Sweet Aviation

Private Pilot Ground School Starts
March 17, 2012!

Call Joel at 260-267-5505, or stop by Smith Field Airport to enroll today!

Smith Field History

Smith Field Airport, located five miles north of downtown Fort Wayne, IN., sits on 236 acres of land just north of I-69. In June of 1925, Smith Field, originally named Baer Field in honor of World War I ace Paul Baer, began operations. During the 1930s Smith Filed was added to the airmail services route, and in the 1940s TWA began scheduled airline service to Fort Wayne. In 2003, Dr. Stephen Hatch began Smith Field Air Services.

After airport officials voted in 2002 to shut down the first airfield in Fort Wayne, the future of Smith Field was uncertain. Local support for Smith Field was strong though, led by Dr. Steve Hatch, aviation enthusiast and chairman of Smith Airfield ForEver (SAFE). Dr. Hatch was able to reach an agreement with representatives of the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority to revitalize operations at Smith Field in 2003.

For the next eight years the efforts of Dr. Hatch and dozens of contributors would grow local enthusiasm for aviation. In 2011, local businessman and flight enthusiast Chuck Surack purchased the operations at Smith Field to keep the historic airfield part of Fort Wayne culture.

Smith Field wouldn't be where it is today without the help and support of a group of dedicated aviation lovers. Their contributions made it possible for Smith Field to continue operations, and helped launched Smith Field Air Services. Their assistance came in the form of money, equipment, materials, time, and discounted services. Our thanks go to all of these supporters!

SUPER PLATINUM FLYERS $100,000 +

Hatch, Dr. Stephen J.

PLATINUM FLYERS $10,000 - $100,000

Loomis, Mike & Judi - Loomis Law Office
Peters, Mike, Connie, Chris & Heather - Peters Broadcasting Co.
Pontius, Bill - Copper River Cabinets Co./Panel Mart
Reed, Dan - Reed Advertising, Inc.

GOLDEN FLYERS $5,000 - $10,000

Gouloff, Michael & Gretchen - Schenkel Shultz Architecture and GKG Designs Hatch, Jim
Siwick, Ron & Rita

SILVER FLYERS $1,000 - $5,000

Bastress, Tom
Brewer, Mark & Barb - Frontier Safe
Felger, Paul
Garvey, Pat & Judy
Gilpin, Paul & Todd - Gilpin Ironworks
Gunkel, Lenny
Lassus, Jon - Lassus Oil
Leonard, Jay - Preferred Auto
Mudrack, Ron
Murphy, Linda
S.A.F.E.
Souder, John

BRONZE FLYERS
Up to $1,000

Brewer, Mike - M.A.B. Aviation
Brown, Craig & Noreen
Brown, Keith & Nancy - Aviation Explorers Post 2305
Burns, Jim - Burns Construction
Byer, Keith & Doris
Davis, Jane - Draperies, Inc.
Dewald, David & Paula - RealClean Window Service
Gamble, Brian & Lori
Gilbert, Norm & Donna
Green, Buss & Lucy
Hatfield, Paul
Hatton, John
Hoffman, Drew - Hoffman Signs, Inc.
Little, John
Long, Bill & Joe - G & L Enterprise
Loomis, Jon - Pleez.Net
Lowe's Home Improvement
O'Charlie's Restaurant
Otis, Lauren
Ringenberg, Margaret
Sam's Club
Schmelz, Bob
Wehrly, Bob
Winn, Stan

Special mention goes to those groups or individuals located at Smith Field that make ongoing contributions to aviation that are not direct contributions to Sweet Aviation: