McGhee Tyson Airport celebrated the 75th anniversary of the first commercial flight to land at its Blount County location Sunday.
According to airport spokesperson, Becky Huckaby, an American Airlines Stinson TriMotor traveled to the airport July 29, 1937. She said it was capable of carrying 10 passengers.
The airport celebrated the milestone by putting special items into a time capsule to be opened again in 25 years. Some of the items that were put into the time capsule included luggage tags and a TSA bag. The purpose of the time capsule, according to the airport, was to show how much air traveled has, and will, change over the years.
"We've chosen to do a lot of events where there's actually an outreach to the community," Huckaby said.
Congress Jimmy Duncan and Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett attended the event with family members of people who actually helped to create the the airport.
Knoxville Resident Roberta Pedigo is the granddaughter of Walter Self, the man who started Knoxville's first airport along Sutherland Avenue in 1927 before it was relocated to Blount County. She said her grandfather would be proud of how far Knoxville's airport has come.
"He would love to see it now, he really would," Pedigo said.
Now more than 120 flights typically arrive and depart from McGhee Tyson Airport everyday.
If you missed Sunday's event, there are more planned to take place. On October 15, the airport will mark the 75th anniversary of the facility's official grand opening in Blount County.
There will also be another opportunity to learn more about the airport next year, as well.
Last May, the airport held its first ever Airport Academy to teach people what behind-the-scenes life is like at McGhee Tyson. According to Huckaby, the classes were extremely successful. So, she said the airport will have them again in late April and make applications for the classes available in February.