Era I
After the closure of March Field in 1923, Riverside’s aviation spirit lived on through a rough new civilian airfield west of the Santa Ana River. Led by barnstormer Roman Warren, the airport quickly became a center for daring flights, flight instruction, and the growing excitement surrounding early aviation.
1917
Built on Grit, Vision, and One Determined Aviator
- Early military pilots began landing at Allesandro Field in 1917.
- By 1918, it became March Field, a major World War I training base.
- When it closed in 1923, Riverside was left without a permanent civilian airport—but interest in aviation remained strong.
Mid 1920s
A City Decides to Build an Airport
- Civic leaders, including the Chamber of Commerce and Junior Lions Club, developed a small airfield west of the Santa Ana River.
- It was known as the Riverside Civilian Airport
- The site was rough, unfinished, and lacked direction.
1924–1925
Roman Warren is Hired to Manage the Airport
- A self-taught pilot and former barnstormer, Warren returned to Riverside in 1924.
- In 1925, he made one of the first landings at the new Riverside Airport, navigating stumps and rough terrain.
- Through determination and grit he built the airport up and encouraged flight:
- Cleared and operated the field
- Built corrals to protect aircraft from grazing cattle
- Managed daily operations
- Taught people to fly
- Offered rides to the public
- Flew charters and made package deliveries
1926
A Defining Moment: The Bridge Flight
- To draw attention to the struggling airport, Warren flew under the Rubidoux Bridge
- Thousands watched, expecting failure, he made it.
- The flight brought publicity to Riverside Airport.
Late 1920s–1930s
Putting Riverside on the Aviation Map
- Under Warren’s leadership, the airport began attracting notable aviation activity:
- Endurance flight crews
- Experimental aircraft demonstrations
Explore Our History in Eras
How a small dirt airfield became one of Southern California’s most unique aviation communities.
Era II: 1938-1999
After a devastating flood destroyed the original Riverside Airport in 1938, pilots relocated downstream to what would become Flabob Airport, where Flavio Madariaga and Bob Bogen built a thriving aviation community by hand. Over the following decades, Flabob became a nationally recognized center for homebuilt aircraft, aerobatics, and aviation innovation, attracting legendary builders, pilots, and pioneers.
Era III: 2000-Present
In 2000, Tom Wathen saved Flabob Airport from redevelopment and transformed it into a center for aviation education, preservation, and hands-on learning through the Tom Wathen Center. Today, Flabob continues to inspire future pilots, mechanics, engineers, and aviation enthusiasts through youth programs, schools, restoration projects, and a thriving community built around the spirit of flight.
Flabob's Full History
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