Narrator:

In a fitting contrast to then and now, a 1936 cabin Waco lands at king county international airport at the same time as a jet takes off from the other runway. The Waco was recreating the first international mail delivery at Boeing field. It was all part of the airports 75^th anniversary celebration and grand reopening of the newly remodeled airport terminal building.

Friends of the airport gathered inside the terminal, listening to king county executive Ron Sims recount a little of the airports history.

Ron Sims:

In 1928, voters were asked to approve 500-thousand dollars to build this airport, and it was approved by 86 percent of the voters. When the airport opened, 50-thousand people turned out for the ground breaking, it was an incredible investment by a generation with a vision and was incredibly well-supported by the public.

Narrator:

History was also served by four local aviators, all more than 90 years old. Some were in attendance when the airport first opened, others were among the first to take off and land at Boeing field.

Elmer Hansen:

Believe me this was a field, we did not have runways. We had boarder lights around the perimeter, not outlining any runways, so when you landed out there at night you landed in a big black hole. And we didn’t have landing lights, it was very difficult.

Narrator:

The renovations to the terminal building cost 6 million dollars and include new electrical wiring and plumbing….and seismic and fire safety improvements.

The reopening included a few light hearted moments as the senior aviators were delivered some long lost letters from that first mail delivery.

Postal Aviator:

For Elmer Hansen, a letter from Charles Lindberg, he’s heard you’re thinking about starting a little flight school out here and wants to know if you need a partner.

Narrator:

The aviators helped cut the ribbon to officially re-open the terminal, and start down the runway to the next 75 years of aviation at King County International airport.

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