Cadets received basic flying indoctrination and training, primarily in North American BT-9s and Stearman PT-17s.

By late 1944, its primary activity was multi-engine transition training and combat crew assembling on North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers.

The first airline flights were operated by Pioneer Air Lines with twin engine Douglas DC-3 prop aircraft in 1947.

[6] By 1979, Rio Airways was operating six nonstop flights a day from Dallas/Fort Worth with Beechcraft 99 aircraft and by 1981 Rio was operating nine direct one stop flights a day from DFW via Waco with de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter commuter turboprops.

[1] In the year ending June 9, 2023, the airport had 41,124 aircraft operations, average 113 per day: 81% general aviation and 18% military.