Stinson Field

The second oldest general aviation airport in continuous operation in the nation, Stinson Municipal Airport, south of the city, serves at a "reliever" for San Antonio International Airport. Established by the Stinson Family of aviation pioneers, Stinson Airport has witnessed the history of aviation from barnstormers to jets. Alabama native Katherine Stinson (1891-1977), hoping to win prize money to finance her musical education, convinced famed flight instructor Max Lillie of Chicago to take her on as a student in 1912. She became the fourth licensed woman pilot in the U.S. and began touring as a stunt pilot. Her family - mother Emma, sister Marjorie, and brothers Eddie and Jack - established the Stinson Aviation Company in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Marjorie and Eddie trained at the Wright Flying School in Ohio and also became pilots. In 1913, Max Lillie encouraged the Stinsons to move to San Antonio where the Army had granted him permission to use the Parade Ground at Fort Sam Houston. Soon Katherine and Marjorie were offering instruction to U.S. and Canadian military pilots. The family leased 500 acres at this site from the City in 1916 and established Stinson Field. After the ban on civilian flights during World War I, Stinson Field became the City's civil airport in 1918. It was at Stinson that Edgar Tobin started his aerial mapping business. Charles Lindbergh kept an airplane and flew out of Stinson while he was stationed at Brooks Field. In 1935, commercial airlines began using the airport and construction of a new terminal building with Works Progress Administration funds enhanced the facility. Stinson served as San Antonio's airport until 1938, when the city acquired 1,200 acres north of town and relocated the airport to its present site. During World War II the Army Air Corps took control of the airport, using it as a training base. Commercial airline traffic was redirected to the newly built San Antonio International Airport. Stinson is now home to two flight schools, an air cargo operator, and aviation museum, and three fixed-based operators.