Tradewind Airport

Tradewind Airport For more than a half – century, we have gone above and beyond to deliver unparalleled service in the sky and on the ground.

Every detail is handled with precision so you can travel efficiently and in comfort.

🇺🇸 Signed, Sealed, Still Flying 🇺🇸July 1966. Shelby Kritser — Tradewind’s founder — signed this inverted aerial of Amari...
09/04/2026

🇺🇸 Signed, Sealed, Still Flying 🇺🇸

July 1966. Shelby Kritser — Tradewind’s founder — signed this inverted aerial of Amarillo’s field:

“To HAWBAKER, my ole hunting buddy — Shelby 7-66”

Nearly 80 years after he opened Tradewind in 1946, that spirit is still on the ramp: bold flying, good friends, and a place built for general aviation.

History doesn’t just hang on the wall here. It started here.

08/20/2026

If you're looking to go from a zero to a hero, the stigma about aviation is that you have to have lots of money, but that's not entirely true.Aug. 19 is known a

08/08/2026

So proud to be apart of this and host such a great event at Tradewind!

🛩️🇺🇸 Where History Continues to Fly 🇺🇸🛩️For generations, Tradewind Airport has been a favorite destination for warbirds,...
07/30/2026

🛩️🇺🇸 Where History Continues to Fly 🇺🇸🛩️

For generations, Tradewind Airport has been a favorite destination for warbirds, military aircraft, and historic aviation.

From beautifully restored World War II trainers and fighters to legendary bombers and vintage classics, our ramp has welcomed aircraft that tell the story of America’s aviation heritage.

We’re especially proud of our longstanding relationship with the Commemorative Air Force Bomb City Squadron, whose dedication to preserving and flying historic military aircraft keeps the spirit of the Greatest Generation alive for future generations.

At Tradewind, these airplanes aren’t just museum pieces—they’re living history. The sound of a radial engine starting, the smell of avgas, and the sight of polished aluminum on the ramp are experiences that connect us to the men and women who built and flew these incredible machines.

Nearly 80 years after opening, Tradewind continues to be a place where history arrives under its own power.

To the crews, volunteers, veterans, and aviation enthusiasts who continue to bring these remarkable aircraft to Amarillo—thank you. Your passion helps ensure these stories are never forgotten.

The next time you hear the unmistakable rumble of a warbird overhead, there’s a good chance you’ll find it right here at Tradewind.

✈️ One Man’s Vision Became Amarillo’s Airport ✈️In August 1945, while many were celebrating the end of World War II, She...
07/29/2026

✈️ One Man’s Vision Became Amarillo’s Airport ✈️

In August 1945, while many were celebrating the end of World War II, Shelby M. Kritser was already looking toward the future.

He believed Amarillo needed a new kind of airport—one built specifically for private pilots, business aviation, and the growing world of general aviation.

Most people saw an empty field south of Llano Cemetery.

Shelby saw opportunity.

With the support of local business leaders and investors, Tradewind Airport, Inc. was formed, and in 1946, Tradewind Airport officially opened its doors.

The vision paid off almost immediately. In less than a year of operation, Tradewind earned the prestigious Haire Airport Award for Outstanding Achievement in Non-Scheduled Operations, establishing itself as one of the nation’s premier general aviation airports.

Nearly 80 years later, that same vision continues.

Tradewind remains dedicated to serving private pilots, business aviation, and the Amarillo community—just as Shelby imagined nearly eight decades ago.

Sometimes, all it takes is one person willing to say…

“Our city needs something better.”

Thank you, Shelby, for leaving Amarillo a legacy that still serves aviators every day.

✈️ Some Airports Are More Than a Place to Land… They’re a Destination.The best airports leave an impression long after t...
07/29/2026

✈️ Some Airports Are More Than a Place to Land… They’re a Destination.

The best airports leave an impression long after the engine shuts down.

At Tradewind Airport, we strive to be more than just another fuel stop. We want your visit to Amarillo to begin the moment you taxi onto our ramp.

Enjoy breakfast or lunch at Shelby’s Diner, explore nearly 80 years of aviation history in the Tradewind Airport Museum, relax in one of our comfortable pilot lounges, catch a movie in our pilot theater, or simply visit with fellow aviators while watching airplanes come and go.

Need to get into town? Downtown Amarillo, the historic Route 66 district, Palo Duro Canyon, Cadillac Ranch, and the Big Texan are all just a short drive away, making Tradewind the perfect gateway to everything Amarillo has to offer.

From our friendly line crew and exceptional customer service to competitive fuel prices and our rich aviation heritage, we’re proud to be an airport where pilots don’t just stop—they stay awhile.

Whether you’re crossing the country or looking for your next weekend fly-out destination, put Tradewind Airport (KTDW) on your list.

Come for the fuel. Stay for the experience.

📍 Tradewind Airport – Amarillo, Texas

⛽✈️ A Tradition of Service Since 1946 ✈️⛽This photograph captures a special moment in Tradewind Airport history.On the r...
07/27/2026

⛽✈️ A Tradition of Service Since 1946 ✈️⛽

This photograph captures a special moment in Tradewind Airport history.

On the right is Les Byram, the longtime manager of Tradewind Airport, servicing Shelby Kritser’s Bücker Jungmann in 1966.

For decades, Les was a familiar face on the ramp, greeting pilots, fueling airplanes, and taking care of customers the way aviation was meant to be. Shelby built Tradewind on the belief that service came first, and Les carried that tradition forward every single day.

While the airplanes have changed over the years, one thing hasn’t—our commitment to treating every pilot and every aircraft with care and respect.

Today, when you pull onto the Tradewind ramp, you’re experiencing a tradition of customer service that spans nearly 80 years.

We’re proud to stand on the shoulders of pioneers like Shelby Kritser and dedicated professionals like Les Byram, whose passion for aviation helped make Tradewind Airport what it is today.

Do you remember Les or have a story from the old Tradewind days? We’d love to hear it in the comments.

07/26/2026

🎉 Follow Tradewind Airport & Save! ✈️

We’re saying THANK YOU to our Facebook followers!

📱 Follow Tradewind Airport on Facebook and receive 25¢ OFF per gallon on your next Full-Service fuel purchase!

Here’s how it works:
✅ Follow our page.
✅ Show us you’re following us when you arrive.
✅ Receive 25¢ OFF per gallon on your full-service fuel purchase.

Offer Details:
⛽ Valid on Full-Service Fuel only.
👤 One-time redemption per customer.
📍 Must be redeemed in person at Tradewind Airport.

Stay connected for fuel specials, airport history, events, restaurant updates, and everything happening at Tradewind!

We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you on the ramp.

📍 Tradewind Airport (KTDW)

✈️ A Legend Over Tradewind Airport.Few airplanes capture the imagination quite like the Beech 18.For decades, these airc...
07/25/2026

✈️ A Legend Over Tradewind Airport.

Few airplanes capture the imagination quite like the Beech 18.

For decades, these aircraft connected communities, trained military pilots, hauled freight, carried executives, and became one of the most recognizable twins ever built.

This silhouette, photographed over Tradewind Airport, is a reminder of why so many of us fell in love with aviation in the first place.

Tradewind’s history has always been closely tied to Beechcraft. From our beginnings as one of the original Beechcraft Sales & Service locations in 1946 to the Twin Beeches that still grace our skies today, this airport has helped preserve an incredible aviation legacy.

There are faster airplanes.

There are newer airplanes.

But few can match the unmistakable sound of two radial engines carrying a Beech 18 across a Texas sunset.

Some airplanes simply fly…

Others become part of history.

📍 Tradewind Airport – Amarillo, Texas
Where aviation history is still flying.

✈️ A Friendship That Helped Shape Aviation History ✈️Some relationships in aviation helped shape far more than a busines...
07/25/2026

✈️ A Friendship That Helped Shape Aviation History ✈️

Some relationships in aviation helped shape far more than a business—they helped shape an industry.

Pictured here is Shelby Kritser, founder of Tradewind Airport, alongside Olive Ann Beech (center), the legendary leader of Beech Aircraft Corporation after the passing of her husband, Walter Beech.

Shelby wasn’t simply a Beechcraft dealer. He was a trusted friend of the Beech family and worked closely with Beech Aircraft during one of the most exciting periods in general aviation history.

Those relationships helped establish Tradewind Airport as one of the premier Beechcraft Sales & Service locations in the Southwest. From Bonanzas and Twin Beeches to Barons, Tradewind became a place where Beechcraft owners knew they would find knowledgeable people, exceptional service, and a genuine passion for aviation.

The Beech 18 in the background is more than just an airplane—it’s a symbol of an era when personal relationships, integrity, and craftsmanship defined the aviation industry.

Today, nearly 80 years later, Tradewind is proud to carry that legacy forward. Every Beechcraft that lands here is a reminder of the friendships, vision, and commitment to excellence that helped build this airport.

Some photographs capture people.

Others capture history.

Address

4105 Tradewind Street
Amarillo, TX
79118

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