"In the 1930s, as commercial aviation evolved into a more practical mode of transportation, San Francisco Airport launched a series of major improvements. Backed by funding and labor from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” and the Works Progress Administration (WPA), by 1937, more than 790,000 square-feet of concrete runways, taxiways, and aircraft parking were in place, illuminated by modern, multicolored lighting and 45,700 feet of underground power lines. A new administration and terminal building was also completed that year. Designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, the building included a four-story control tower, restaurant, cocktail lounge, and a grand passenger waiting room with terrazzo floors and a stenciled ceiling. A matching building for the complex airfield lighting system sat adjacent to the hangars, and by the end of the decade, two-way radio communications were required for all aircraft. See “Mills Field and the San Francisco Airport” is on display in the SkyTerrace in Terminal 2 and online at: https://bit.ly/2XU7rAz The SkyTerrace located pre-security in Terminal 2 and is open Friday to Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m." This was posted to our Instagram account on February 24, 2023 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1880151097/

This was posted to our Instagram account on September 22, 2016 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1729360301/

"What was SFO like back in the 1960s? This brochure maps out all the airlines and amenities available at the airport at the time. Did you ever visit the Aztec Bar or the Pancake Palace? How about flying on Pacific Airlines or SF&O Helicopter Airlines? Image: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) airport information, c. 1965. Gift of David A. Abercrombie, in memory of Stanley A. Abercrombie. 2001.039.697" This was posted to our Instagram account on July 13, 2017 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1763558669/

"San Francisco and Oakland (SFO) Helicopter Airlines was founded in 1961. Offering local helicopter flights between San Francisco and Oakland airports and their downtown areas, service began with two leased Sikorsky S-62s. By the end of 1962, the service grew to 100 flights a day. In 1963, the company received the first permanent certificate issued by the C.A.B to any helicopter carrier. In 1965, the C.A.B. allowed SFO Helicopter to start operating hovercraft. The new transbay route was operated by a Saunders-Roe SR.N5, which held 15 passengers and could travel at speeds up to 70 knots. SFO Helicopter Airlines was the first American company to operate these vehicles. However, this commercial hovercraft test only lasted about a year. Financial troubles began to plague the company leading to bankruptcy in 1970, yet the airline was able to still operate until 1976. SFO Helicopter Airlines resumed scheduled passenger service around 1983, but operations only lasted until 1985." This was posted to our Instagram account on November 10, 2022 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1880151333/

"#OnThisDay in 1971, the first Douglas DC-10 service started at San Francisco International Airport. United’s McDonnell Douglas DC-10 was the first of the three-engine, or tri-jet, wide-body airliners to arrive at SFO. The DC-10 was designed for medium to long range flying and could carry close to 400 passengers. Have you ever flown on a Douglas DC-10? Image: United Air Lines, McDonnell Douglas DC-10, c. 1970. Gift of David A. Abercrombie, in memory of Stanley A. Abercrombie. 2001.039.233 a b" This was posted to our Instagram account on August 14, 2017 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1729359193/