On May 8, 1910, a Curtis model in charge of C. B. Ely was placed on display in McMinn hall in the D'Arcy building. Although this plane never flew, it did encourage Ben Taylor, a postal employee, and Dr. H.H. Scovell, a mechano-therapeutist to construct a similar plane that made several attempts to fly this plane and had a successful flight on June 4, 1910. The aircraft took off from Lone Oak track at the fairgrounds and circled the capital dome at an altitude of 400 feet. This was the day Salem citizens saw the first flight over the city, 20 years before the Salem airport was constructed. Airplanes were constructed in Salem almost two decades before the City acquired property for the airport in 1929.

American Legion, Brazier Small told of the early beginnings of Salem's airport back in 1928 and 1929 and the part that the American Legion played in getting an airport in Salem. American Legion launched an intensive program for an airport in Salem. Published in the local pages of advertising urging the necessity, the "Airport Bulletin" appeared on every door step and leaflets demanding an airport from a promotion plane. Citizens went to the polls and voted to approve the $50,000 airport.

On May 1, 1929 there was an issue of bond for that amount to cover property acquisition and construction.
Salem acquired 55 acres from Tom Holman and 36 acres from Jim Linn. Since there was substantial progress in the development of the airport and while the Statewide convention of the Legion assembled here during August of 1929, the airport was dedicated during this time.

The Capital Journal newspaper, dated April 15, 1929 stated that work was to start on the airport in two weeks.
Lee Eyerly formed Eyerly Transport company in which they were going to manufacture aircraft and would proceed with their plans if the City built the airport. Eyerly stated they are ready to purchase the land and erect the buildings as soon as it is possible to use the runways on the new field.

Direct mail came to Salem on August 5, 1941 with the aircraft named "The City of Cleveland" (See Airport Photos page) First airmail out of Salem took place on December 5, 1941 aboard the "City of Salem" when United Airlines established regular air service. To the right is an ad for United Airlines that appeared in the Captial Journal March 7, 1944. In the spring of 1942, the US Air Force came into Salem and took over McNary Field. In early June 1943 the 356th fighter squadron of the 354th fighter group came to McNary Field to train.

City Council approved a resolution on March 6, 1944 making the official name of Salem Municipal Airport (McNary Field) after the late Charles L. McNary. Charles L. McNary was a Senator from Oregon who was born on a farm near Salem. The resolution was brought to them by the committee on airport and aviation. The Airport Committee was made up of Tom Armstrong, chairman, David O'Hara and Kenneth Perry. The late Senator played an important part in securing the federal assistance and cooperation necessary for development of the airport and in securing its designation as an army air base. Click here for a Biography on Charles L. McNary.

United Airlines Freight Services started February 1, 1946. The new air freight service between Salem and other cities from coast to coast was to start. DC-3 Cargoliners flying freight of 6,300 pounds capacity will inaugurate their service over United's nation-wide system.

An article in the Capital Journal dated August 4, 1950 stated in 1948 the government turned the airport back over to the City, but the fall of that year the US Navy was showing interest in McNary Field as a training center. In July of 1949, the lease was signed giving the Navy the use of the hangar on the east side of the airport and the use of the other facilities on that side of the field. Dedication ceremonies for the Salem Naval Air Facility were held here August 5, 1949.

President Harry S. Truman flew into the Salem Airport on June 11, 1948.

The first jet to fly into Salem was an F-80 flown by Captain C. A. Curtin from Williams Base in Arizona on August 20, 1948. (See Airport Photos Page)

The $40,000 Airport Administration Building was dedicated on Sunday, August 7, 1950. Mayor Robert L. Elfstrom and City manager J.L. Franzen presented the keys for the building to Charles Barclay, the Airport Manager. Mayor Elfstrom reminded that a metropolitan city must have air service and pointed to the industries in this area depending on air transportation.

June 30, 1953, the city of Salem fights to keep the original Airport Control Tower open. The city failed and the tower was closed by the Civil Aeronautics Commision, July 1, 1953 due to budget cuts. The tower which went into operation in 1949, was dismantled in 1956 due to vandalism. Only United Airlines had ground assistance with an employee of the airline looking through the administration office windows after the tower closed. Salem was without a control tower until 1973 when the current control tower was built. See below.   Presidential Candidate John F. Kennedy flew into Salem on September 7, 1960.

On October 14, 1960 an agreement was entered into between Marion & Polk Counties and the City of Salem for the establishment of a Port agency. This Port Agency was formally called Marion-Salem-Polk Port Agency. The administrative board consisted of seven members appointed by the elected officials of each government, one member was appointed by Polk County, two members from Marion County and four members from the City of Salem. Funding of this new agency was split up between the three governments. Marion County 30%, Polk County 10%, and Salem 60%. The purpose of the board was to ensure the effective planning, economical operation and cooperative financing of air and river port facilities to meet the needs of public, private, commercial and industrial interests of the Mid-Willamette Valley. In 1966 the Salem Fire Department completed construction on the airport fire station.The funding to build the fire station was provided by the FAA. The facility was large enough to house three fire trucks.(See Emergency Services Page)

Also in 1966, construction began on the airport restaurant and was completed by 1967.

The City of Salem assumed ownership of the facility after the Marion-Salem-Polk Port Agency disbanded in 1967. The Port agency assumed responsibility for the airport when it was returned to local authorities by the federal government which had used the facility during WW II as a military installation.

The current Airport Control Tower was built in 1973. (See airfield page for photo) It went into operation on August 30th.The new steel center controlled it's first flight at 7:14 am. The 58 foot prefabricated tower was one of 64 built around the country by Hunt Building Corp of El Paso Texas. The $225,000 tower was built from a user tax trust fund. m. The new tower replaced a temporary tower that was in operation during the past year. The new tower hours of operation were from 7 am to 11 pm. Operating the new tower facility were William Christensen, Robert Hillis and Robert Worthington who worked in the temporary tower as City employees, Larry Johnson, James Laird and Arden Packer. Ronald C. Hanna was the manager of the tower at that time.

United Airlines operated out of the Airport Administration Building along with the U.S. Weather Service, a car rental service and a limousine service that provided bus rides to and from Portland Airport in 1977.

Airline deregulation occurred in 1978.

Horizon Airlines begins service in Salem in 1982 with flights to Portland.

Horizon Airlines discontinued service in April, 1994

World Helicopter Championships were hosted here on August 14-19, 1996. Countries that attended were from: United States, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, France, England, South Africa, Switzerland, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and Japan. Russia claimed the gold

January to June 2007, The airport terminal is extensively remodled and expanded to accomodate commericial air service.

Delta Airlines brought back commerical airline service to Salem in June 2007 after a 13 year absence.