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Aviation Connection
Did you know that Nashville has a unique aviation connection? In 1939, Nashville Mayor Thomas Cummings persuaded Stinson Aircraft Company
to build a factory abutting Berry Field, which is now the Nashville Interna- tional Airport (BNA). In 1940, the company merged with Vultee, becoming the third-largest war military manufacturer of the time. The company merged again with Consolidated, with the resulting company called Consolidated- Vultee. In early 1945, the company, which was building the A-35B attack- bomber, won a contract to build 2,000 Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft. However, it only produced 113 P-38s before the war ended and
the contract was canceled.
MQY: The Back Story
The Smyrna-Rutherford County Airport (KMQY), the host airport for MMOPA Nashville LIVE, was previously Sewart Air Force Base, and during World War II, it was known as Smyrna Army Airfield.
During World War II, the airport served as a Bombardment Air Base and training center for pilots learning to fly the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator. Following the war, it was converted to an Air Force Base and was home to three successive Troop Carrier Wings, including the 314th, 463rd, and 64th wings. Aircraft based there ranged from C-82 to the C-130. It also hosted several helicopter squadrons in the late 1950s.
In 1965, the base was de-activated and ownership of the airfield was eventually transferred to the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority as a civilian use airport.
Nashville Fun Facts
Nashville’s first celebrity:
Davy Crockett (1786-1836) played fiddle and entertained Nashvillians with stories of his wild adventures before he was killed at The Alamo.
The 7th and 11th presidents that lived in the Nashville area: Andrew Jackson and James K. Polk.
The driveway at President Andrew Jackson’s home Hermitage is in the shape of a guitar.
Portions of 16th and 17th Avenue South are known as: Music Row
Who was Mr. Guitar?
Chet Atkins (1924-2001)
Dolly Parton became famous as the featured female singer
on Porter Wagoner’s Show and now has her own theme park in the Smokey Mountains.
What singer used to wash dishes at the Nashville Palace and is now credited as beginning the movement of
New Traditionalists?
Randy Travis
What country music entertainers
went into the sausage business?
Jimmy Dean (1928-2010) and George Jones (1931-2013).
The Nashville museum that
houses Elvis’ gold Cadillac
and piano:
Country Music Hall of Fame
How many guitar pickers are there in Nashville? 1,352 The only country recording artist to be
elected twice to the Country Music Hall of Fame:
Roy Rogers (1911-1998).
After drinking a cup of locally produced coffee in Nashville, which U.S. president coined the phrase “Good to the last drop!”?
Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)
Although this now-famous coffee is still enjoyed everywhere, it was served for the last time at the hotel where it got its start on December 25, 1961: The Maxwell House Hotel.
The top-selling country music artist of all time:
Garth Brooks with over 170 million albums sold (2021). Tay- lor Swift, who is Pop/Country, has sold over 200 million. The famous Nashville candy is made of chocolate, caramel, marshmallows, and peanuts: Goo Goo’s.
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