See You at the Terre Haute Airport

7/21/2021

Planes aren’t all that’s taking off at the Terre Haute Regional Airport! This bustling hub of aviation and ingenuity has several upcoming events which encapsulate the history and future of Terre Haute.

“The planning starts almost a year in advance,” said Nikki Brown, co-owner of Hoosier Aviation, the Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) of the airport. “We surely encourage people to keep up to date with the happenings and look at the aircraft.”

Guest aircrafts include Maid in the Shade, a B-25J Mitchell Bomber, which will be at THRA through July 25th. Onlookers can take ground tours and even ride in the historic aircraft. For more information on the Maid in the Shade event click here!

“B-25s are one of the aircrafts that made a turning point in WWII with the raid over Tokyo,” said Brown. “It’s a beautiful piece of history.”

This particular craft was named after General Billy Mitchell, a famous Army Air Corps general from the 1920s and 1930s. Maid in the Shade was a heavily armed aircraft used for high and low-level bombing, strafing, photo reconnaissance and submarine patrol. She flew 15 combat missions over Italy and Yugoslavia between November 4th and December 31st of 1944. Only a few hundred B-25s still remain today, Brown and her staff make sure these last hundred crafts are not forgotten.

“It’s a passion. It’s a love. We thoroughly enjoy having the aircraft here. We love being around airplanes,” explained Brown.

This passion for aircrafts and history led to Hoosier Aviation, and the FBO will soon be celebrating 10 years at the airport. Birds, Brews and Birthdays will be held in October, and the team has already been preparing for the big anniversary.

“The planning starts almost a year in advance,” said Brown. “We surely encourage people to keep up to date with the happenings.”

According to Brown, Hoosier Aviation will be teaming up with local brew houses in Terre Haute for the event, “We love working with the Terre Haute brewing company and Afterburner.” Afterburner Brewing Company, a new veteran owned business, plans to open this year.

“We try to support the military guys the best way we can,” explained Brown. This support will extend through November when THRA hosts a celebration for local veterans.

When the big events are over, and the large holidays have been celebrated, THRA continues to be a hub of activity, “There is so much more that happens on a daily basis that a lot of people don’t fully know.” said Brown, “We have the fourth largest runway in the state of Indiana. It’s a sizable airport and usually there’s a lot of things going on. It’s a gateway to the community.”

Photo Courtesy of Lily Pesavento

Terre Haute Regional Airport is a staple, providing business opportunities and welcoming professionals from all over the nation.

“We love welcoming people into our community that are here to establish business or bring their business to Terre Haute,” explained Brown. “We love bringing Hoosier Hospitality the second they step off that plane.”

Guests aren’t the only people who visit the airport. Residents from all over Terre Haute flock to the Corsair Café. Customers can sit and enjoy all day breakfast, or a scrumptious lunch, while watching planes take off and land, from the comfort of the café atmosphere.

Photo Courtesy of Lily Pesavento

Whether you’re flying in for business, driving in for food, or visiting for an aircraft event, the Terre Haute Regional Airport has exactly what you’re looking for.