The Purdue University Airport is located in West Lafayette, IN, on the South end of Purdue's campus.
This airport is very unique and has an extensive history at Purdue University.
Here you will find an overview of the history of this airport and discover what makes it so special!
This airport is very unique and has an extensive history at Purdue University.
Here you will find an overview of the history of this airport and discover what makes it so special!
The story of the Purdue Airport began long before there was a runway, or planes flying in and out. It all began in 1930, when David Ross donated 122 acres of land for the purpose of creating an airport for the university (Topping, 213). Ross was a Purdue Alumnus and a successful inventor and industrialist (Topping, 193). He was a very generous donor to the University. after the land was approved for use they made the airport official by simply placing a metal post in a dead tree trunk and attaching an airport windsock, then placing a circle of rocks around the structure (Grandt, 17).
It wasn't until September 1934 that the airport opened for operations. This made the Purdue Airport the first airport in the United States to be owned by a university! Just one year later, a course was offered that taught aspiring students how to fly (Grandt, 17).
It wasn't until September 1934 that the airport opened for operations. This made the Purdue Airport the first airport in the United States to be owned by a university! Just one year later, a course was offered that taught aspiring students how to fly (Grandt, 17).
The picture above is the Purdue airport as of 1945 (Purdue News, 34).
The famous Amelia Earhart, who was a record breaking, ambitious pioneer in the aeronautical field came to Purdue in 1934. She was also on staff at Purdue from 1935-1937 when she disappeared on an attempt to fly around the world. She worked on her Lockheed Electra, or the "flying laboratory" as she preferred to refer to it, at the Purdue airport while on staff (Grandt, 17).
Amelia Earhart is pictured above with her "Flying Laboratory" (Winter).
The Purdue Airport was originally a nonprofit airline service that was more formally referred to as the Purdue Aeronautics Corporation. In 1968, the airport began a larger operation for profit called the Purdue Airlines. This transition allowed for commercial flights out of West Lafayette to Chicago, St. Louis, and many other cities (Harper). Unfortunately, the Purdue Airlines commercial flights were quite short-lived. Due to a lack of profitability the airline shut down in April of 1971 (Harper).
Above is a picture of the dedication of one of the DC-9 Jets (Joseph Minton).
A Little-known fact about the Purdue Airport is that from its time as a commercial airline (1968-1971) it flew and stored Hugh Hefner's Bunny plane. This was a DC9 fully decked out in black. It also was fully equipped to hold lavish parties in the air. It included a private entrance at the back of the plane that entered into Hugh Hefner's personal room (Joseph Minton).
The Purdue airport is currently only used for flight training at the University as well as private operations. Private plane storage as well as flights are available, but the chance of a commercial flight program emerging once again is unlikely with the Indianapolis International Airport so just 60 miles south (General Information).
To learn more about the the history of flight at Purdue as well as Amelia Earhart click below!
About the author:
Hello! My name is J.J. and I am a sophomore at Purdue University. I am currently studying Business Management. I enjoy working at Chick-fil-A, spending time with my fiancé, and hanging out with my family. I hope you enjoyed our site and leaned a little more about Purdue University's History. Thanks!
Works Cited:
"General Information." Purdue University Parking, Airport, and Transportation Service. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. <http://www.purdue.edu/pat/mainnav/airport/air_geninfo.html>.
Grandt, A., & Gustafson, W. (1999). One small step: The history of aerospace engineering at Purdue University. West Lafayette, IN: School of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Purdue University.
Harper, Hannah. "Did You Know?: The Purdue Airport." Purdue News -. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/didyouknow/2013/Q3/did-you-know-the-purdue-airport.html>.
Joseph Minton Collection, West Lafayette.
Purdue News: Aviation at Purdue 1 Jan. 1945: 8, 18, 34. Print.
Topping, Robert. Century and Beyond : The History of Purdue University. West Lafayette: Purdue Research Foundation, 1988. 213. Print.
Winter, Michael. "New Clue May Point to Amelia Earhart Wreckage." New Clue May Point to Amelia Earhart Wreckage. USA Today. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.freep.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/30/amelia-earhart-wreckage-metal-sheet/18164517/>.