il l1ir'lG~.iI1Iruii.!ys.chool.

P ho W ,O O Uli9SYOsca.r Cotbi~


24/41

I...'

I

Ma,V1 5 . 1 9 '5 5,the new $25,0001 IPageF i Q r dterm in a! Isdedlca1M. Cutl inglthe rib boiii i s ! ,Miss,For iM yers, SU aM a r C U T I 1 I ' ,dal.llgl'1ta~Q~ St ,u I< l :n l ! lM~I E U W . H.Marcu!if!.BahiM ~ ar!)lre '!Nilw nIPigottO!n:airm~~f ~ h & 1'CclJntyCommlissioners;H ea rd E dw ard s,IMayor;John lL. IMorris,VICePM$id9n~o 1lfu bllc M arrstO TNational .Airl i'l1QS:aMIIDr.Johli1 S .StQward~Chairman of RotaJl}"1c'lubAviationCcmmilmBg\

Pholo ooliltesy W .Ii Marcum

ROg;erSilkiin.ri.r$~IPUS'tlI1'! lE u - toanW,81i1tSout~weS'lf l eg ' ioml!OlJAirport0 n ID~I'I~m g ~lilt1 6 11 .M J y U , 1 9 83 ,was gl"'Hl~ad' w 11 : hflowersandl cl'l.atnpagne.

POOIOounWIFOft Ml~N9W$.Pre$S

21


25/41

C~ptain Beverty Bass.,A m erica n M ilin u slpilot.b ro u g ht A m e -rb n "s .iinauglural flig Miinto FortM yers. Bass received he ~tirst Ufghtnatninglal F o oMyersAlfrways.

Pho,o' COl/riBS! Fotl ~en;News-Ptes-s

FilrstOtfioaif DianeP ow,e ll. a n a l~ veatLea C oU in ,ty. lIiBs r,ar

NOn'lhwest Airtinoo.Photo ' courtesyR ichm olld P ow el"

,

2 2

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26/41

The!1~ aJrportMiadyfon 'he c:ockta il parlycelebraliil1gthelOp'lningohhe n ew F actl1 ty M a y 1 4 ,1 9 63 .P f r l a WOOUrl,85Y , 0 1 ' F o t tM'yWSN9WS,-P19S5

two,da.ysbabei ~ hQQp.~nln.g, irlvitedgussls s(p ch am p a gn lil ssfhey adm ire the n ew 1 erm irn alatSolJflhwe&~.FIc'.r ld~ R&g lona~Atrport..

poorQ,ooiJrlesy of Foo'M~fS N~wsP{'e5s2 3


27/41

From [he sso on d llo orOOJlCQUf'S-9,1hol lescalators,can ry p assen gers, asthey lo o k dO W I '!entheSpaciOWIS fot:byof 1ha MW te rmi iila l bui ld ing,

phoro CCi u i f i ! l i SyFod Myers News- -P 'liSss'

Wailiog8 ! i ' E l 8 I S a 11 h 8dapa rlu re g~ a te sg iv eample sea1il 'lga n d g ,8 1 "1 1 Ilm u .swalkways,to r ' I ' lcomingand OLflgoirlgpassengers.

Phol0 oo!lrlesy F an Myem N9WS-Pr8SS


28/41

TIhI,eSundowl1iers receive no gOV'l;!rmil1ent SUpPflfn and arcIlnani:,ed almost entirely by conu-ibutions from indi'!lidu3Jl boait.(ll'sand fund 1"3tsers put 0111, by the organization.

Il's 9. community servlce and ~d Wilson. \"iho Slm OW[lS andoperates Fan. Myers i\irways, 'liU provides tbe dub w:ith free ue-down space, storage and meeting rooms .for Ihe~r' trabll,ngsernlnars at PlIjilC field.

f\s Pag,1!Held grew, furilt M),'crs Ai 1'\\'


29/41

merropclltan O ! I " C O Iand. the only oaethat didn't i1ave' access toAtlanta, the oflmylFileway to the Sou,:he3iSl."

Once l . l iI .eneed was establls,hed, Delta, Eastern, SouU:lcrn andUnirtoo Mrlines m c dto &CTV Fort Mycn. A hearing held in 1975aw _rdcd Eflstern the T"OUl[,e and Eane:rn started service onDecembi!r 10 ohhe same), -aT.

Rodda wrlllc. "Wit'h the support or the Lee COlllnty Comnl~s.s~on. acnmmtrtee ""


30/41

J!,'hnrlc GonstrlU.ctor~" lnc, of Tarrspa ","'ere rlre cot~lnllnionCOIl!I trn,ClD'rs.

'J The Le~ COl:!f1I~Y Comrni~sion." !toddJ ('onlinu!ld,~surrol:!ndcd Hself wilih the 1il~n expertise it could find. Arter .lU,or :oil] tbe piayt.!rs, FM. ~hti:


31/41

O n N ovem wr 26, 1 97 5lUny C lem on s, ananive [inn g]11>etsinceO n < : :i 1 : ie 1 : , :; N 'i ,1912, ~ s ; ;[Ippoinled f i 'f e C h id . Under Clemons ,t m t c 'd'C~rtJl1ent reech'ed dcHve ry of a r.1pi d. ~me.retuio[l vehicl e and~'o 1,500 gaUolil crash nre fig.hting v>cnidcs. "~llis broug}'tt tJlu~airpor~lo [uU compHam:::e wi~h ~1rue federal! Avi.all0nJ\d,nlin~s:lF.ition5 ~equillements 'ror arrport fucl1gbtin,g O 1 IJ1 ld rcsc~e

servrcas. The spe:ciaMzed fIIIWoodby hi.rcd exncrtcnecd. (cnifiad ~a\!ol'eaforcemenr officerswho ~3.d prreviDusly wor'ked :lil ei.~ber u~.e Fon Myen :PoHreDl!:pa m n e:1 iI~or th .e~til Counly Sberi fr ' . . .lJ 'epa.nmoe.nl.

Cost fo r the 1.3, menwas esui I'n.ated 0lJ~ S] 89',25,8. Th ei~ dutles""'~1I"i! to lnctude &~c~liity screeni ng, gale secu ril)". t-raffic oen t.of.I~;lil'l d. c~O\'!I'dcontroll.

On 'Ooe lobe r2 rn :d tlteAim-pon: ~:i e De,parta:'mC'lllbecantelltc' leeCQUIIH.y Port Authority Cr:ash Fi~e Rescue Depanlll'len~, :.lJ IJJ;]m~"il it id lw-a:s mu chI1IlO],,1l!descriptive ,o f lilile s~nr.ires performed.

Friday. Aprai 11, ~98,0' ""


32/41

E:Slima!l:cdcQs:lw.aS!lOW $$3.000,0001and leTc:ltiiGr. I):romm,ed 1 0.wJation dil'ecto~ ~b:u jumte, had been insl ructed ~o ~ get tJ:H!a~!ipoF1 back OlliilroUJI'~. ~

lJetw~eo.!\.~ay 1"9'om:d JanuaJryl980 me sln or ute proposedtcil"~liD:ill had ~eponed~;y ~n('],\e:JISied :rom 1 58,000 sq~;]re r>eet ~o27'6,000&qJUMCfeel ,a_ndfrom12w H gales.

f o i lr1di 11& WIDl ~aiJ]~I:.lI conCern and Ile:n Pralt eeedlts Rep. L. A.~Shl:p~ liIaJaUs for worldng \\,itb tile FAA in \\Va~hlDglTIn ~o obtaln < :I5:7,.500.000 grnn~ [ro.nl tlilu:~'g,o'!.'e~nmenu. FAll. could not rn ake acomml.ImCflt for more tlta_u one yea.r at < I I .lime so local Qmcial~];:mmcbed forward 0 0 ~ ffi:lilh .and oorlJdi:s,sue5 dl:i:n lIIo'ollll.d be Tepiltidby remaland olncr :riCesfrom aiiLlncs l!lS~Jilg the :~rpOiit.

B y 1 98 2.~ll'i'rlPCn. co]!.stlmcliQI!! c'ost.s were es~i.ma~ed. to he ine~ess of $'93mJmolill" or tei p~c ~c OIigiururiG,U!rc. con everrunsbecame a ~laj,Qr Jssue hll medla CQVeT-!]l'le ilnd ~ru~~edJle ry debates

29


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O n JulYB. 1 982. th e fAA, ordered. L e< eCOY m y m tea r cut .ulidreconstrurt 700 feet ,of the 8,400 roo~ :runway.

On J ~~y 9" 1982. l~e 1 i ' o ,N".M}~E:S M"M's Pr-css ~CPQrtcd.." 'fhecounty si nT.:::h.ole OIil5ultJJ]],~ Jlc.f)Grt~d the roUa.p'se w

were a~l IJIert:;CSS3ry~OSn aad were uIllima lie]), :relJlecu~d i~the ]al'ld~.i1Jg Jecs which, for


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:11;][1made fON I'olycrn Beach his home. Thus, en March 9'. 1983.comm:i55~Ol'lerS wl'ed and mad-til It offici a]])' CblllmiJe:rliIl Ilri'llc'.

Ute' ',,"!orl::was accelerated, Rep1l1ni w,el'emade; runwa_,ys 'Werenn.~shed. However, whl I e the o p eD ! Ilgof tite new ,iiI.i:rpon:on Maym4h'Ou.ld \Xl OI,mome:mou;soccasion, M;;Iy~0 was p'l"@bably everyb.it. a s e ..{dD~g to te"Pe&c~'\

On Tuesday, MSly 10" :l.'tapprQx! PIalC!)" 5;5 S p.m.. 11 learJ~\~e lli. ted f romJet South a n d cOI:nI')'ing tmI.roe'reporters, a . u~lev.i;s~ol1

camenman, Gary Le"felli.e[' and FAA a i r traffic ma:na(li GerryWonts tnek 'oR"rrom Pa&c' Fhlld and new rn 'tbe Sou~b'o'l'e5l FlerldaR e glo llia l A i:l"]J ;)o n .

h~ 1 1 matter o :r ~croDd8. tll(! j,et-pil!oled by [}oll

Aft.er ~Il h e b isla rlc fh",u, i~: was bad.:: 'to busi l'I,es~-airporlbUlsul1ess, of gcUIDg aJPprov


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long\Oo'ay from ~hc days when ,("ele'bnrim1l.S were obsi!:r'vcd w~U:li;< 1bll :rbeC1l.u~.oF a fish fry.

At &:10 p.rn. 0 [ 1 , May 13, 1983. less t J1 rn ' 1 l1 l J,6 hour's bero~c me nrs~p]anewas '~oareive, FA A 'CcrU[]c.nion Specialist B.m Ward issued,ilie eemJih ::,a.1Jel fOpe.r3JbOll 5.

TILe .1 0ng~a""'[Iruted I 'Ir lO ' !U~nt rmal Jy.nTi",~d ,ot11ld:ilt l:40 ;;UIl .on

Saturday. May H " 1 ~M S3 ,D~h~. niRh~1 6 7 7 . nid:namcdl1iLc mO'l;'! 'lyBlrd" hecause i~ '~!as 'Id W

:rIter completing a ml n~mllll'll of .:100 lim.! P. O ,or tmini,ng, in a pract.ice~(hool co:nd~ctcd by the U. S. Cu.slOm~ S( ; l MCC.The Crn.sh Fi re Rescue Dep:lnmelll~ h 1 H : J511ared [;aei ~ itie.o; ina

~,laff hOl:!sl~with the pollee ~d(!par~m~nt fOil"mo:;c than a ~N"arbe'rore the 11ir:pon opened to provide necessary Polic'e 'I'm,d, fireS

11 ' 1the field o r el'l1eI"Fl;l 'Iccy rescue, ~he C'rash Here Rescue:Deparunent pm,~ided w~t~ lIigh tech aquipme:l'DJl and rigid.cnmprehensive urn~:~'hll!; pI"Q,~r~ms that Fesuhed ~:III high qm:t~hyaircraft crasn resC 11 I.t;land structural nrc 'protection servtccs, Thelirrefightil[lg crews weH~ also ~T ."lillled eo handle hnz


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Lee County nati"'eJ; Bc~'erly Bass and Diane rowclJ had flown asstu:denl pilots Ou~ of l?'CS'I: rur:lines.

U n A ug ,L 1Is1 :m9, 19 ',87. LeeCOUIl'l)' a.vil:lI'Lion enthustasts g,01 atreat whcn the supersonic jet, tlle Air france COJ'l. orde. landed ~n:FonMyerll. A tour put togethe.r by AAA Trava~ Agems ~lIlcl oded 0lItrJip w ,london 0 0 11 the Conoord~.

Two -0 the U"~\,e_I,N5.\!\layne and Ma.\ r is, Miller of Fort Iyen"were exci.ed abQut thc ltip. Thelr' llU~hcad scats" they were tnld,had previous1y been occ up~ed byP'ri nee Philip O l II U J , QuieenElizabeth of England.

i\C[)oroing to Ul, tillers, the plane bad an j,I'iSlrUment panel01'1 rhe passengers' side of the b'l.llikhead thai permlnedpassengers 1 0 chan: ~he~Th'

By 1 1)81, airport g:rowlb bad been so rapld and the operarlonor '[he airport had becunre sn hwol\'Cd and (\ompli(:au~>d, avialiollmailers n~ql.lired more lime and an.cnliol1 man could fbe allocated

3 3


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during rr'e"~l:Il~!"Coun,ty 'ComI111issio,lli me:e1:~nlil.s. To SClI,yc 'lhi.~problem. on A Ii!!gU J5 tl,l 981 lI'h.eLee County COJl'lmi:s


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The C."!:P'I'IlSion de"dg ~ b!,~~ds. w i ' lw. 'lhe eXInmg ~.erm inaJ] wb Headding approximately 2:60 fect to its wes,[ end. Um~led:rcmodcmflg of tlhc S,CCQll!dnoQ:I" dep~r'lure arre:ll and someI'o~dway work l:}~e indudedi:nt tliLe proj,~n which has an ,c~,l,~ma(edC O S to r36 millloD.

Th e Lee Count}' r~Jirlt J.\utlh.oFil}'is, ;icilitlg as lrs 00';,'0 CO.[I:;,liIuC ti.OIl.

manag,(';r for UU1 project. Other members o r~hc eonstrucnou tJcalirliliiith Jdc BuriR~& M;dJ'OJlneUof M i.a m ip:l'o\.nding archilectJurnil ~ndc'nt1:ineerillilg services and Helder COmlrl!llction 'Comp.an)' ofAUant 'lo::rl~k.elJlby CU2M

~,imof Pori ~I} 'cn > . Feder",1ConMt"'uclion C om Pc[IR)' or St.r-ctcT,shul'l'l. serves ::Is.the com,tmc!Ji.oiili mallOlQer- and the DOI.) '

r-1II:f1d~ng'fof the a~T!pon e!!:p.i!HISion projects comes rrom a~de~y of SOI.lir

T h e y ea r 1 '99 '2 . w a snorewoMy alsobecause AiilliForce One ne" ' l]~~)Q Sou~hw,eSi l:Flor.ida Regional Aillipu'r'l on Novemb!: l i il I, 1992 :ooa:r~llg taen U. S. PI'f!sid~mLlGeorge Husb


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Another Ifi~sl

In Pebruary, Southwest FI.odda Re:gion


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Airport observes ns tenth I;)il:"~hda)i. Bu[ lht!}', too plar-'d ani1nporta'll'l role i . 111 .Lee County's aviation history, Plnneers likeClilannirm P a C i e .CI,iHf,~nce Chamk,rUn, Bwdd),' Bobst, and thoseservtcemen who mr-a'incd a~ Page and BUl"klngham Fi,elds ~cna[egacy we aU bene[i,t. frn:m lodaJ)'.

A s wilh:m y wo rk o f thistype,a uth ors a redCf"!'rndem uponlJlcg,ellCr051lyof!be 'piu ne en re spon .sible fo, h elpin gIIlake ~hehlslory., ln'!.IusIll!liillllce.lhc Julilol"!!Jrc abo sincerely grn~ruillu the members or1hcLEE eOUNTYPORT Aur HORJTY Irorg.ll'jng them lihe

opportunityto

c:>i,plnreand\\Til.c

,aboutLhis

laeet of our an ;a 'sh'ilS!tol}'.

,Individualswho were 0 inmlua1LlI,j!lassistance included SUsall!Sanderso r Lhe'l..cc.o lllm y P onAUlli.ori ly and la urel Sm ith , oJGm\l~mAssoc ia te s, a lon gwi til their (ufTs.

t\d~.:lilliollally. e \\ 'lishIOthank: former ~f~ror Oscar 1\. ' ; 'Corbin,Jr., fO'rnlC~Ooilfll)' 'Coillmissior.erHalllfYRod'da,former Nalu'IffiIiAirlilles Manager William H. Mom:um. Pcnt)' S.li1ell.FredlBrym1lt.Ih~F,ori l"'/l!'t~l'sNi'wsl~~e.u. M a lco lm S chro eder,1E'dWi~SOR.Ril.'h


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Fort Myers Airport History

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