Dozens of planes coming to historic CSU airfield for fly-in

Kelly Lyell

Fort Collins Coloradoan

USA TODAY NETWORK

Colorado State University is opening up its historic airstrip at Christman Field for a fly-in April 26 to celebrate the launch of a new registered student organization, Rams Aviation.

Organizers expect anywhere from 35 to 50 aircraft from across the state, ranging from vintage 1940s and 1950s planes to a modern King Air 300, to land at the private airfield, located at 3985 Laporte Ave. on CSU’s Foothills Campus, from 8 a.m. to noon, said Chris Robertson, director of the CSU Drone Center.

The event is free and open to the public, although those in attendance will be able to make donations to support Rams Aviation, a student organization for those 'who share a passion for flight,' according to its website. The club offers opportunities for hands-on learning, including pilot training, aerospace studies and unmanned aircraft systems and plans to build a plane at Christman Field, Robertson said.

The Spring Fly-In provides an opportunity for pilots to land at one of Colorado’s oldest airports and for spectators to experience Colorado history and learn more about aviation and opportunities to get involved in flying, organizers said on the website. More than 600 people had already registered to attend as of April 23. A registration link is available on the club’s website.

'It’s a chance for people to learn about aviation, both drones and airplanes, and get a chance to meet aviators, see aircraft and ask questions and open their minds about what aviation is currently and where it might lead,' Robertson said.

Food trucks will be on site, vintage cars will be on display and several informational booths will be available for spectators to learn more about various student and CSU programs, Robertson said. There will also be demonstrations of the latest drone-dock technology, he said, showcasing docks that house and deploy drones for autonomous flight. Prize drawings will also be held, he said.

Christman Field, the former Fort Collins Municipal Airport, opened in 1928 and became a World War II pilot training facility in 1941. The airfield was renamed in honor of Fort Collins aviator Lt. Col. Bert Christman after his plane was shot down over Burma in 1943 while flying with the Flying Tigers. In the 1950s and 1960s, Luscombe and Forney aircraft were manufactured at the airfield, which reverted to university use in 1965, following the opening of the former Fort Collins Downtown Airport.

The airfield is owned and operated by CSU and was used by firefighting and rescue aircraft during the 2012 High Park Fire, 2013 floods and 2020 Cameron Peak Fire, Robertson said.

Christman Field is getting a makeover as it approaches its 100th birthday, Robertson said, with a resurfacing of the runway that is 4,000 feet long and 60 feet wide as well as the taxiways. That work will begin this fall and be completed in the spring of 2026, he said.

Reporter Kelly Lyell covers education, breaking news, some sports and other topics of interest for the Coloradoan. Contact him at kellylyell@coloradoan.com , x.com/KellyLyell

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