The Burlington International Airport
A Look at its Commercial Aircraft on Film from the 1970s through the 1990s

Photos and story
© Tom Hildreth 2007

Steady expansion and improvement has been the hallmark of the Burlington International Airport in Vermont. The new Army National Guard base in the northwest corner of the airport is the latest in a series of physical ugrades made to this important air transport facility in northwestern New England. Within the past ten years the air passenger terminal has been the subject of a multi-staged modernization program that included a number of additional gates on the west wing of the building. The large multi-storey parking lot just to the south of the terminal building has nearly doubled in size, though overflow parking still occupies part of the local streets. The old air traffic control tower has been converted into an observation platform that is a delight to the traveling public as well as family members who come to see them off. One of the top scenic vistas in the state can be enjoyed from this location which offers an expansive view of both Mt. Mansfield and Camels Hump, the state's two highest mountains.

During the period covered by this photo essay, the airlines went through great change. The aircraft operated by the airlines reflected this change, going from the first generation of small passenger jets and turboprop, to the lighter regional jets and turboprops. The People Express operating plan came and went, and many of the smaller commuter lines such as Air New England and Air North either failed or were merged into partnership with larger carriers.

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In this photo we see a BAC One Eleven "Pocket Rocket" of US Airways listing off runway #15. These small, British-designed
aircraft operated over short stages with a dense seating arrangement.


Piedmont Commuter operated the Beech 1900 turboprop into Burlington

Piedmont also operated the Fokker F.27 Friendship on some routes out of Burlington as we see in this August, 1986 photo

A veriety of frieghters passed through Burlington on a regular basis. Often these aircraft were making a required stop at the
customs office on the south side of the runway near the Fedex ramp.

DeHavilland Canada Twin Otter landing on runway #15 in the afternoon

Not an airliner, but a pretty Fokker Friendship operated by the Government of Quebec gracing the ramp during a nice afternoon

A colorful Friendship in the markings of Air New England landing at Burlington

The Nomads Travel Club Boeing 727 put in at the customs office

Air North employed the Friendship at Burlington along with several other operators

People Express served Burlington with aircraft as large as the Boeing 727, as seen in this view

Shawnee Twin Otter seen departing Burlington in 1969 was apparently a transient aircraft

A DeHavilland Canada Twin Otter of Air North at their Burlington Base

Brockway Air was a Pennsylvania-based operator who combined the routes of Air North and Clinton Aero. They continued
to operate the F-27 Friendship from Burlington. Note the "old" Air Guard fire house in background.

During airshows Burlington appeared like a scene from the invasion of Normandy

US Air Douglas DC-9, a common site at BTV

Shorts SD3-30 of Air North. A small turboprop that was at home carrying passengers as well as cargo.

An aberrant Aero Peru Friendship, actually owned by Air North at Burlington

DC-3 freighter spends an afternoon on the tarmac

Another BAC One Eleven in US Airways color scheme on a foggy morning at BTV

That's how I saw it in those days. Hope you enjoyed the view through the lens. hildrethtom@hotmail.com