Tijuana

Tijuana, the cradle of aviation in Mexico

An exhibition about the history of aviation in Tijuana has been inaugurated at the Tijuana International Airport

By Alvaro Montaño Rubio2024-07-11T21:00:00+00:00

Celebrating World Design Capital San Diego / Tijuana 2024 events in both cities, Colegio de la Frontera Norte, through Dr. Araceli Almaraz, has organized a couple of very significant events for the city.

The first of them is an exhibition on the history of aviation in Tijuana, which has been inaugurated and is currently being showcased in the main halls of the Tijuana International Airport whose official name "Gral. Abelardo L. Rodríguez”, is a way to recognize the boost he provided to the national aviation industry. This significant exhibition is an important reminder to all passengers that Tijuana is the cradle of aviation in Mexico.

In the photos and information displayed in this exhibition, one can see that the first airplanes ever built in Mexico were made in Tijuana, thanks to the vision of General Abelardo L. Rodriguez, who opened an airplane factory. Here, three airplane models were built: the Baja California I in 1927, and the Baja California II and the Baja California III in 1928. This corporation "Compañía Aérea de Construcción y Transporte, S.A." began with three partners: General Abelardo L. Rodríguez, who was then governor of the North District of Baja California, Captain Pilot Aviator Luis Farell, and engineer José Flavio Rivera.

This manufacturing workshop was set up in a warehouse located in Avenida Madero, in the corner with Avenida México, the continuation of 1st Street towards to what is now the Northern Zone. The creation of these three airplanes brought international and national honor and recognition to Tijuana. Back then, Tijuana was known for a short while as Zaragoza.

He most likely established this enterprise in Tijuana because San Diego, California, had the Ryan airplane factory in operation. As such, there was open access to the engines, materials, tools, and engineers that built the "Spirit of St. Louis", the famous airplane that had the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris on May 20, 1927, a great feat for this era. This plane was manned by pilot Charles Lindbergh, which is why the San Diego International Airport carries his name in his honor. In fact, a replica of this airplane hangs in the air at the passenger arrival area.

A similar engine to this airplane was placed in the Baja California II, which is why Colonel Roberto Fierra, head of the Mexican Air Force, flew non-stop from Mexicali to the aviation field at the Balbuena fields in the Federal District on May 20, 1928. This is the longest flight in our country by an airplane built in Mexico by Mexican workers and capital.

General Abelardo L. Rodríguez supported this first flight as he was particularly interested in seeing its arrival to Laguna Salada from Tijuana. Above all, however, he was interested in its take-off which is why military tents were set up and dinner was offered. Pilot Roberto Fierro was welcomed by a small orchestra.

The airplane departed from the capital of Baja California at 2:06 AM. Mexicali natives who had cars participated as well, as they lit up the take-off runway. This non-stop flight lasted 14 hours and 55 minutes and landed in the Federal District at 4:50 PM where it was welcomed by trumpets and drums, and a euphoric crowd.

The welcoming of Pilot Aviator Roberto Fierro Villalobos was led by then president of Mexico, Plutarco Elías Calles, the Secretary of War and the Navy, General Joaquín Amaro, the Director of Military Aeronautics, Engineer Juan Guillermo Villasana, and other officials.

One could say that for Tijuana, aviation was not something foreign, as the Agua Caliente Tourism Complex and its casino had its own landing strip to welcome Hollywood and other kinds of celebrities to our city. This runway was located in what is today Blvd. Gustavo Salinas, which is why this road is a long straight line and why the neighborhood is called Aviación. Its streets are also named after famous Mexican pilots.

I perhaps spoke way too much about aviation, because it is something I think is very important. But let's go back to this article's first paragraph. The second event that was inaugurated in our city's airport was signage related to Federal Mexican Highway 1, which became another icon of Tijuana and a favorite spot for people who love taking pictures. On July 11, it will turn 135 years old.