Airport Opens Doors for 70th Anniversary

Eight-year-old Christina Miller and her younger sister, Bethany, were dwarfed by the DC-3 airplane on display Saturday at Burbank Airport.

Both girls were eager to learn about the plane’s history and the airport. They got their chance when airport officials held an open house for the public in recognition of the airport’s 70th anniversary.

“Seven decades is a significant milestone and we decided it presented us with a wonderful opportunity to get together with our neighbors,” said Dios Marrero, executive director of the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority.

The Miller family was among a crowd of 2,000 attending the event. Shuttled to the airport by buses, attendees were treated to displays of the DC-3, a Lockheed Super Constellation and a Martin 404. They also saw the airport’s formation through a series of photos dating back to the 1940s.

Wendy Miller said her daughters couldn’t stop talking about the tour when they got back to the parking lot.

“Our kids are fascinated with planes and we thought this was a good opportunity to get them up close,” she said. “It’s great the airport is willing to do this and let people understand the historical perspective.”

The airport opened on Memorial Day in 1930 when Burbank had a population of 16,000 and was mired in the Depression. The airstrip, initially called United Airport, generated jobs and helped turn the local economic tide.

Lockheed Aircraft Co. bought the airport in 1940 and continued commercial flights while building military aircraft. Lockheed sold the airport in 1978 to the joint powers authority.

The airport now serves about 5 million passengers each year.

One of those passengers is North Hollywood resident Gerald Oster, a self-proclaimed aviation buff.

“When I heard about the open house, I was really excited,” said Oster, who has collected model planes since he was 7.

“The airport is rich in history and nostalgia,” he said. “I hope they do this five years from now when they celebrate their 75th anniversary.”