Pictured above and below: Marlin Fullerton

Our Story

Fulltron Aviation is named for Mark Fullerton, a member of the U.S. Aerobatic Team whose friends knew him as "Fulltron." After Mark passed in 2018, his brother Marlin Fullerton started our flight school to carry on his legacy, sharing Mark's love of flying with the next generation of pilots.

Our Paint Shop

Marlin has spent his career in the automotive body shop business and still owns a body shop today. After seeing the quality of paint jobs on aircraft at high costs, he knew he could do better. Our paint shop brings that lifetime of craftsmanship to every airplane that rolls through our doors.

3DW’S HISTORY

A historic black and white photograph of the Springfield Airport Building from around 1929, showing a large building with ornate architectural details, arched windows and doorways, and a prominent tower on the roof.
Black and white photograph of four men standing in front of biplane airplane which has a large propeller, pilots are wearing goggles and hats, age appears to be from the early 20th century, with the caption reading "1928 Jim Ship, John Meyer, Ira C. Hentschel".
A black-and-white aerial view of a rural area with houses, trees, and fields, showing Springfield Flying Service with airplanes on the ground, taken around 1939.
Black and white photo of several small airplanes parked on a grassy area next to hangar buildings at an airport, with a small label at the bottom reading "Typical Scene Downtown Airport - 1943."
Black and white photograph of four men in a room with a wooden wall and a poster. One man is seated with a cane, wearing a hat and pinstripe suit. Two men are standing and leaning over a desk or table, looking at a document, both in suits. Another man stands to the right, smiling, also in a suit. The room has a calendar and a poster on the wall, and the floor appears to be wood or linoleum.

Left to Right

Harry Cooper SR.

Jack H.G. Cooper

Jim Johnson

Pearson Ward

Black and white photograph of a plane storage or maintenance area with several small aircraft parked outdoors, with multiple people standing near the planes, some in military-style uniforms, and two buildings in the background. The year "1943" is written at the bottom of the image.

Left Right

Bob Kirk Harold Finch

Bill Braton Frank Simmons

Steve Paleuik Bob Miller

Chuck Cantril Harold Peterson

Bob Davis Vick Simon

Joe Fisher Vern Hoyt

An aerial view of a rural area with fields, roads, and scattered houses, taken from a bird's eye perspective, sepia tone, with some wear and tearing visible.
Black and white historical photograph showing five men standing in front of a large Hangar with a biplane airplane. The men are dressed in period clothing with two wearing hats. The airplane has the identification 'C9080' on the tail. The background features large windows and a cloudy sky. A partial caption below the photograph reads: "TravelAir Bi-Plane - Men on right are Carl McClure and Jack H.G. Cooper."

  • 1925: McCluer Flying Field opens as a private airport. 

  • 1928: The City of Springfield purchases the airport and renames it Springfield Park and Airport. 

  • 1929: Commercial air service begins at the airport. 

  • 1929-1942: As aircraft grew larger, the short, unpaved runways at Springfield Park and Airport made it difficult to expand commercial service. 

  • World War II (1942-1945): The airport was heavily used for transporting wounded soldiers to O'Reilly General Hospital, highlighting the need for upgrades. 

  • 1942: Municipal voters approved a $350,000 bond issue to build a new airport. 

  • 1944: Construction began on the new airport. 

  • 1945: Further bonds were approved, and the new airport opened on July 2. 

  • Today: The Downtown Airport (3DW) continues to operate as a privately owned, public-use airport. 

A man and woman standing outside the Springfield Flying Service building, which has signs for Beechcraft sales and service, student instruction, air charter, behind them.
A person lying on the grass beneath an airplane with their head resting on their hand, in a spacious outdoor area with a hangar and a couple of people in the background.