History of aviation in Pittsburgh facts for kids
Aviation history in the Pittsburgh area is very rich. It was home to the first regular air mail service. The region also led in making planes and new ideas during both World Wars. From old places like Bettis Field and the Allegheny County Airport, to the modern Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), the city still plays a big part in flying.
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Gustave Whitehead's Early Flight Claims
Some old stories from the 1930s say that Gustave Whitehead flew a motorized plane in Pittsburgh around April or May 1899. They claim he flew about half a mile. Experts have talked a lot about this. A few believe Whitehead did fly, but most, like Charles Harvard Gibbs-Smith, think these flights probably didn't happen.
Pittsburgh International Airport's Story
How the Airport Began as an Air Base
Before World War II, Moon Township was mostly farmland. It was quite far from Pittsburgh. In the early 1920s, John A. Bell bought many small farms there. He started a large dairy farm on his 1,900 acres of land. Later, the Rieck family, who owned "Rieck's Dairy," bought his farm and added even more cows.
By 1940, the United States was getting ready for World War II. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) saw that Pittsburgh needed a military airport. This airport would help protect the area's important factories. It would also be a place for training and for planes to stop. The large farms in Moon Township were perfect for building an airport. So, the WPA bought the Bell Farm and started building runways.
Becoming a Commercial Airport
In 1944, officials in Allegheny County wanted to make the military airport bigger. They planned to add a place for passenger planes. This new terminal would take the place of the old Allegheny County Airport, which opened in 1926 in West Mifflin. Building work for the new airport started on July 18, 1946.
The new terminal building cost about $33 million to build. Only companies from the Pittsburgh area built it. The Greater Pittsburgh Airport opened on May 31, 1952. The first flight took off on June 3, 1952. In its first full year, 1953, over 1.4 million passengers used the airport. At that time, it was seen as very "modern" and roomy. In fact, it was one of the biggest airports in the United States. Only Idlewild Airport (now JFK Airport) in New York was larger.
The Original Terminal Building
A local architect named Josep W. Hoover designed the airport. He liked to use simple materials like concrete, steel, and glass. The terminal building had "stepped" levels. This meant each floor was a bit smaller than the one below it. The uncovered roof of a lower level could then be used as a viewing deck.
On the fourth floor, there was a round "Horizon Room." It offered an amazing view of the runways. The inside of the terminal also looked very modern. A large compass made of colorful floor tiles was a famous part of the lobby. The lobby also had shops and services for travelers. A moving art piece by Alexander Calder also decorated the lobby. This art piece now hangs in the new airport's main area.
The first five airlines at the Greater Pittsburgh Airport were TWA, Capital Airlines (which later joined United Airlines), Northwest, All American (which became Allegheny Airlines, then USAir, and finally US Airways), and Eastern Airlines.
In 1959, an east dock was added as more people started flying. On July 25, 1959, TWA started the first regular jet service to Pittsburgh. Jet planes could fly much farther. This made international travel easier. On July 1, 1968, the airport became an international airport. A customs office was opened there. Work began on a new International Wing on July 8, 1970. This wing opened in 1972. It helped with international flights to places like Europe, the Caribbean, Japan, and Canada.
In 1972, round additions were put at the end of each dock. This added even more gates for planes. In the late 1970s, more and more people flew short distances. This meant the airport needed even more gates. In 1980, the South East Dock opened. But even with all these additions, the old terminal could not handle all the new air travel. So, operations moved to a new terminal in 1992.
The New Terminal Building
On October 1, 1992, the new Midfield Terminal opened. All flights moved from the old building to this new one. Pittsburgh International's Midfield Terminal brought a new idea for air travel in the region. It was designed to be one of the best ways to connect to other countries. PIT is within a 90-minute flight of 70 percent of North America's people.
The airport's large size is one of its best features. Its design helps planes move easily on the runways. It also makes it simple for people to get to their gates. Other airports around the world have used its design as a model.
Since it opened, PIT's Midfield Terminal has won many awards. It is praised for being helpful and creative for travelers. PIT has become a very important part of the economy for southwestern Pennsylvania. And it is still growing! Airlines have started new flights from PIT. New routes have been added. And businesses around the airport are growing too.
Aircraft Accidents at or Near Pittsburgh
Accidents at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
- November 22, 2001: A company Learjet crashed after taking off very quickly. The pilot lost control, and both people on board died.
- September 8, 1994: USAir Flight 427, a Boeing 737-300, crashed while trying to land. It was coming from Chicago O'Hare International Airport. All 132 people on board died. This led to the longest and most detailed investigation by the NTSB ever. It was found that a part of the plane's steering system got stuck. This caused the plane to fall from 6,000 feet. Because of this crash, Boeing changed every 737 plane. The plane crashed about 10 miles north-northwest in Hopewell Township.
- April 1, 1956: TWA Flight 400, a Martin 4-0-4 plane, crashed about half a mile after taking off. The pilot and co-pilot did not quickly fix a small engine problem or fire. Problems with talking to each other and not focusing caused the crash. 22 out of 36 people died.
Accidents at Other Locations in the Area
- January 31, 1956: A B-25 military plane crashed into the Monongahela River. As of 2015, the plane has still not been found.
Heliports
Several heliports (places where helicopters land) serve the downtown Pittsburgh area.
