Tyler Texas Airports and Landing Strip History
The era of aviation in Tyler began after World War I when air corp veteran O.C. Palmer kept a small bi-plane on a grassy hill between South Broadway Avenue and Donnybrook Avenue, near the current site of Bergfeld Square. He took passengers for short flights over the city.
Tyler Pounds Regional Airport
In 1929 the Tyler City Commission selected Palmer to head a committee to develop an airport for Tyler. Subsequently, the city purchased 296 acres on the west side of Dixie drive for the site of the airport. Tyler's airport was dedicated on June 28, 1930 as Tyler Municipal Airport. No terminal building existed at that time. It was renamed Rhodes Field in 1934 in honor of Chamber of Commerce Manager Russell Rhodes.
 Tyler Pounds Regional Airport Terminal (TylerTexasOnline staff photo) |
During World War II, the Tyler air field was leased from the City of Tyler by the U.S. Army Air Forces as a training base and renamed Pounds Field.
It was named in honor of 2nd Lt. Jack W. Pounds, a pilot instructor from Tyler who died in an air crash in 1942 during the early part of World War II.
When the airport was returned to the city after the end of the war, the name was kept.
Today, Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (airport code TYR) is a state-of-the-art airport providing jet service to cities worldwide via American Airlines connections at the DFW airport.
Stewart Airport
Stewart Airport was begun about 1942 in the east section of Tyler. by Walter E. Stewart. The 113 acre airport was located in the southeast corner of the intersection of East Erwin Street and current-day Loop 323 East.
The map below shows the approximate location of Stewart Airport in relation to the current Tyler street grid. The airport was closed sometime before 1960.
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Television station KLTV began broadcasting in 1954, and was originally located on East Erwin Street at Loop 323 in a former hanger at Stewart Airport.
Other Known Airports and Landing Strips in South Tyler Texas
Older maps of south Tyler show at least three other airport landing strips, as shown in the maps below.
Paluxy Drive Airport
One landing strip existed just west of Paluxy Drive, FM 756, between Jeff Davis Drive and Cumberland Road. It is believed the strip was 3,000' in length, with an oiled surface. The abandoned air strip can still be seen today, in 2017. See map below for exact location.
The Airport at Cumberland Park
Another airport landing strip was located on the present-day site of The Village at Cumberland Park, roughly at the northeast corner of U.S. 69 and Toll Loop 49.
The map below shows the location of the air strip before construction of the new shopping center. Today, no remains of the landing strip are visible.
Pineridge Airport South of Toll Loop 49 Near Flint and Gresham
A thrid landing strip was located further south, on the west side of U.S. Highway 69, about half-way between FM 2813 and FM 246. The site is located east of the communities of Flint and Gresham. The sole turf runway 17/35 was 1,500ft in length, 30ft in width. It was known as Pineridge Airport, FAA Identifier 16TS, and is now closed.
Emerald Bay Airport Near Teaselville and Tyler
Southwest of Tyler, near Emerald Bay and Teaselvile, was the Emerald Bay Airport. See map below for exact location.
Aero Estates Airpark Near Frankston and Tyler
Located 25 miles southwest of Tyler, and 3 miles northeast of Frankson, is Aero Estates Airpark, an active air facility.
Its FAA Identifier is T25. Runway 9/27 has a Bermuda grass surface and is 3,100' x 60'. It is situated close to Blackburn Bay, part of Lake Palestine, between County Road 4117 and Hillside Circle. See map below for exact location.
For detailed information, we recommend a visit to the Aero Estates Airpark website.
Landing Strip Near Lake Tyler East and Highway 64
Just east of Tyler, another landing strip existed just north of Texas Highway 64, past East Lake Tyler. See map below for exact location.
Tarrant Field in Mount Selman, Texas
Further south, just west of U.S. 69, is another landing strip, located south of Bullard and 2 miles north of Mount Selman.
Today, this is known as Tarrant Field, FAA Identifier 6X0. Runway 12/30 is 2700 x 30 ft., with a turf surface.
Other Airports in the Greater Tyler Area
City |
Name |
Code |
| Athens | Athens Municipal | F44 |
| Canton | Canton-Hackney | 7F5 |
| Gilmer | Fox Stephens Field - Gilmer Municipal | JXI |
| Gladewater | Gladewater Municipal | 07F |
| Henderson | Rusk County | RFI |
| Longview | East Texas Regional | GGG |
| Lufkin | Angelina County | LFK |
| Marshall | Harrison County | ASL |
| Mineola | Mineola Wisener Field | 3F9 |
| Mineola/Quitman | Wood County | JDD |
| Nacogdoches | A L Mangham Jr. Regional | OCH |
| Palestine | Palestine Municipal | PSN |
| Winnsboro | Winnsboro Municipal | F51 |
Historic Aviation Memorial Museum (HAMM) in Tyler
For those interested in the history of Tyler aviation, and aviation in general, we recommend a visit to the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum (HAMM). This large, regional aviation museum is located at the Tyler Pounds Airport's old passenger terminal building.
For more information on Pounds Airport, visit the official airport website provided by the City of Tyler at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport |
Tyler Pounds Regional Airport |
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| US Airport Delays Pounds Airport History Stewart Airport History Tyler Airport History HAMM Museum Trans Texas Airlines |
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