Five aviation facts about Jacksonville's past

[thelakelander]

In honor of National Aviation History Month, here are five aviation history facts about Jacksonville that you probably did not already know.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/five-aviation-facts-about-jacksonvilles-past/

[jaxlongtimer]

Lake, great article.

I am sure our Navy friends could add quite a bit more regarding Naval aviation at Cecil, NAS and Mayport over the decades.  Also, much of Jax/North Florida had airstrips and bombing ranges that have been made over into housing and other developments, such as in Clay and St. Johns County.  Then there was Paxon airfield on the NW side of town (some related buildings still around as I understand it) and I recall seeing an old map/aerial photo showing an airstrip on the Southbank where Baptist/One Call sits today.  Will look on the internet to see if I can find again.  In the meantime, check out the four Jacksonville area tabs for old airfields in Jacksonville and around Northeast Florida:  http://www.airfields-freeman.com/FL/Airfields_FL.htm.  Fascinating reading!

Don't forget, we also had a visit of the Concorde.  I posted that on a JIA thread a while back.

Unfortunately, we have also had a few notable air crashes, both military and civilian, over the decades.

Picture of Imeson Airport.  Recall many trips there when I was a kid.  Covered outdoor walkways to the tarmac and then up movable stairs to the plane.  They let us on the plane to say goodbye to family before takeoff's too!  How the world has changed.


Some more pix from Imeson courtesy of http://www.airfields-freeman.com/FL/Airfields_FL_Jax_NE.htm:

[Snaketoz]

Thanks for the memories.  I will always remember Imeson.  My first time flying, friends seeing me off when I left for VietNam, watching the planes from the observation deck.  The airport seemed so far away then.  There was a restaurant on Main St. just north of the entrance that was popular when the airport was operating.  Also remember driving by the smoking remains of an Eastern Airline flight that crashed back in the 50s.