Lincoln Airport

LNK originated in the early 1920s, with a plot of land selected northwest of the city. Known as Lincoln Airfield, Charles Lindbergh learned to fly there in 1922. In 1927, the field became a United Air Lines stop (a service that continues to this day through United’s regional partners), and the following year it became an airmail stop. That same year, the Lincoln Airplane and Flying School was established (although it later moved to Union Airport a few miles east). For a limited time in 1939, the school (along with eight other civilian contract flight schools) was contracted by the U.S. Army Air Corps for basic flight training of cadets at Lincoln Army Air Field (the short summer season prompted the training to eventually move to Lakeland, Florida). In 1945, with the culmination of WWII, the school/base closed, and the airport was transferred back to the City of Lincoln.
Nonetheless, Lincoln Airport became a host to the newly established Nebraska Air National Guard. Furthermore, the U.S. Navy Reserve also established Naval Air Station Lincoln at the airport. In 1952, Lincoln Air Force Base opened at the facility that had been closed after WWII. By the time the base closed again in 1966, it had operated as a Strategic Air Command base in support of Boeing B-47 Stratojet bombers, Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter refueling aircraft, and SM-65 Atlas intercontinental ballistic missiles. As for civilian use, in the 1960s, LNK was served by United Airlines and the original Frontier Airlines, which provided the first jet service at the airport in 1966 with Boeing 727-100s. By 1968, United began using jets as well. By the mid-1980s, LNK was receiving jet service from the two previously mentioned airlines and Air Wisconsin. In 1986 Frontier ceased operations, and their routes were taken over by Continental Airlines. Furthermore, United jet flights were eventually replaced by flights from its United Express partners. Over the years, LNK was also serviced by Northwest Airlines, Allegiant Air, and Delta Air Lines.

The airport is located five miles northwest of downtown Lincoln. 

• LNK is a primary destination for charters carrying sports teams traveling to play the Nebraska Cornhuskers. 
• The primary runways, which are 12,901 feet and can handle heavy military aircraft, were designated an emergency landing site for the Space Shuttle (although it was never used for that purpose). 
• LNK appeared in the movies Terms of Endearment (1983), Yes Man (2008), and the animated film Planes (2013). 
• LNK is home to Duncan Aviation, a family-owned aircraft maintenance, and refurbishing company.