Arnold Palmer learned to fly here.
Arnold Palmer was born in Latrobe, less than a mile from our runway. In 1956, he took his first flying lessons here with instructor Babe Krinock, back when the field was called Latrobe Airport.
- First lesson at LBE
- 1956
- Hours in the cockpit
- ~20,000
- Of flying
- 55 years
- Aircraft owned
- 10
A 55-year career in the cockpit.
By the time he finished, he had logged just shy of 20,000 hours and owned 10 aircraft.
He flew far more than his own planes. He was named an honorary Blue Angel and an honorary Thunderbird, flew military fighters including the F-15 and F-16, and took the controls of a Boeing 747, along with many business aircraft. In 1976, he flew around the world in a Learjet 36 in 57 hours, 25 minutes, and 42 seconds, setting a round-the-world speed record.
His name on the field
Palmer also served on the airport authority board. In September 1999, with his blessing, Westmoreland County Airport was renamed Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. Governor Tom Ridge spoke at the dedication, and three Pennsylvania Air National Guard A-10s flew overhead.
1956
First flying lessons here, with instructor Babe Krinock, when the field was Latrobe Airport
1976
Around the world in a Learjet 36 in 57 hours, 25 minutes, and 42 seconds, a round-the-world speed record
1999
Westmoreland County Airport is renamed Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, with his blessing
Pilots still learn to fly on the same field.