2008 Woodie Awards
Airport to update facilities
Constance Schiano
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Community
Residents of Middletown, Ohio, and surrounding communities have the revamping of Middletown's airport to thank for special aeronautical events that are scheduled to take place at Hook Field as soon as this summer.
Hook Field owner Jimmy Jonson has made the decision to turn the airport into a more modern facility by renovating one of the larger hangars on the field.
Built in the 1920s, Hook Field has been under Middletown's control since the 1940s, but until 2005, the city hadn't owned the airplane hangars themselves. By renovating the larger hangar, Jonson said he plans to turn the airport into an economic asset for Middletown.
"By adding another hangar we will help make the airport a more modern facility and help make it the viable economic entity that it is," Jonson said.
In addition to repairing the larger hangar, Jonson said he wants to increase public awareness of the airport and make it a viable economic entity. In order to increase public awareness, Jonson plans to host special events to attract people to the airport.
"(We are) doing positive things (that) will create excitement and more of a buzz in the air about the airport," Jonson said.
The first step, Jonson said, that the airport took in toward becoming an economic asset was creating the Middletown Aviation Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on bringing people to the airport through various special events held at Hook Field.
According to Jonson, some of the events planned are air show in September, featuring pilots from the Air Force, Navy and Marines, as well as a precision flight team. Hook Field will also host two events, one of them being "Thunder in the Sky," which will feature a radio-controlled jet aircraft that can travel at speeds up to 200 mph, and the other being an annual hot air balloon competition in July.
Jonson said he hopes the events will bring people to the airport, likewise bringing people to Middletown, and eventually helping to raise awareness of the airport and what it offers.
Hook Field owner Jimmy Jonson has made the decision to turn the airport into a more modern facility by renovating one of the larger hangars on the field.
Built in the 1920s, Hook Field has been under Middletown's control since the 1940s, but until 2005, the city hadn't owned the airplane hangars themselves. By renovating the larger hangar, Jonson said he plans to turn the airport into an economic asset for Middletown.
"By adding another hangar we will help make the airport a more modern facility and help make it the viable economic entity that it is," Jonson said.
In addition to repairing the larger hangar, Jonson said he wants to increase public awareness of the airport and make it a viable economic entity. In order to increase public awareness, Jonson plans to host special events to attract people to the airport.
"(We are) doing positive things (that) will create excitement and more of a buzz in the air about the airport," Jonson said.
The first step, Jonson said, that the airport took in toward becoming an economic asset was creating the Middletown Aviation Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on bringing people to the airport through various special events held at Hook Field.
According to Jonson, some of the events planned are air show in September, featuring pilots from the Air Force, Navy and Marines, as well as a precision flight team. Hook Field will also host two events, one of them being "Thunder in the Sky," which will feature a radio-controlled jet aircraft that can travel at speeds up to 200 mph, and the other being an annual hot air balloon competition in July.
Jonson said he hopes the events will bring people to the airport, likewise bringing people to Middletown, and eventually helping to raise awareness of the airport and what it offers.
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