Long before it became the Cleveland National Air Show, we had the Cleveland National Air Races. It was first held from August 24 through September 2, 1929, at Cleveland Municipal Airport (now known as Hopkins International Airport), attracted 100,000 on its first day and featured air icons such as Charles Lindburgh and Amelia Earhart. The Cleveland National Air Show as we know it today began in 1964.
1937 National Air Races at Cleveland Municipal Airport – Steve Wittmann’s big Thompson Trophy racer, Curtiss D12 engine1st Pursuit Squadron and Army on parade at 1932 Cleveland National Air Races.27th Pursuit Squadron at the 1938 Cleveland National Air RacesAdvertisement for the 1934 Cleveland National Air RacesAerial view of the 1938 Cleveland National Air RacesAir race scooter at the 1946 Cleveland National Air RacesAerial view of the stands at the 1931 Cleveland National Air RacesAircraft accident at the 1932 Cleveland National Air RacesAircraft on the tarmac and in the sky during the 1946 Cleveland National Air RacesBand performing at the National Air Races, 1932Area behind the bleachers at the 1939 Cleveland National Air RacesBright yellow aircraft at the 1938 Cleveland National Air RacesCasey Jones at Cleveland’s 1929 air racesCrowd and stage at the 1934 Cleveland National Air RacesCrowd on Euclid Ave. for the opening of the 1929 National Air RacesFirestone helicopter at the 1946 Cleveland National Air RacesGeorge Dory’s plane during the 1938 Cleveland National Air RacesGroup marching at Cleveland’s 1929 air racesHeath Baby Bullet in Cleveland’s 1929 Air racesHow not to fly an airplane, demonstration during the Cleveland National Air Races of 1931Labor Day crowd at the 1946 Cleveland National Air RacesMarine Corsairs parked at the 1946 Cleveland National Air RacesParachutist competing in a contest at the 1933 National Air RacesParachutist during the 1932 Cleveland National Air RacesPeople are seated on the roofs of barns to view the Cleveland National Air Races in 1932Pilot and engineer looking over an aircraft at the 1935 Cleveland National Air RacesPilot in cockpit during the 1939 Cleveland National Air RacesPilot Jimmy Doolittle during the 1932 Cleveland National Air RacesPrivate plane arriving for the 1937 Cleveland National Air RacesRadio control target drones operating during the 1946 Cleveland National Air RacesSkygazing at the 1935 Cleveland National Air RacesSmallest aircraft entered into the 1933 National Air RacesStands full of spectators at Cleveland’s 1929 National Air Race.Stunt pilot performing at the 1947 National Air RacesWing walking stuntman during the 1933 Cleveland National Air RacesWinning airplane of Frank Sinclair, part of the National Air Races of 1937Young girls watching the 1947 National Air Races
