| Summary: | 53 counties now have rural bus service targeted at these groups but open to the general public. These bus systems provide periodic service between the small cities and the nearest major cities, where most of the goods, trade, and medical services are available. Intercity bus service and passenger rail service remain at a minimum level in the state. Aviation History - North Dakota (1910-1997) A North Dakota man, Archie Hoxey, who had flown with the Wright brothers, was credited in 1910 with the first airplane flight at Grand Forks. Early North Dakota pioneer aviators included: ? Tom McGory, Grand Forks, who built his own Curtiss-type airplane using a kitchen chair as a swivel cockpit (1911). ? Robert C. St. Henry or "Lucky Bob", one of the first public performers at Fargo and Minot air shows (1911). ? Otto Timm, Kenmare, who built his first pusher type plane (1912). (Timm, while at Lincoln, Nebraska, gave Charles Lindbergh his first airplane ride.) ? Florence "Tree Tops" Klingensmith, Fargo, the state's first licensed woman flyer who gained national fame for stunts and racing (1928). ? Carl Ben Eielson, Hatton, who as the most highly acclaimed ace of early state aviators flew over arctic ice caps. In 1920, airmail activity in the United States started commercial passenger and cargo aviation. Building airport runways and terminals in North Dakota lagged behind because cities lacked legislative authority to spend public moneys. In 1927 a civic-minded banker donated 160 acres (Hector Field) to Fargo. A private sector investor in Grand Forks near the University of North Dakota established runways, hangars, and offices. In 1927 Minot purchased land for an airport through the park board. In 1929 Bismarck leased an 80 acre tract for an airport. Due to the limited airfield facilities, North Dakota's first commercial airline service was a customs stop at Pembina on a Winnipeg to Minneapolis flight in February 1928. By 1932 air mail and passenger service had been established at Fargo, Grand Forks, Pembina, Valley City, Jamestown, Bismarck, and Dickinson through Northwest Airways. In 1936, with the help of the federal Bureau of Aeronautics, a system of radio transmitters and beacons were placed 50 miles apart for airway navigation. Places like Dawson, Glen Ullin, Golva, and Valley City offered community owned grass airfields equipped by the Department of Commerce. When in 1939 and 1940 the Civil Aeronautics Board gave airline permanent route certificates, the gestation period for commercial aviation ended. In 1942 the federal government, due to the war, requisitioned most planes owned by commercial carriers. 573 Chapter 12 Transportation
|
|---|