The Indiana County Jimmy Stewart Airport

Another part of the Master Plan concerns a piece of land outside the Airport that the county is looking to purchase in order to increase the Airport’s footprint. Potential uses for the land include creating a hub for a regional carrier or a cargo operator, or possibly as an air business park. “We’re surrounded by different types of businesses, and the majority of them utilize the Airport in one way or another,” Fuellner says. “But we’re looking to expand that and, hopefully, draw in more aviation-oriented businesses – something that we can actually put a taxiway to their building to give them access to the runway. So, that will probably be a pretty extensive part of our Master Plan study.” Finally, Fuellner reports that a contactless, self- serve fuel system is going to be installed by the end of this year. “People can come in after hours and still get fuel,” he states. “We’re also going to get a new jet truck. So, we’re moving along and making things happen.” Regarding things that happen: each June, the Airport holds the Jimmy Stewart Air Show (formerly called the Jimmy Stewart Festival), which features visiting aircraft, often including World War II vintage military planes for hands- on, educational opportunities. Area pilots display their contemporary aircraft, some offering aerial tours of the Indiana County area for festival goers. In addition, the airport hangar is available as a community event center and has held events such as fly-in breakfasts. “We had to cancel the Air Show, this year, because of COVID,” Fuellner laments. “But we are in the process of planning it for next year in July. We have been holding fly-in breakfasts once a month. They’ve been well-attended; we have anywhere from 12 to 35 airplanes fly in. But with the weather changing, Octobers was probably our last one for the year.” There is, however, one permanent item at the Indiana County Jimmy Stewart Airport, and it’s something that Fuellner is understandably proud of. “About five-and-a-half years ago, the Airport acquired an airplane that was owned by Jimmy THE INDI ANA COUNTY J IMMY STEWART A I RPORT