Elko Airport
Elko Airport Overview
In 1926, Varney Air Line’s pilot, Leon Cuddeback carried one bag of mail and landed his tiny Curtiss Swallow biplane at Elko, Nevada, completing the first scheduled Air Mail run in the United
States.
Varney Air Line was sold to Boeing, which merged with United Airlines in 1931.
Category
- Event
- Person
Marker Type
Small blue marker
Nevada Historical Marker Number
Elko Airport is Nevada Historical Marker #107.
Click here to view the full list of Nevada State Historical Markers.
County
GPS Coordinates
40.828743, -115.780109
Nevada Historical Marker Transcription
On April 6, 1926, Varney Air Lines pilot Leon Cuddeback carried one bag of mail and landed his tiny Curtiss Swallow biplane at Elko, Nevada, completing the first scheduled Air Mail run in the United States.
The single-engine 90 horsepower aircraft had taken off from Pasco, Washington, stopped in Boise, Idaho for fuel and mail, and then completed the 460-mile flight to Elko. The Varney contract was awarded October 27, 1925, at a rate of B cents an ounce. Varney sold to Boeing, which merged with United Airlines in 1931.
STATE HISTORICAL MARKER NO. 107
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
NORTHEASTERN HISTORICAL SOCIETY