GC3K73M Aviation History: Felts Field (Traditional Cache) in Washington, United States created by BoCoFisher

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A cache by BoCoFisher Message this owner

Hidden : 6/3/2012

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Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Aviation History: Felts Field

Felts Field is located on the south bank of the Spokane River east of Spokane proper. In 1913 Spokane established a nine hole course on this property near Upriver Dam. Parkwater Municipal Golf Course, also known as Upriver Golf Course, was quite flat and wide open. The unimpressive golf course wasn't as nearly nice as the beautiful Downriver Golf Course, which was established in 1916, on the west side of Spokane. Spokane’s early aviators and exhibition flyers from elsewhere had used a variety of locations, including the fairgrounds east of the city. The need for an airfield with an open space that was reasonably flat seemed more important than retaining the land for a little-used golf course. The property was located near an area called Parkwater, which temporarily became the name of the airfield as well. In 1920 the Parkwater Airstrip was designated a municipal flying field at the instigation of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce. However, the area had not been entirely cleared of stones, and during 1922 and 1923, “Spokane County chronic drunk and nonsupport prisoners were allowed ‘field exercise’ by removing stones from the flying field". In 1926, the United States Department of Commerce officially recognized Parkwater Airstrip as an airport, one of the first in the West.

Early Photo of Felts Field
In September 1927, in conjunction with Spokane’s National Air Derby and Air Races, the airport was renamed Felts Field for Lt. James Buell Felts (1898-1927), a Washington Air National Guard aviator killed in a crash near Parkwater Airstrip that May.

An important development of the late 1920s was the coming of airmail service to Spokane. By 1926, Pasco, Washington, already had airmail service through Varney Airlines, a forerunner of United Airlines, and “Spokane was envious”. The Chamber of Commerce launched a publicity campaign and commissioned a survey of the route. The first direct airmail flight from Spokane at Felts Field took place on September 15, 1929.

In the years following Felts Field was the location for flight instruction, charter service, airplane repair, aerial photography, headquarters of the 116th Observation Squadron of the Washington Air National Guard, and eventually the first commercial flights in and out of Spokane.

After World War II, commercial air traffic moved to Geiger Field, which is now named Spokane International Airport. Felts Field remains a busy regional hub for private and small-plane aviation and related businesses and services. Felts Field covers an area of 416 acres at an elevation of 1,957 feet above mean sea level. It has two runways and it also has a seaplane landing area designated on the Spokane River. For a recent 12-month period ending December 31, 2009 the airport had 75,124 aircraft operations, an average of 205 per day.

In 1991 it was designated Felts Field Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.

Congratulations to BrettXY for being the FTF.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Haqre onpx fvqr

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
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N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

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