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03

OUR HISTORY

"The Airpark , along with much of Arizona's aviation history is very rich. We are trying to reserve, discover, and display as much of it as we can."

- Jim Petty

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1942

Constructed by the Sundt and Del Webb construction companies as the Marana Army Airfield, the facility opened in March 1943 as a training base for more than 10,000 military pilots bound for campaigns in World War II.

1945

The Army closed the airfield following the end of World War II, removing most of the buildings and infrastructure and three years later Pinal County took ownership.

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1951

Pinal County leased Airpark property to a number of tenants up till 1951 when Darr Aviation leased the Airpark and trained US Air Force pilots as well as NATO personnel.

1957

At the conclusion of Darr Aviation training US Air Force Pilots, the County leased Airpark property to various companies including Beiser Aviation which modified and converted many military aircraft.

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1975

Marana Air Park Inc, who was in a lease with the County for the Airpark, assigns the lease to Evergreen Helicopters which begins the relationship between Evergreen International Aviation and Pinal County.

1982

Evergreen Air Center opened its doors offering maintenance.

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2011

Evergreen International Aviation sells Evergreen Maintenance Center which is renamed Marana Aerospace Solutions a short time later. The County start actively managing the Airpark in 2012.

TODAY

The Pinal County Public Works Department is responsible for the management and development of both Pinal Airpark and San Manuel Airport.

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