07/24/10
By Helen Barrett
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Wayne Kinzie pilots his 1947 Aeronca, cutting through the ribbon officially opening the new 5,000' runway at the Alva Regional Airport. Wayne Hager, a passenger on this flight, piloted the plane as the first to ever land on the original blacktopped runway when the airport was established in 1949. Holding the ribbon are Airport Manager Gerald Benson and Max McDermott with Phil Prigmore and Paul Kinzie looking on. Photo by Jim Stout

Mayor Arden Chaffee welcomed those attending by saying, “We are but vapors in the history of mankind, but our legacy will remain for those who prosper from our foresight.”

“It seems like only yesterday that we stood in this spot and dreamed of a future that included a jet-capable runway with all the amenities needed to support its use,” the mayor said, “just as those before us dreamed of a paved runway.”

The mayor noted the strong bond between municipal government and airport-related industry which began with Kinzie Industries which morphed into Plane Plastics, one of the current businesses on the airport.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission Executive Director Victor Bird congratulates the City of Alva for its vision and perseverance in building a world class airport capable of landing any aircraft. Photo by Jim Stout

“They say in life those things that are worth the most – most valuable – are worth waiting for and working for. You all have paid your dues,” Bird said. “You’ve waited, you’ve worked and your perseverance is to be admired around the state.”

Bird said the federal government invested funds “pretty far north of $6 million” into the

Wayne, Wayne and the Plane: Wayne Hager sits in the passenger seat with Wayne Kinzie at the controls of the 1947 Aeronca Champ that was the first plane to land at Alva Municipal Airport when it opened in 1949. Its propeller was used Wednesday morning to cut the ribbon to officially open the new runway, then Wayne and Wayne took the ceremonial first flight. Photo by Jim Stout

“Without their help, this would not have been possible,” Bird said. “They put over $5 million into this runway relocation and extension.”

Bird thanked the Congressional delegation led by Congressman Frank Lucas, Ed Agnew, the Arkansas-Oklahoma FAA director, the Federal Aviation Authority, Sen. Bryce Marlatt and Rep. Jeff Hickman for their support.

Of the Oklahoma delegation Bird said, “Without their assistance we probably wouldn’t be here doing the work we do around the state.”

Bird talked about the heritage and history of aviation in this area. He told how the idea for this airport sprang from the birth of Western Air Express which planned for Alva to be a commercial airport.

That airline failed, he said as many are still today. “If you want to be a millionaire and own an airline, you have to be a billionaire and acquire one,” Bird said, interjecting some humor. “They were having troubles back then too.”

Transcontinental and Western Air started in this area by Charles Lindbergh, “a pretty famous chap.” “You’ve probably heard of him, he flew across the Atlantic in the Spirit of St. Louis,” Bird said.

Bird recounted how Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart piloted the planes that stopped over in Waynoka.

“It was actually kind of the hub of that time,” he said. “They would take a train to Hobbs, New Mexico, get back on an aircraft to go to the west coast.”

He mentioned how Clyde Cessna started building and testing his aircraft just east of Alva in the Great Salt Plains. “He did about 13 ground loops – those are otherwise known as crashes,” Bird said. “I don’t know if that’s what caused him to leave, but he did take off. I think there were some other reasons.”

Bird said Oklahoma gave birth to business aviation with people like oil tycoons Frank Phillips and J. Paul Getty. “Some of the things inside your terminal … there is some great history,” Bird said. “This will be an historic occasion as well.”

Bird said there is no faster way from Point A to Point B than by aircraft.

“That’s the reason business has embraced it,” he said. He noted that general aviation, which he referred to as the largest airline in the world, provides tremendous scheduling flexibilities without all the security hassles “because the pilot knows everyone on board.”

Bird said general aviation aircraft carries 170 million passengers per year which translates to 30 million flight hours. Seventy percent of that, he said, is for business purposes.

General aviation boasts 5,400 airports like Alva’s, compared to 540 commercial airports. In addition, there are 18,000 private general aviation airports like Sundance near Oklahoma City.

“I can’t make that case as well as Value Added Products, Sonic, Central National Bank, Plane Plastics and CRI,” Bird said. “If they couldn’t use this airport, and had to conduct their business commercially, that starts out with a pretty long drive.”

He said flying commercial involves going through security, waiting for clearance to get out of the terminal, landing at another facility and repeating the process to return.

“Maybe, if they are absolutely lucky and God shines on them with all His providence, they may get back that evening, but it’s doubtful,” Bird said. “With general aviation, they can go conduct business in several parts of the country – and with Citations even outside the country – and get back and have dinner with the family.”

Bird said Alva actually achieved their goal backward to most airports. Most get the runway first, then build a terminal. Alva built a first class terminal first.

“You were ready. Now you‘ve got the jet capable runway, 5,000’ to go with your world class terminal,” he said. “You truly have a jet capable airport, not just an airport with a jet capable runway.”

Bird repeated one of his often used quotes that if you build a mile of highway, you can go a mile, but if you build a mile of runway, you can go around the world.

“That is indeed an accomplishment. It’s a gateway to the world,” he said. “Any aircraft can land here, even some commercial aircraft could land here if need be. Any business jet can land here.

“My final congratulations are to you. It would not have been possible without your vision, your foresight, your commitment and your perseverance. Congratulations, Alva!”

Wayne Kinzie took the microphone before crawling into the 1946 Aeronca Champ with Wayne Hager, the first pilot to land on the current runway in 1950.

“If you’ve come today to watch a ribbon cutting flying inverted down the runway, you’re going to be disappointed,” Kinzie said. “Old codgers have simple ways of doing things.” With that, Hager and Kinzie walked to the bright yellow and red plane. Hager crawled in the back seat and Kinzie took the controls.

The propeller whirred as they taxied toward the new runway where Manager Gerald Benson and local pilot Max McDermott held a long blue ribbon across the taxiway. In seconds the ribbon fluttered in the breeze as the little plane, its pilot and passengers took the first ceremonial flight from the new runway.

Before it could land again, a sleek turboprop twin glided to a stop on the new concrete runway, taxied to a stop before an amazed crowd of onlookers.

Despite the interruption, the Aeronca and the two pioneer pilots made the first “official” landing at the dedication exactly 60 years after the first.