Hubbard Lenhardt Airpark began life as a Donation Land Claim
owned by John Sexton in 1852, later to be bought by a second
generation of German immigrant farmers, the Lenhardts, who
came to Oregon in the late 1870's. In the '50s, Jack
Lenhardt created a grass strip on a level area of ground
across from his farm home as he became involved in
commercial aviation representing agricultural flying,
aircraft sales, flight instruction, charter and aircraft
maintenance. Jack started crop dusting with the Piper J-3
Cub pictured below. He bought the crop dusting business the
same day that he and Elaine were married. (August 28,
1955) The airport was started in its present location later
in November, 1955.
1956 85 HP J-3 duster taking off with Stinson L-5
sprayer with a 220 Continental in background. The first
sprayer in 1955 was a 450 HP Stearman
Jack Lenhardt and the Champ
- Whiskey Hill 1954
In the 70's a
small 1200' section of the grass strip was paved with
asphalt at the end of RWY 2. In the 90's the strip was
paved to its entire 3200 foot length. However, the grass
strip was preserved for the entire length, located just next
to the runway on the west side.
N98H taking off to the North, 1974
The airport
had been zoned farmland, which had prohibited any
development until recent Oregon State Statutes paved the
way for hangar improvement and new hangar construction.
Located on
the field was a helicopter museum, along with exhibits of
the Oregon Aviation Historical Society. The helicopters
have now been relocated to McMinnville in the Evergreen
museum. In the last 30 years the airport has been the home
of many aircraft restoration projects, beginning with a
Boeing Stearman, a Grumman Wildcat, a North American T-6,
numerous early helicopters of World War II and Korea and
most recently the total rebuilding of two WWII Waco
CG4-A troop gliders. (Check the NEWS page for most
current restoration)
|
A late local
resident area resident, Tim Williams, was a pilot on
several WWII missions in the Waco CG-4A at the
Normandy invasion. |
The T-6 in 1972. The Wildcat is in the background, still
unpainted. |
