The center of the aviation world is Cleveland, Ohio. Pretty strange sentence in today’s world isn’t it? But history shows, Cleveland was the center of the aviation world during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Many aircraft parts were manufactured in and around Cleveland as well as a few airplane manufacturers. During this period, Cleveland was the 5th largest city in America which also helped in terms of manufacturing and promotions.
New Terminal at Cleveland Airport in 1929 - credit airrace.com
In 1925 Cleveland, yes CLEVELAND, became the first city in the United States to open a municipal airport. Over 100,000 people came out to attend the opening. A host of barnstormers took to the air above the airport in celebration. Also the first mail flight from the airport took place on this date. the National Air Races selected Cleveland as the host city. The parade that was put on to mark the start of the National Air Races drew over 300,000 people and the first day of the week long races drew over 100,000 people to Cleveland Municipal Airport.
Cleveland City Manager William Hopkins with Amelia Earhart, Ed Thompson, and Mrs. Ed Thompson, 1929 - credit airrace.com
1929 -
The National Air Races were held in Cleveland from 1929* to 1949(1930 it was held in Chicago). During that time anyone that was associated with aviation appeared in the races. Jimmy Doolittle, Doug Davis and Benny Howard to name a few. The ’29 and ’31 races were nationwide races, in that they would start on the west coast and fly cross country to finish in Cleveland, Ohio. After 1931, the races became closed course, on location racing. There was one other year, 1936, that Cleveland was not the site. This was due to airport construction/expansion and the races were held in Los Angeles.
1949 marked the final year for the National Air Races in Cleveland. Military budget cuts, the crash of Bill Odom’s plane into a local house and security concerns from the FAA were a few of the issues forcing the event to close it’s doors.
During the era of the National Air Races in Cleveland, Cleveland Municipal Airport continued to be a model all airports world-wide looked to for innovation. 1930 marked the firsts in aviation history and all were at Cleveland:
First Control Tower
First Radio Control
First Airfield Lighting System
In 1964 Cleveland brought back the National Air Races as the Cleveland National Air Show. George Steinbrenner and Cleveland’s Port Director, Noel Painchaud were the leaders in establishing this now well known event. In 1965 the USAF Thunderbirds made their first appearance and almost regularly visit every other year with the Navy Blue Angels visiting on the off years.
Blue Angels Solo #6 low take off at Burke Lakefront Airport 2010
From 1964 through the early 1980s, the Cleveland National Air Show was one of the premier air shows in the United States. It’s location, Burke Lakefront Airport, and the connection with the history of the National Air Races helped to draw performers and acts from around the world.
In the early 1990s to the present, Cleveland’s Air Show is still being held every Labor Day weekend. It is a great location to watch and attend an air show. Lake Erie makes a perfect backdrop to the performers and usually provides a nice breeze when summer tries to hang onto Cleveland. It also can make for some disappointing show days throwing wind and rain over the show, but it’s a three day show and there has never been a full cancellation of all three days.
F-15E Strike Eagle slow pass during the 2010 Cleveland National Air Show
I do have to add that the show is a shell of what it was in the 70s and 80s. Gone forever are the days when you could see the ground crew of the USAF Thunderbirds pre-show performance. This is due to the crash of the #1 jet on takeoff in 1981 while leaving Cleveland after the show weekend. Gone also are many of the acts and performers that used to be regulars in Cleveland. The modern show is slimmer, tighter, and treats you to some multi-performing acts rather than each act only performing once.
The military prescence is still at the show with usually an F-15, F/A-18 demo, and if you are lucky, a possible flyby of a modern bomber. Overall though, the show has lost it’s edge. There is no theme, never really has been, but now not having a theme, be it warbirds or civilian aerobatics, hurts the show.
To learn more about the National Air Racing history, visit their website.
Cleveland Hopkins Airport website has a nice history of the facilities.
