Wingtips Winter 2025

For a visual representation of the regional breakdown, please refer to the regional map below.

The inaugural Fly-In and Food Truck Festival at Tyler County Airport launched successfully on Sept. 21, drawing more than 1,600 attendees and showcasing the airport as a lively community hub with an exciting vision for the future.

The festival offered attendees a front-row seat to an impressive array of aircraft and aviation displays. From historic World War II planes to a RE/MAX hot air balloon, guests had the chance to explore and experience the excitement of aviation firsthand. Many attendees soared into the skies, enjoying thrilling skydiving experiences and the chance to take flight on vintage aircraft. The enthusiasm continued with formation flying by the Falcon Flight Formation Team and Coast Guard flyovers. After these aerial displays, guests explored exhibits from the Houston Space Center, Commemorative Air Force and National Guard, while enjoying offerings from a variety of food trucks and local vendors. 

As the festival came to a close, it was clear that this celebration marked the beginning of an exciting chapter for Tyler County Airport. A recently announced casino resort development on Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas reservation lands positions the airport to play a vital role in driving regional economic growth. The anticipated influx of visitors and job opportunities will serve as a catalyst for expansion, starting with the installation of new fuel tanks to accommodate increased demand from pilots and travelers. Recent terminal upgrades mark the beginning of a series of improvements, including plans for runway enhancements and expanded services to support the airport’s long-term vision. 

“The Fly-In and Food Truck Festival is just the beginning,” said Cathy Bennett, president of the Tyler County Chamber of Commerce. “Next year, we’re planning even bigger things that will attract even more visitors.” 

The festival also sought to inspire the next generation of aviators. Through hands-on experiences and close encounters with historic aircraft, the event provided young attendees with a unique opportunity to engage with the world of aviation. Organizers hoped that the excitement experienced by local youth would ignite a passion for aviation, potentially leading to future careers as pilots, engineers and aviation enthusiasts. 

Looking ahead, the Fly-In and Food Truck Festival is set to become an annual highlight for the community. With larger plans for next year, the festival aims to expand its scale and impact, further solidifying its role in the region’s aviation landscape.

In the heart of Fort Worth, Texas, Meacham International Airport is gearing up to celebrate a remarkable milestone — its 100th anniversary — in 2025. Since opening its doors in 1925 as Fort Worth Municipal Airport, the airport has become a key player in the world of aviation, contributing significantly to the city’s growth and the broader aviation industry.

The story of Meacham Airport began with former Fort Worth Mayor Henry C. Meacham. His vision and personal investment were crucial to the airport’s early development, and it was soon renamed in his honor. Just a few years in, Meacham Field was already making history, hosting Texas’ first airmail flight in 1928 and launching the state’s first scheduled passenger service to Oklahoma City. These early achievements laid the groundwork for Meacham’s lasting impact on aviation in the region. 

The 1930s saw Meacham expand its facilities and begin attracting major airlines like American Airways (now American Airlines), which relocated part of its southern division headquarters and two airmail routes there. During World War II, the airport played a vital role in supporting U.S. Navy aircrafts, becoming a busy hub for military and private aviation. 

As the years rolled on, Meacham adapted to the changing aviation landscape. Although commercial airlines shifted to the newly opened Greater Fort Worth International Airport in 1953, Meacham continued to thrive as a general aviation center. The 1960s brought significant airfield improvements, and in 1975, the airport had a memorable moment when mechanics refurbished Elvis Presley’s Convair 880.

In the 21st century, Meacham continues to be a vital part of the aviation scene. The Leading Edge paint facility, established in 2012 (now International Aerospace Coating), services large passenger and air cargo aircraft and hosted Air Force One for a paint job in 2014. That same year, the historic American Airways Hangar was restored, thereby preserving its place in aviation history. 

Today, Meacham spans 900 acres and has become one of North Texas’s premier general aviation airport offering two runways, 89 buildings, over 1.55 million square feet of hangar space and two full-service fixed-base operators. It is a hub for aircraft management, maintenance and repair facilities, flight training and home to two aviation museums.

Roger Venables, aviation systems director, expressed pride in the airport’s resilience, stating, “We are fortunate to have a general aviation airport that has not only survived but flourished over the past 100 years. Meacham has established a strong presence in corporate aviation, maintenance and recreational flying, and its continued success speaks to its enduring value.”  

Looking to the future, Meacham has a new master plan in place, the first update since 2004. This plan outlines exciting developments, including major airfield improvements, new hangars across 35 acres and modernization efforts to accommodate next-generation aircraft, such as electric planes. 

As Meacham International Airport approaches its centennial celebration on July 3, 2025, it is evident that this historic airport is well-prepared for the future. With innovative plans on the horizon, Meacham is poised to continue its legacy for many years to come.

Written by: Steve Dean, Flight of the Phoenix Aviation Museum

As part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT’s) Don’t Mess With Texas Adopt An Airport initiative, the Gilmer Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFJROTC) is developing and implementing a Foreign Objects Debris (FOD) Awareness and Mitigation Program for the airport. The activity is an initiative conceived by Major Jeremy Stowers, head of the Gilmer High School AFJROTC and is part of the Flight of the Phoenix Aviation Museum Aviation STEaM Program. His students will complete several projects to help this initiative.

Stowers, shown below with his cadets, is an instrument-rated pilot and a certified air traffic controller. After a career in air traffic control and airfield management with the United States Air Force, he moved to Gilmer to join the Gilmer Independent School District as head of the AFJROTC Cadet Wing.

The periodic deployment of TxDOT roadway sweeping equipment, funded through the TxDOT Aviation Routine Airport Maintenance Program, is a key part of the initiative. More importantly, awareness training will encourage local pilots and drivers of vehicles on the airport tarmac — including pilots, airport tenants, delivery vehicles, maintenance, fuel delivery and construction vehicles — to develop and maintain a keen awareness of the need for FOD mitigation. Users of small general aviation airports like Gilmer sometimes overlook the importance of FOD mitigation. With an increase of turbine and turboprop-powered aircraft activity at JXI, a robust FOD mitigation program becomes increasingly essential. Small rocks or debris no larger than pea gravel can cause major damage to jet engines and propeller blades on all types of prop-driven planes.

FOD awareness training will challenge operators of all vehicles on the tarmac and taxiways to use common sense and ensure their tires are clean and free of debris.