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Chicks Take Over San Jose Mineta International

According to officials, baby chickens were the first ‘passengers’ to be offloaded at the airport.

When the airport opened to commercial service on February 1, 1949, the first arriving flight was a DC-3 carrying 2,550 baby chicks. To celebrate the event, airport officials have installed multiple baby chick displays, including a 10-foot-tall inflatable in the Terminal B baggage claim area. [Courtesy: San Jose Mineta International Airport]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • San Jose Mineta International Airport (KSJC) is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
  • The celebration's theme features baby chicks, commemorating their status as the airport's very first "passengers" when it opened to commercial service on February 1, 1949.
  • To mark the occasion, the airport has installed various chicken-themed displays and encourages visitors to share photos on social media for a chance to win commemorative prizes.
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What do silicon chips and baby chicks have in common? Both are linked to San Jose Mineta International Airport (KSJC) in California. 

The airport, known as the gateway to Silicon Valley, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year using strategically placed toy and inflatable chickens.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

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