Airports established in 1917

Airports established in 1917
Name	Airports established in 1917
Established	1917
Type	Aviation history
Notable	Croydon Airport, Le Bourget Airport, Hendon Aerodrome, Duxford Aerodrome, Langley Field

Airports established in 1917

Airfields and airports founded in 1917 emerged amid the geopolitical upheaval of World War I, industrial expansion in United States, United Kingdom, France, and German Empire, and nascent aeronautical innovation led by figures such as Orville Wright, Glenn Curtiss, Claude Grahame-White, and institutions including Royal Flying Corps, Aéronautique Militaire, and United States Army Air Service. These facilities later influenced interwar developments tied to events like the Paris Peace Conference and organizations such as the Air Ministry (United Kingdom), Aéro-Club de France, and International Commission for Air Navigation.

Overview and Historical Context

1917 saw expansion of aerodromes under pressures from the Battle of Passchendaele, the Third Battle of Ypres, and campaigns on the Western Front that demanded staging fields for reconnaissance and pursuit squadrons from formations like the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps. Concurrently, the Zimmermann Telegram episode and United States entry into World War I accelerated American aviation infrastructure projects at locations such as Langley Field and facilities influenced by manufacturers like Boeing, Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, and Sopwith Aviation Company. Civilian and military aviation developments intersected with pioneers including Louis Blériot and institutions like Imperial College London that advanced aerodynamic research.

Notable Airports Opened in 1917

Several important sites trace founding dates to 1917 and include Hendon Aerodrome, which hosted events linked to Royal Air Force predecessor units and attracted aviators such as Alan Cobham and Amy Johnson in later decades; Le Bourget Airport, which became synonymous with Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic arrival and Parisian air shows organized by the Aéro-Club de France; Croydon Airport, later central to Imperial Airways operations and the Air Ministry network; and Duxford Aerodrome, subsequently integrated into RAF Duxford and the Imperial War Museum Duxford. In the United States, Langley Field and other training bases established in 1917 supported squadrons associated with the United States Army Air Service and later connections to National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics research. Other contemporaneous sites include aerodromes that later became municipal airports influenced by companies like De Havilland and designers such as Reginald Mitchell.

Role in World War I and Military Aviation

Airfields opened in 1917 served as staging grounds for reconnaissance missions supporting operations such as the Battle of Cambrai and tactical bombing linked to squadrons of the Royal Flying Corps and Aéronautique Militaire. Many facilitated training for pilots flying types like the Sopwith Camel, SPAD S.VII, and SE5a, and hosted ground crews from firms including Rolls-Royce and Sunbeam (automobile) that produced aero engines. Aerodromes integrated into the Royal Naval Air Service transition to the Royal Air Force in 1918 and supported coordination with allied air arms including the United States Army Air Service and units connected to the Italian Front and Salonika Campaign.

Early Civil Aviation and Commercial Use

After the armistice, several 1917 establishments transitioned to civil roles facilitating operators such as Imperial Airways, Air France, and later carriers like British European Airways and Pan American World Airways. Airports like Croydon Airport and Le Bourget Airport hosted fledgling airmail routes tied to enterprises such as Compagnie générale transaérienne and international events like the Paris Air Show. These sites became nodes for pioneers including Amy Johnson, Jean Mermoz, and Charles Lindbergh whose flights connected to municipal governance in cities such as London, Paris, and New York City through regulatory frameworks influenced by the International Commission for Air Navigation.

Architecture, Infrastructure, and Technology of 1917 Airports

Facilities established in 1917 typically featured grass runways, hangars influenced by designs from firms like Airco and Vickers, and control arrangements later formalized by authorities such as the Air Ministry (United Kingdom) and Civil Aeronautics Authority. Technical evolution at these sites included adoption of radio navigation technologies developed by researchers at institutions like Royal Aircraft Establishment and National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, and infrastructure upgrades to accommodate metal-framed aircraft by manufacturers such as Handley Page and Boeing. Architectural forms ranged from temporary canvas sheds used by the Royal Flying Corps to brick and steel hangars that survive at preserved locations such as Duxford Aerodrome.

Legacy, Preservation, and Current Status

Many 1917-founded aerodromes evolved into major airports, heritage museums, or were decommissioned and redeveloped. Sites like Duxford Aerodrome now form parts of the Imperial War Museum, while Le Bourget Airport remains a business aviation hub hosting the Paris Air Show; Croydon Airport's terminal survives as a listed building and museum linked to British Airways predecessors. Preservation efforts involve organizations such as the Royal Aeronautical Society, Historic England, and international aviation museums that curate collections including aircraft by Sopwith Aviation Company, Supermarine, and Douglas Aircraft Company. The 1917 cohort's influence endures in doctrines codified during interwar conferences like the Paris Peace Conference and in the lineage of modern airports operated by authorities such as London Borough of Croydon and municipal administrations across Europe and the United States.

Category:Airports by year of establishment