Photos: Tucson International Airport control tower
Tucson's new air-traffic-control tower was dedicated Friday, replacing the iconic 1950s-era building with the neon "Tucson" sign.
Tucson International Airport control tower
Air traffic controllers watch for traffic from the new 252 foot tall Tucson Air Traffic Control Tower.
Tucson International Airport control tower
Tucson International Airport control tower in 1971.
Tucson International Airport control tower
A view of the old tower from the 9th floor break room of the new 252 foot tall Tucson Air Traffic Control Tower. The old tower is half the size of the new one.
Tucson International Airport control tower
Crowds gather for the dedication of the new 252 foot tall Tucson Air Traffic Control Tower. The new tower is double the size of the old tower. A 13,000 square foot building houses computer equipment, administrative offices and automatic backup power system.
Tucson International Airport control tower
Air traffic controllers watch for traffic from the new 252 foot tall Tucson Air Traffic Control Tower.
Tucson International Airport control tower
A solar farm adjacent to the tower provides power to run the new Tucson Air Traffic Control Tower.
Tucson International Airport control tower
Detail of the communication systems in the new 252 foot tall Tucson Air Traffic Control Tower.
Tucson International Airport control tower
An old control tower at the Tucson Municipal Airport, now known as the Tucson International Airport. In the background are three hangars, one of which served as the old terminal building. Passengers waited in the shade of a long porch that extended from the terminal before walking to the airplane and climbing portable stairs to board the plane. The three hangars were the first buildings erected at the airport when it opened at its present location in the 1940s. They are still standing, and are located on the airport's west ramp.
Tucson International Airport control tower
Artist's rendering of what the control tower and operations building at Tucson International Airport will look like, January 14, 1957.
Tucson International Airport control tower
Members of the Tucson Airport Authority head for the new control tower and operations building at Municipal Airport for their annual meeting on Jan. 13, 1958. When the control tower was opened and celebrated Oct. 18-19, 1958, it was Tucson's third-tallest building.
Tucson International Airport control tower
Tucson International Airport iconic control tower in September, 1968.
Tucson International Airport control tower
Bernie Martin, an air traffic controller at Tucson International Airport, watches from his perch 10-stories above the tarmac as he keeps an eye on air traffic from the iconic tower.
Tucson International Airport control tower
The $42 million control tower rises in the distance while American Airlines ground crews prepare their passenger jets during regular daily activities at Tucson International Airport in April, 2015.
Tucson International Airport control tower
An Arizona Air National Guard F16 takes off as it passes the $42 million control tower which is under construction during regular daily activities at Tucson International Airport in April, 2015.
Tucson International Airport control tower
An Arizona Air National Guard tanker makes a low pass over the iconic control tower at Tucson International Airport in 2014.
Tucson International Airport control tower
Air traffic controller Ryan Holaway watches the airspace over Tucson International Airport from the iconic control tower in 2014.
Tucson International Airport control tower
The new air traffic control tower, right, is juxtaposed with the older, more familiar tower at the Tucson International Airport. The photo was taken on Thursday, November 4, 2015.
Tucson International Airport control tower
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Tucson Air Traffic Control Tower
The new 252 foot tall Tucson Air Traffic Control Tower.
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