When you gaze out over the roughly 2,300 acres of grass and pavement that physically define Ellington Field (EFD), you might not sense the pride and power that permeates this piece of land. What is now Houston’s oldest airport was launched in 1917 when it was commissioned as the nation’s premiere military aviation training facility. In fact, by the time World War I ended an estimated 5,000 men and 250 aircraft occupied the base. Innovation and achievement have flourished here over the decades. The original runway at Ellington Field was one of the largest pieces of concrete in the world when poured in 1940, covering 545,000 square feet of ground. Since, then the joint-use civil/military airport has been the site of many firsts. In 1942, the first female airplane mechanics began work at Ellington. In 1943, the airport made room for the first-ever child day-care facility opened on a military post. It offered the first aerial ambulance of any military airfield in the nation and it was also the location where the first class of Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) received their Silver Wings and diplomas during a ceremony in April of 1943. During the 1950’s, during the Cold War, Ellington Air Force base became the heart of the nation’s Coastal Defense System, covering three states along the Gulf Coast. By 1962, NASA had also found its niche here at the airport. After making their historic moon-landing, the Apollo 11 crew returned to earth and landed at Ellington Field in July of 1969. The super-secret Stealth Fighter was first-exhibited here in the 1990’s and soon the unmanned Predator will land at the aviation complex. Despite closures, neglect and a devastating fire Ellington Field survived and was finally sold to the City of Houston in 1984. Under the direction and maintenance of the Houston Airport System – the fourth largest multi-airport system in the nation and the sixth largest in the world - a resurgence and resurrection are underway.

© Houston Airport System Proud Tenants. Tenants of the 90 year old airport share the pride of operating within such a historically significant airport. This year, Ellington Field celebrated its 90th anniversary.

The new $3 million Taxilane K, which is 50 feet wide and almost 1,800 feet long, was designed to handle Design Group II aircraft and is now open, paving the way for major new construction, new tenants and expanded general aviation services.

A new fixed based operator (FBO) called RocketMan has opened for business, the longtime FBO Southwest Airport Services is remodeling and adding new hangars. Bevco Ameritex Airways is set to provide charter flights and air charter services; flight training is also available from Delta Connection flight academy and from the EFD stalwart Cliff Hyde Flying School. In addition, B.K. properties and the Bomasada group are building office space.

There are three runways at Ellington Field which operate 24 hours a day. Between 2006 and 2007, the number of aircraft flights into and out of the airfield increased by more than 19 percent. It is obvious Ellington is developing into an aviation oasis only 15 miles south of downtown Houston.

The most impressive expansion is scheduled for March 2008 when the military presence at EFD is expected to triple. The 75th Battle Command Training Division of the United States Army Reserve is building a $54 million, state-of-the-art facility where reservists from all three branches of the armed forces will train.

An estimated 3,800 US armed services personnel, including reservists from the Army, Marines, Navy and Texas Air National Guard will operate out of EFD during the first phase of the project. The second phase of the development project will include the construction of additional support facilities such as a Marine Corps maintenance facility, a battle command training center and a welcome home center.

Ellington Field is named after Lt. Eric L. Ellington a military hero who died in 1913. Tens of thousands of our nations most dedicated men and woman have walked and trained on the grounds of this joint-use civil/military facility, which is now celebrating it’s 90th anniversary.

Some left here heading straight for battles in World War I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait and now Iraq. Some never made it back, but the memory of their sacrifice is motivation for those new recruits who will train on these grounds from today forward.

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