Sea-Tac International Airport in Seattle.
The birthplace of Spencer Aircraft.

In the late 1930's, Dean Spencer and George Wolff were looking for a location to build a small, affordable airstrip. They found two parcels of land which could be purchased on easy terms for the taxes owed. The 70 acres of logged off stump land lay on a plateau where the fog seemed to dissipate quicker than other possible Seattle sites. A 1700 foot long area was relatively flat and had good approaches from both ends. It seemed the ideal setting for an airport.

Sea-Tac Airport. Our first home.	Thun Field. Our home today.

Stumps measuring up to 9 feet in diameter had to be blasted and grading was done with ancient machinery. After many months, a rough strip was completed and named Bow Lake Airport. Dean made the first landing at Bow Lake in late 1940 in his Taylorcraft. By December of 1941, one hangar was completed and George was midway into digging a well for his home.

On December 7, 1941 the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and all private flying within 150 miles of the Pacific Coast stopped for World War II. George and Dean went off to be military pilots. During the war, the Port of Seattle decided it needed an airport to supplement Boeing Field. The site they chose was Bow Lake. Fortunately, Civil Aeronautics Administration recognized Bow Lake as an airport, allowing Dean and George to be paid a fair price for the airstrip they had to sell.

By the end of the war, the 70 acre dirt strip first known as Bow Lake Airport had grown into a major airport of 1080 acres. The main concrete runway lay directly over the original air strip. When the war ended, Dean and George formed Spencer Aircraft to go into the aircraft parts business.

In September, 2001, the Spencer Aircraft was purchased by REGIONAL AIR CENTER, LLC and moved to its current home at Thun Field. Let our experienced, knowledgeable and friendly employees serve your aircraft hardware needs and join over 10,000 satisfied customers world wide!