Charles Lindbergh was there; Historical hangar finds new use at Butte airport as respite for pilots

admin — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:27:16 +0000

An old airplane hangar got a rare chance to taxi down the runway Thursday morning. In its 90 years of existence, this landmark of aviation at the Bert Mooney Airport in Butte has been a part of many historical moments. Airport officials plan to turn the aging structure into a museum-flight lounge for pilots. Built in 1921, it was one of the first hangars at the airfield. It has provided shelter for thousands of aircraft for almost a century. One of the hangar’s most famous guests was legendary aviator Charles Lindbergh. Lindbergh stored his famous plane, The Spirit of St. Louis, in that hangar when he stopped to visit the Mining City in September 1927. Lindbergh became a national hero in May of that same year when he made the first trans-Atlantic flight from New York to Paris in the Spirit of St. Louis. Airport manager Pat Shea keeps a picture in his office of “Lindy’s” airplane parked in the old hangar with “Butte National Airport” written above the hangar opening. He said he’s proud to convert the old hangar. “It’s a labor of love,” Shea said. The airport plans to name it the Lindbergh Hangar in memory of Dave Gates. Gates, who was the airport board chairman, was killed in a plane crash west of Butte in March 2011. Shea said there also will be a memorial at the hangar in honor of Butte flight instructor Dick Johnson, who also died in a tragic plane crash in August of 2011. The plan is to make the hangar a respite place for pilots who get stranded due to bad weather or mechanical issues. The remodeling of the hangar will depend on donations and volunteer work, so Shea isn’t certain when the project will be completed. Workers took the first step Thursday by moving the hangar to the southern end of the airport. Tamietti House Moving used a large rig to carefully tow the hangar down the runway to its new location. The weather-beaten metal structure is spotted with rust and faded paint. “It’s still structurally sound,” Shea said. Lindbergh’s visit to Butte on Sept. 5, 1927, caused much excitement in the city, according to newspaper reports at the time. The Butte Miner reported that the pilot’s arrival caused a “stampede” from the crowd of nearly 40,000 excited to get a closer look at Lindy and his famous aircraft. Later that day, he addressed a large crowd of at Clark Park. Lindbergh was invited to stop in Butte by his friend, J.D. Ryan, who was then chairman of the Anaconda Co. Lindbergh had flown to Butte from Boise, Idaho, in the “Spirit” plane — about a three and one-half hour trip.

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Airport Improvements Underway

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 02:49:21 +0000

Large-scale runway improvements and other projects are in store for Bert Mooney Airport in 2012.

The airport is working towards pavement rehabilitation on a runway and a taxiway, a new equipment purchase, replacement of a security gate and other construction.

Each project will be 95 percent funded by grants from the Federal Aviation Administration, and the airport plans to use Passenger Facility Charges to cover the rest. The airport is moving forward with an application to the FAA to use the facility charges, and is issuing required public notices.

Pavement rehabilitation will account for most of the construction, with three projects aimed at restoring smooth surfaces and preventing water damage. The first project, tallied at $1.8 million, involves runway pavement rehabilitation. A taxiway rehabilitation will cost about $252,000 and a second runway project will cost about $4.6 million.

The following projects are also included for 2012 and 2013:

- The purchase of a 1,500-gallon emergency-response truck and support equipment in 2013. The truck would replace aging equipment currently in use and would cost about $737,000.

- The replacement of three automatic vertical-pivot security gates that control airport access. The project cost is $227,000.

- The rehabilitation of a concrete commercial apron, costing about $219,000.

- General aviation apron pavement maintenance, including crack-sealing, fog-sealing and remarking. The project is expected to cost about $100,000.

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