For decades, Albert Whitted Airport has been a vital economic engine for St. Petersburg, a hub for local pilots and emergency services, and even the hosting venue for several auto racing events.<\/p>\n
To many, it\u2019s a symbol of the city\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n
A new documentary called Our City, Our Airport captures the airport\u2019s history and its significance to the history of aviation \u2013 telling its story through the lens of the community it serves.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s sponsored by the Friends of Albert Whitted Airport, and produced by filmmakers Andrew Lee and Laura Landry. Although both of this week\u2019s free screenings at the Palladium Theater are full via advance reservations, the film will return Nov. 11, to Green Light Cinema.<\/p>\n
While filming the documentary, Lee and Landry said they learned how Albert Whitted is \u201cinterwoven\u201d with the city and its community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe realized that there\u2019s this very deep connection between the airport and St. Petersburg,\u201d Lee said. \u201cOnce you see the film, you\u2019ll realize how intertwined these two things are, not only through history, but also through the current-day use of the airport and what it brings to the city.\u201d<\/p>\n
The documentary features stories of airport workers, aviation enthusiasts and people around the community, exploring how the airport has impacted their lives and the meaning it has to them.<\/p>\n
The airport itself is quite small, spanning only 110 acres and with only two runways.<\/p>\n
But it has become a beloved icon for its historical significance and community impact.<\/p>\n