INTRODUCTION TO THE RENO AIR PARK HISTORY PAGE.

From the April 5, 1956 issue of the "Potomac Interest" newpaper.

"The new 'Reno Sky Port' an air field for Colonial Beach is now being used. The new airport 3 1/2 miles from Colonial Beach on land belonging to Walter Massey was put in use last week.

They have a runway one mile long, which will eventually enable any type plane to land on the field. A telephone will soon be installed so that any plane using the field can obtain transportation. Also aviation gasoline will be available and hanger will be built.

Work has already started on getting the runway in shape. Additionally work will be done in the near future to permit the full use of the field.

One or more regularly scheduled air-lines are interested in running 'Champaign Flights' to Colonial Beach.

The new airfiled is owned by Reno Pier. They have been interested in locating an air-field at Colonial Beach for some time."

This is an aerial view of the Colonial Beach Airport(known as the Reno Air Park) at what is now(2001) known as the Drag Strip. Notice the aircraft in the center of the picture.

This is the first plane to land at Reno Air Park at Colonial Beach. The pilots were Dennis Conner and Jimmy Dyson who flew the plane from Richmond.

These are three of the four Conner brothers that ran the Reno Air Park. From the left is Denning, Delbert and Paul. the fourth brother was not available for the picture. Photo taken April 1955.

This is the 18 seat plane that was purchased in August, 1956 that was planned for "Champaign Flights". This plane was a twin engined 247-D Boeing Transport, that was first used in the Fall of 1956 for routes from Colonial Beach to Washington National Airport. The plane was painted pink, charcoal gray, and beige.

From the "Potomac Interest" newpaper dated July, 12, 1956.

On Tuesday, July 24, a charter flight of two DC-3s' will fly into Reno Air Park from Alexandria. They will be carrying more that 50 passengers between them.

This marks the first commercial flights into Reno Sky Park. After spending several hours at the Beach they will return to Alexandria late Tuesday night.

Lights for night take offs and landings are now being installed at the Airport.

From the "Potomac Interest" newspaper dated September 13, 1956.

Delbert Conner, of Reno, Inc., bought a new twin motor Apache four passenger plane last week.

Click here to return to Home Page.

© Copyright 1998-2003 by Orville Ingram. All rights reserved. This site may be copied only in brief passages for research purposes and may be used for unlimited use in school work. Please credit Orvilles World in your work by the name Orvilles World and the internet address www.geocities.com/orvillei

1