History of The Ohio State University Airport
1917-1939
Aviation comes to Ohio State
The Ohio State University has played an integral part in advancing the aeronautics field, while evolving into one of the nation’s premier aviation programs. Less than 14 years after the first flight, World War I created the need for qualified military pilots. In spring 1917, the War Department established Schools of Military Aeronautics at six universities, including The Ohio State University.
The School of Aeronautics opened May 21, 1917, when the first "squadron" or group of 16 cadets reported. As the story goes, the cadets built the aircraft in the aeronautics building, located on the southeast corner of West 19th Avenue and Neil Avenue. The planes would then be rolled down the hill to the field just east of the Olentangy River, where flight tests and training would ensue.
Unfortunately, this arrangement was short-lived, with the opening of Ohio Stadium in 1922. Shortly thereafter, the university built a second airport on East Broad Street “near the country club,” while also using other local airports such as Sullivant Field on Neil Avenue. In 1939, Ohio State was one of a number of universities that took part in the Civilian Pilot Training Program, sponsored by the Civil Aeronautics Administration, for the purpose of fostering private flying
1942-1949
Birth of an airport
In support of its pilot training program, the university, in May 1942, purchased property for the development of an airport. The new facility was located on the outskirts of town, seven miles north of campus in northwest Columbus. The first plane to utilize the new airport landed at the field on November 5, 1942. What followed was the construction of the airport's first two buildings in the spring of 1943, and two 2,200 feet, hard-surfaced runways, taxiways, and aprons in early 1944.
Four Columbus women pilots formed a chapter of the Ninety-Nines organization in 1946. '99' was founded by Amelia Earheart, named after the 99 women pilots who attended the first meeting in 1926. In the photo on the far left is Helen Linn, assistant coordinator of pilot training at the OSU Airport in 1946. For more info about this organization, visit http://www.allohio99s.com/.
Ruth Gouthey (photo on the right and the second from the right in the photo above) was Ohio State's first female flight instructor, pictured here with a student in 1947. Gouthey also helped form the first Columbus chapter of the 99s. Ohio State began offering flight instruction in 1945.
1950s -1959
Growth in flight training
In 1952, lab fees and ground school for a private pilot’s license totaled $530. By 1956, school enrollment was at capacity with 29 students and the fleet consisted of four Cessna 140s and four Navions.
Beginning in the late 1940s and continuing into the 1950s, the airport partnered with the farming community to research equipment for crop dusting. Charles W. Kellenbarger, aircraft maintenance supervisor at Ohio State Airport, worked on the Ohio Project. This was “an airplane developed by the Ohio Flying Farmers Association, The Ohio State University, Civil Aeronautics Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture and others, for use in spraying and dusting farm crops." A modified version of the Piper J-3, the airplane was built to take off from and land on short farm fields. (Science and Mechanics, 8/1956) However, the plane crashed in 1957 and the project was halted.
Jack Eggspuehler was named director of the School of Aviation at Ohio State in 1958 when he was 28 years old. He was head of aviation until he retired in 1978. Part of his responsibilities included serving as airport director.
1960-1969
Ohio State Enters the Jet Age
In 1967, the crew of a TWA 707 mistook the airport for Port Columbus International Airport. After shuttling all passengers and baggage to Port Columbus, and removing all galley equipment and seats, the plane was light enough to depart for the larger facility across town. Watch the 707 take-off below.
These Beech Musketeers are pictured at the Beech Aircraft Customer Delivery Center in Wichita, Kansas, in June 1969. The picture is courtesy of Myron Ashcraft, Ohio State University class of 1971.
The airport started its decades-long partnership with the NIFA by hosting their national competition in 1960. SAFECON (Safety in Flight Evaluation Conference) has been held at The Ohio State University Airport ten times.
The National Intercollegiate Flying Associations (NIFA) relocated its headquarters to The Ohio State University Airport in 2012.
1970 – 1979
Growth in Research & Development
In the 1970s, the airport operated an air transportation service with two DC-3s. The service provided transportation for university sports teams, faculty and administration and served as a flying classroom.
In 1976, Dr. Gerald Gregorek, Ohio State Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, and Dr. Stacy Weislogel, Ohio State Aviation, worked with NASA and Beech Aircraft Corporation to test a new aircraft wing design at the OSU Airport. The Beechcraft Muskateer had the new wing built up over the conventional airfoil to find out if the design would improve economy, performance and efficiency of general aviation airplanes. (Columbus Dispatch, 2/29/1976)
Wright Airlines
The Civil Aeronautics Administration granted a temporary permit for Wright Airlines of Cleveland to operate a weekday commuter service between Cleveland and Columbus in August of 1975. However, by October of that year, Ohio State University’s administration moved to evict Wright Airlines because there was no lease. Residents near the airport also objected to the increased air traffic. Eventually Wright moved their operations to Port Columbus. The university then clarified that it had no intention of “expanding ….use to the operation of regularly scheduled commercial airlines…”
1980-1989
“Airport For Sale” and Community Support
Officials of Ohio State University discussed selling Don Scott Airport and the surrounding land in 1986. Ohio State President Edward H. Jennings called for a land use study to determine the feasibility of “disposing of the approximately 1,400 acres, valued at upwards of $100 million, and moving the agricultural and aviation programs elsewhere.”
The above cartoon depicts Ohio State President Edward Jennings as King Kong, taking over the airport with the intention of selling it to developers. Peggy McElroy was a member of the Northwest Civic Association. (Suburban News)
1978-1982: Richard D. Gilson chaired the Department of Aviation, director of the Ohio State Airport and director of the aviation psychology lab.
1982-1990: Stacy Weislogel was Department of Aviation chair, and was airport director from 1982-1983.
1990-1999
“A city within a city”
Kenneth Newstrom, airport director, 1992-1997
“The airport is city within a city. We have our own police and fire department, There is a city-type atmosphere with tenants and users."
Statistics from the time:
- 140,000 take-offs and landings per year
- 5th largest in state
- One of the top 30 GA in country
- 80 flight students per quarter
2000-2009
Outreach and Community Activism
Airport Open House and Don Scott Trot: A 5K on the Runway
The Airport Open House was held in 2003, 2005, and 2007, and attracted thousands of visitors with hot air balloons, military fly-overs, static displays, free plane rides for kids, a 5K run, and more. This event was brought back in 2015 and 2016 with similar success.
WOOSE
2010-present
The Ohio Aeronautics and Aviation Campus
The airport has evolved in the 75 years since its inception from a pure training facility to Ohio’s premier business aviation center, and is the primary facility serving The Ohio State University and the surrounding central Ohio general aviation community. Today, the airport serves as a general aviation reliever for Port Columbus International Airport. Its status as a Part 139 certificated airport assures the aviation community that the facility will meet the highest standards in terms of operations and maintenance.
The university airport is home to 200 aircraft, including, both single- and multi-, piston and turbine engine aircraft and rotorcraft, and sees an estimated 75,000 operations per year, including corporate activity, student training, and pleasure flying. The airport ranks fourth in Ohio in the number of take-offs and landings and within the top 100 general aviation airports nationally.
The airport has welcomed many dignitaries to Columbus, including former Presidents of the United States, First Ladies, celebrities and even manatees being transferred to/from the Columbus Zoo.
2015
Austin E. Knowlton Foundation gives Ohio State $10M to enhance aviation, education and research facilities
Continuing its namesake’s commitment to education and to his alma mater, the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation donated $10 million to upgrade aviation education and research facilities, and the terminal at The Ohio State University Airport.
“This generous gift reinforces the university’s commitment to aviation education and research at Ohio State and to utilize Don Scott Field as it was originally intended — training pilots, advancing aviation innovation and serving the needs of a growing region,” said Dean David B. Williams of the College of Engineering.
“Modernizing the facilities will allow us to keep pace with the educational needs of 500-plus Ohio State students, research demands of the state and nation, and service expectations of local businesses and pilots.”
2017
In 2017, the airport celebrated its 75th anniversary, as well as the groundbreaking for a new flight education and terminal building.
Airport named after WWII hero
Barnstormer Brutus
The Ohio State Airport and the Center for Aviation Studies are excited to announce that Barnstormer Brutus was donated to the airport in honor of the airport's 75th anniversary, as well as the 100 years of aviation at Ohio State.
Barnstormer Brutus was created as part of Brutus On Parade, an amazing and exciting program developed by The Ohio State University to assist in raising funds for the renovation of The William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library. Each Brutus started off as a 6'2", 150lb fiberglass statue.
More than 30 life-size statues of our beloved mascot can be found on or near campus. Ohio Staters, Inc., invites you to use this map to find the Brutus statues. Take pictures with the statues and post online using the hashtag #findbrutus. The map is available in both a PDF and mobile-friendly format. Enjoy!
KOSU memories
Gus Custer
- 1964-1981 Airport Maintenance Supervisor
- 1981-1990 Airport Maintenance Manager
- 1990-1996 Airport Assistant Director of Operations
- The Ohio State University Society of Technicians Chair
- International Snow Symposium Research and Development Committee Member
Richard “Gus” Custer worked at The Ohio State University Airport from 1964 until 1996. As head of airport maintenance, he was responsible for the upkeep of airport facilities and equipment.
- One of the most notable things Gus was involved with at the airport was the construction of runway 9L/27R. Custer was responsible for constructing the original grass runway before 9L was paved. Along with this runway, he installed runway lights, taxiway lights, taxiway C, and helped build a fuel farm. The Ohio State Airport had the first runway GPS system and Automated Weather System; Custer helped construct these systems.
- One of the larger airport projects was the brand new Air Traffic Control Tower.
- Along with the airport maintenance staff, Gus helped build Hangar 7.
- When Custer wasn’t working on building taxiways and towers, he was maintaining airport buildings, roads, taxiways, and runways. All pavement markings were required to be repainted annually in order to meet FAA Part 150 compliance. Custer also witnessed the infamous TWA 707 landing that occurred at OSU Airport in 1967.
As our airport undergoes construction for the new terminal, it is important to remember its legacy and the hard work of all the employees who helped make the airport what it is today.
Michael Fischer
Meredith Frederick
Aircraft Dispatcher
Aviation Engineering - 2010
One of my favorite memories from working at the airport happened on a snowy, slow day in the middle of winter. My coworker Cecilia and I had been talking for some time about how much fun it would be to have a go at driving one of the snowplows or snow brooms. This particular day saw driving snow, very low visibility, and consequently, no landing traffic. Mark and Dale, airport facilities veterans, were out in the elements treating the runways with the plows and brooms. Cecilia and I watched them go back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, and had more delusions of snowplow grandeur. Suddenly, the phone rang. We were being summoned to meet the snow equipment! We scrambled out and chose our respective rides. Cecilia paired up with Mark on the plow, and I paired up with Dale on the broom. Intimidated by all the buttons, levers, and Dale's side-eye, I listened closely to his introduction of how to work the broom. And off we went! Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Feeling pretty confident after a few passes, I had a go at running the blower and broom portion of the machine at the same time under Dale's watchful supervision.
After a full pass of the taxiway, I was feeling good, until Dale told me to look behind me. All of the snow had blown right back over the taxiway, since my clever self didn't think to take the howling wind into account when directing the blower. Progress undone! That earned me significant more side-eye from Dale, and the advice to stick to airplanes and leave snow removal to the professionals.
We completed a few more pity passes to give me the chance to save face before Dale dropped me off at the terminal and I was reunited with Cecilia. Cecilia and I were all smiles and laughs after our snowplow lessons. My pride took a hit that day, but it was big fun and to this day I still smile when I see the brooms and plows working the runways.
Doug Hammon
Ohio State University Airport Director (1999-present)
Aeronautical Sciences (SBS), June 1989
Margaret J Jewett
Ohio State University Airport
Retired assistant to the director of flight education
1965 to December 1997
Tommy Smathers
Sales & Operations Manager / AEG Fuels - Miami , FL
Aviation Management / College of Arts and Science 
Warren Collmer
Corporate pilot (37 years, retired)
Social sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, August 1973
As a high school student at Worthington High School (now Thomas Worthington), I did a work/study program my senior year and worked in the maintenance department at OSU Airport as a mechanic's helper. I also worked on the line fueling aircraft on the weekends.
I also remember when Jack Eggspuehler acquired a P51 Mustang and buzzed the airport (in the pre-tower days).
Dick Taylor
Ohio State Department of Aviation, 1966-1988 (retired)
Director of Flight Operations and Training
In 1966, Dick Taylor joined the faculty of the Department of Aviation at The Ohio State University. He was the department's Director of Flight Operations and Training from 1981 until his retirement as Associate Professor in 1988. He wrote the following about OSU Airport’s air transportation service in Forty-Seven Years In Aviation: A Memoir; Chapter 16: Books, Helicopters, and Gliders:
One of the Diesel-3s (just one of many nicknames, including Douglas Racer, Gooney Bird, Dizzy Three, and the Grand Old Lady) was an ex-American Airlines airplane built in the late 1930s with 40,000-plus hours of flight time when it was donated to Ohio State. Rechristened N11OSU and repainted in school colors, it was the university's "flying classroom," fitted with 28 airline seats, a movie projector in the rear and a screen at the forward end of the cabin.
This aircraft was everything a corporate transport should be: luxurious seating for 14 passengers, mahogany cabinets and sideboards topped with living-room quality light fixtures, leather headliners and picture windows on each side, to name just a few of its accoutrements. It had oversized prop spinners, enclosed wheel wells and several power and aerodynamic enhancements that added more than a few knots to its cruise speed. For all practical purposes 77OSU became the university president's airplane -- a "royal barge" to be sure -- but our then-sitting president, Dr. Novice Fawcett, deserved it. Two weeks after I returned from Korea it was the airplane in which I earned my ATP certificate and DC-3 type rating. 77OSU appears in my log books on many occasions until it was sold in 1972.