Merrill Field Airport celebrates 95 years of flying

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Alaska’s oldest official airport celebrated its 95th Birthday at an “Aviation Celebration” on Saturday.

Merrill Field Airport (MRI) began giving pilots a place to take off and land in 1930 and continues to this day as Alaska’s second busiest airport. On Saturday, the public was given an up-close look at rare and unique aircraft, simulators, exhibits and more.

“It’s kind of designed to bring the camaraderie of the community around here back after COVID and to introduce aviation to the communities and the youth around the in the surrounding neighborhoods,” said Airport Manager Earl Malpass.

In addition to seeing the aircraft on the ground, the celebration included several flybys, including a 1929 Curtiss Wright Travel Air 4D, which is similar to what airport namesake Russ Merrill would have flown in the 1920’s.

“I remember my interest in planes as a kid, and that’s never really gone away,” said visitor Ronn Randall So to be able to share that with my grandson, that’s pretty fun.”

In addition to being the second busiest airport in the state, Merrill Field is also the fourth largest in the nation for “based aircraft,” or aircraft that stay at the airport for a majority of the year. There are over 840 aircraft owners at MRI and the airport also flew in over 7,630 hospital visits in 2024.

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