Lunken Field in Cincinnati has some tremendous aviation history attached to it. In December 1925 T. Higbee Embry and John Paul Riddle founded the Embry-Riddle Company at Lunken Field. In the spring of the following year Embry and Riddle opened a flight school that became the first government approved flight school. Additionally they offered air mail service and airline service out of Lunken before moving the school to Florida where it became Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
In 1940 American Airlines was founded at Lunken and offered service their until 1946 when most airlines transferred service to the new “Greater Cincinnati Airport” across the river in Northern Kentucky. The on airport restaurant Sky Galley, a great $100 hamburger, derives its name from being the kitchen in which American Airlines first on board meals were cooked for flights departing Cincinnati.
Originally the plan was for Lunken to become the city of Cincinnati’s main airport. Though anyone that has flown in or out of Lunken on a regular basis realize its location on a flood plain in a valley between two ridges caused some disadvantages for the airport. Often referrred to by local pilots as “Sunken Lunken” it has a tendency to flood. In 1937 a flood completely submerged the field and almost completely put the control tower under water. Check out this dramatic photograph on Cincinnati-transit.net. Additionally, due to its location the field often has restricted flight activity due to fog. Though Lunken has thrived as a haven for General Aviation pilots and corporate aviation.
Visitors to the airport should be sure to walk into the historic terminal building, which is designed in a beautiful Art Deco format.
Roger Wilco Wear has created a special design for Lunken. This is our first multi-color design utilizing both white and blue on a black long sleeve t-shirt. The long sleeve shirt sells for $33.00. We received our sample version of this shirt just yesterday and it has become our new favorite Roger Wilco Wear design. We hope you will enjoy.
