[citation needed] Earhart was an adjunct faculty member at the time, and the Lockheed Model 10 Electra she flew was purchased for her by the Purdue Research Foundation.

The bay that held Earhart's plane still contains aircraft that are used by the Aeronautical Engineering Technology program for maintenance and inspection training.

[8] In the early 60s, runway 10/28 and a larger hangar were built to support the Midwest Program on Airborne Television Instruction with two DC-6 aircraft.

[10] The airline also operated a further DC-9 on behalf of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner as his private jet, "The Big Bunny", also based at the airport.

Evergreen International Airlines maintained a short-lived cargo operation at the Airport in the late 1970s using Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprop aircraft.

[citation needed] President Ronald Reagan and Air Force One (then a military version of a Boeing 707) visited Purdue University Airport on April 9, 1987.

[16] Air Wisconsin offered direct flights to Chicago O'Hare and Fort Wayne from February 1971 through Summer 1985.

Delta Connection, operated by Comair, briefly flew six daily round-trip flights between the airport and Cincinnati with Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante commuter turboprops in 1987.

[21] In 2009, the airport unsuccessfully applied for a federal grant to subsidize two daily round-trip flights to and from Chicago O'Hare.

[23] In late 2022, the airport received a state grant to fund projects associated with restoring commercial air service.

[24] In December 2023, Purdue announced a formal partnership with Southern Airways Express, which began passenger service to Chicago O'Hare on May 15, 2024.

Known as a land and hold short operation (LAHSO), this procedure is relatively common in the United States and allows both runways to be used at the same time.

Pilots have the ability to reject the LAHSO clearance if they need the full runway to ensure a safe landing.

[27] For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2019, the airport had 117,727 aircraft operations, an average of 322 per day: 99% general aviation, 1% air taxi, and <1% military/commercial.

United Airlines donated a 737, which was subsequently torn apart and given to the Department of Aviation Technology's aircraft mechanics program.

The building was built in 1943 as hangar-2, was renovated in 1979 to provide screening for airline passengers and again in 1984, including a new entrance, concourse, and baggage claim area.