LA to New York flights have become some of the most lucrative routes for today’s airlines and we take them for granted today. However, few realize that the first commercial transcontinental flight – ever – took off from Grand Central’s runway and was flown by Charles Lindbergh (with Amelia Earhart among its passengers). The trip took 48 hours…
The airline behind the historic flight was Maddux Airlines which was based here and later changed its name to TWA.
Located in today’s Grand-Central Ave between Sonora and Grandview, this airport was originally built in 1923 as Grand Central Airport in Glendale, CA. It was the first commercial air terminal for the Los Angeles area and the first paved runway west of the Rockies. Pretty much all the names associated with the golden age of aviation at the time are associated with Grand Central airport: Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, Howard Hughes and Jack Northrop to name a few.
The airport’s official grand opening on February 22, 1929, was a major Hollywood gala that included celebrities such as Hoot Gibson, Gary Cooper, and Jean Harlow. Many of its best known figures arrived in their own planes.
Howard Hughes built and flew his famous H-1 racer here and Northrop started his “Avion Aviation” here as well. Pan-Am, TWA and American all served this airport during its relatively short life-span. The airport closed in 1959 and the premises are now home to Walt Disney Imagineering.
Here’s a beautiful 3 part documentary by the Glendale public library covering Grand Central golden years – enjoy:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
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