A Flying Career that Began at San Carlos Airport

A Flying Career that Began at San Carlos Airport

Editor’s introduction: Steve Olsen learned to fly at San Carlos Airport (SQL) in 1966 and was a certified flight instructor at West Bay Aviation at SQL for over four years (Aug. 15, 1967 to Dec. 31, 1971), accumulating 3959 hours before moving on to a career in...
Bob Lane’s Emergencies (c. 1969)

Bob Lane’s Emergencies (c. 1969)

Editor’s introduction: Bob Lane was a highly skilled pilot and instructor who operated the West Bay Aviation flight school at San Carlos Airport in the 1960’s and early 1970’s. Steve Olsen is a pilot and certified flight instructor who was mentored...
Belmont Airport

Belmont Airport

Belmont Airport was established sometime in the 1930s.  Also known as Belmont Landing Field and Central Airport, it was a beehive of aviation activity in the pre-war San Francisco Bay area.  A newspaper story describes the first airmail flight from Belmont on May...
Why is that parking area called “Piombo?”

Why is that parking area called “Piombo?”

The above photo shows the Piombo Construction Company shed that was on the site of today’s Samtrans South Base Maintenance and Operations Facility.  In the early 1950’s Piombo was asked to bid on paving the runway at San Carlos Airport.  In exchange for...
West Bay Aviation at SQL in about 1966

West Bay Aviation at SQL in about 1966

Please enjoy another photo from our friend Steve Bell who is now living in Florida. This one shows Steve and his mom (visiting from Southern CA) at West Bay Aviation (c. 1966) that was on the West side of the field near the present location of the Hiller Museum. You...
Incredible photos of San Carlos Airport from 1966

Incredible photos of San Carlos Airport from 1966

The photos shown below were originally taken by Stephen Bell in April 1966 when he was a flight instructor at San Carlos. Steve was kind enough to send along high resolution scans of these incredible images that show the area around San Carlos Airport. Take a close...