From TWA to Executive Beechcraft, Kansas City has some big names to drop when it comes to our aviation history. The original TWA headquarters still stands at the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport, though space-constriction caused operations to be moved to our international airport in 1972.
Downtown Airport, which serves general aviation aircraft from throughout the U.S., has its own special claim to fame - it was opened and dedicated by Charles Lindbergh himself back in 1927. Today, Downtown Airport is home to Executive Beechcraft, a 80+-year-old aviation business, as well as a host of other companies.
Prior to its opening in 1972, visionary Councilman Jeffrey Hillelson moved to change the name of the newly constructed international airport from Mid-Continent International Airport (MCI) to Kansas City International Airport (KCI), although the original airport code of MCI is still used to this day. When Kansas City International Airport officially opened in 1972, another famous name was on hand, Vice President Spiro Agnew was the keynote speaker at KCI's dedication. First built on 4,700 acres of land in northwest Kansas City, KCI has expanded to 10,000 acres, and continues to make improvements to enhance its status as a world-class aviation facility. The airport, with its unique C-shaped terminals, is still regarded as one of the most efficient airports in the country when it comes to passenger convenience.
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