Airport History

History of the LaPorte Municipal Airport, LaPorte, Indiana

1903 - The Wright Brothers make their famous flight in
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
1910 - Local LaPorte resident, Elmer Burlingame,
designs monoplane.
1920 - A JN-4D Curtis by-plane, owned by Frank Kemp,
lands in LaPorte. Frank Kemp becomes first
citizen of LaPorte County to own a plane.
1924 - Flying field receives recognition in LaPorte
County three miles east of current airport.
Owner of the field, C. Nelson, presents flying
circus, balloon ascension, military band, military
air show, wing-walker handcuffed to the plane
and an aviation artist who performed on a
rope ladder.