Tucumcari Municipal Airport

Opened in August 1941, Tucumcari Municipal Airport was built by the United States Army Air Forces and at the time it was known as Fort Sumner Army Auxiliary Airfield #7, being subordinate to Fort Sumner Army Air Field. The airfield provided primary glider pilot training.

The glider school was operated under contract by the Cutter-Carr Flying Service, under the general supervision of the 9th Glider Training Detachment, 36th Flying Training Wing, Western Flying Training Command.36th Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama Training was conducted using Aeronca TG-5 combat training gliders, towed by C-47 Skytrain aircraft.{{Cite web |url=http://www.accident-report.com/usaf.html |title=Military Aviation Incident Reports |access-date=2015-12-23 |archive-date=2019-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302032605/http://www.accident-report.com/usaf.html |url-status=dead }}

The flight cadets consisted of both experienced sailplane pilots and others who had washed out of conventional pilot training and were given a second chance to fly. The possibility of officer's pay and the chance to fly attracted a particular breed of risk-tolerant trainees. Trainees were given instruction on how to follow a tow plane and fly the unpowered aircraft to the designated landing zone.Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas {{OCLC|71006954|29991467}}

Unlike powered pilots, combat training was also provided, as once a pilot committed to a landing and discovered, as he got closer, frequently the landing zone was under fire, mined, or otherwise obstructed, and he would have little room to maneuver to make a safe landing. Once the landing was made, the glider pilot then became another infantryman.Cameron, Rebecca Hancock, 1999, Training to Fly. Military Flight Training 1907–1945, Chapter 4: Training at home for War Overseas. Air Force History and Museums Program, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama

Once the glider pilot cadet successfully completed primary training, he moved on to advanced training, taught by AAF instructors at several military glider schools.

The school closed in March 1943 as part of the drawdown of the Army Air Forces pilot training program. It was declared surplus and turned over to the Army Corps of Engineers.

The facility became a prisoner of war camp in March 1944.

The airport was eventually discharged to the War Assets Administration (WAA) after the end of World War II.

Pioneer Air Lines served the airport from 1948 until 1953–54, one of several stops on their route between Albuquerque and Dallas. Douglas DC-3s were used at first, replaced by 36-seat Martin 202s in 1953.

Trans Central Airlines briefly served Tucumcari in 1970 with Cessna 402s to Albuquerque and Amarillo.

Airfreight carrier South Aero currently provides feeder service for UPS Airlines with flights to Albuquerque. This service was formerly provided by Ameriflight during the 2010's.

{{Portal|Aviation}}

• New Mexico World War II Army Airfields
• 36th Flying Training Wing (World War II)
• Fort Sumner Municipal Airport

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{{USAAF Training Bases World War II}}

Category:1941 establishments in New Mexico

Category:USAAF Contract Flying School Airfields

Category:USAAF Glider Training Airfields

Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in New Mexico

Category:Transportation in Quay County, New Mexico

Category:Buildings and structures in Quay County, New Mexico

Category:Airports in New Mexico

Category:Airports established in 1941