Midwest Regional Flyin--May 5-6, 2007

MIDWEST REGIONAL FLY-IN
at St. Louis Downtown Airport (CPS)
"Celebrating Transportation in the Heartland"

Our St. Louis' Transportation Legacy

The Midwest has always played a key role in transportation and what better place for a Midwest Regional Fly-in than right here at the Gateway to the West, St. Louis, Missouri. The Midwest Regional Flyin's home airport is St. Louis Downtown Airport, a historically significant airport located in the shadow of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial's Gateway Arch.

St. Louis has always been at the heart of the nation's transportation systems. Major airways, roadways, railways, and waterways all cross at St. Louis and many of the most important transportation advances and events took place right here in the area.

AIR: Our host airport, St. Louis Downtown Airport, is steeped in history. The nation's oldest flight school, Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, operates from the airport and still holds Civil Aeronautics Association Flight School Certificate #1. Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Jimmie Doolittle and many other early aviation pioneers flew from the airport's 1928-vintage Curtiss Wright hangars. At the beginning of the manned space age, Mercury and Gemini astronauts trained for water landings in a large reservoir erected at the airport complete with a tall gantry used to drop space capsules into the water for testing and training. Capturing all this rich history and more, the Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum's home is in a historic hangar at the center of the airport's west ramp.

The St. Louis region has been associated with aerospace progress for 175 years beginning with patented inventions for balloon propelling devices in 1830 and balloon ascensions beginning in 1836. The organizers of the famed 1904 St. Louis World's Fair offered $100,000 in prizes for aeronautical contests drawing numerous dirigibles, gliders, and airplanes. The first parachute jump from an airplane took place over Jefferson Barracks in 1912 and the world's first commercial airliner, the Benoist Flying Boat, was produced in St. Louis in 1913 and tested at Creve Coeur Lake. Large-scale aircraft manufacturing began during World War I when 450 Curtiss "Jenny" training planes were built by the St. Louis Aircraft Company. The Robertson Aircraft Corporation and School of Aviation were established in St. Louis in 1919 and aircraft manufacturing became a St. Louis staple when McDonnel Douglas established their world headquarters here. The 1923 National Air Races were held at Lambert Field and were recognized as the greatest event of its kind. And of course, a summary of St. Louis aviation history would not be complete without mentioning Charles Lindbergh's famous solo flight from New York to Paris in the "Spirit of St. Louis" in 1927. All of these important aviation events and more are highlighted right here at St. Louis Downtown Airport at the Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum.

ROADS: St. Louis is at the crossroads of America and is a major city on the nation's first interstate highway, historic Route 66. The city's historic Eads Bridge, completed in 1874, was the first major bridge to use steel and cantilevered construction and is one of America's great masterpieces originally designed for trains on the lower level and cars, horses, and pedestrians on the upper level. Today I-40, I-44, I-64, I-55, and I-70 all meet at St. Louis as they cross the Mississippi River. This major junction makes St. Louis the perfect intermodal city as goods are transloaded from river barge or rail car to one of the many trucking companies based in the area. St. Louis was also the perfect place for Ford and Chrysler to build a large auto manufacturing plants.

RAIL: The Illinois and St. Louis Coal Company constructed the first railroad in St. Louis in 1831 and St. Louis has been a major rail hub ever since. Rail yards are scattered around the area and are still filled with freight and coal cars. A visit to St. Louis would not be complete without a visit to Union Station to enjoy a meal or some shopping and explore the Station's rich rail history. Passengers can board AmTrak passenger trains right in the heart of the city and the region's transportation jewel is MetroLink, a modern light rail rapid transit system.

WATER: The Mississippi River conjures up images of Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn and a river filled with steamboats. The St. Louis' Gateway Arch Riverfront is the centerpoint of the midwest's tourist attractions and home to a thriving barge industry. While visiting St. Louis, be sure to take a Gateway Arch Riverboat scenic cruise, make reservations for their spectacular dinner cruise, or just enjoy a drink or snack on the dock at the Archview Cafe and watch the river traffic go by. If you're feeling lucky, go hit the big jackpot at one of the riverboat casinos.

OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION: A visit to St. Louis would not be complete without seeing that famous mode of beer transporation, the Clydesdale Horses at the Anheuser Busch Brewery or Grants Farm. The Gateway International Raceway is a great nearby venue for NASCAR, NHRA, and other motor speedway events and nearby Fairmount Park is the place to see horse races. If you're looking for a slower ride, take a relaxing horse carriage ride through Laclede's Landing and the Gateway Arch Riverfront Area. St. Louis is also plays a key role in the tranportation of petroleum products by pipeline. By the 1930’s, the population continued to move west across the Mississippi River and the first product pipelines where built from the southern shores of lake Michigan at Whiting, Indiana to St. Louis and beyond to the west. Today the ConocoPhillips Pipeline Company terminal, located only a mile from Downtown Airport, serves as a major petroleum distribution center for the region.

While in the area for the fly-in, explore the Transportation Museum, cruise on the Riverboats, and enjoy the many Gateway Arch Riverfront attractions.