Our Story · Est. 1979 · Marion, Indiana
More Thanan FBO
The Darlington family has been serving pilots at Marion Municipal Airport for over 45 years. This is a story about aviation, family, and what it means to truly love an airport.
The Darlington Family & Indiana Aviation
Our aviation roots run deeper than most. It starts with our great-grandmother’s farm in Anderson, Indiana — land that became Anderson Municipal Airport, managed by our grandfather Art Darlington and his brothers. Aviation wasn’t just something the family did. It was who they were.
Our father, Richard Darlington, carried that torch through decades of service to pilots and the community. In 1979, the family made a new commitment — bringing that same dedication to Marion Municipal Airport, where Air Marion Inc. has operated as a full-service FBO ever since.
That’s not just 45 years of fueling airplanes and training pilots. It’s 45 years of showing up every day for the general aviation community in Indiana.
Building on the Legacy
Andy Darlington — second-generation airport manager, CFII, and lifelong aviator — leads Air Marion today. He grew up on the field. His first jobs were mowing the ramp and fueling transient aircraft as a kid. After college, he came back not because he had to, but because there was something worth building here.
Under Andy’s leadership, Air Marion has expanded flight training through a partnership with Indiana Wesleyan University, hosts the Air Force JROTC National Flight Academy each summer, runs community events that bring pilots and non-pilots together, and has grown into one of Indiana’s most welcoming general aviation stops.
The goal has never changed: make every pilot who lands at KMZZ feel like they found a home.
Come Visit UsOur History
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1938
The Farm Becomes an Airport
The Darlington family’s land in Anderson, Indiana becomes Anderson Municipal Airport, with grandfather Art Darlington and his brothers at the helm.
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Mid-Century
Richard Darlington Carries the Torch
Andy’s father Richard continues the family’s tradition of service to Indiana’s general aviation community through decades of dedicated work.
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1979
Air Marion Inc. Founded at KMZZ
The Darlington family establishes Air Marion at Marion Municipal Airport — a new chapter in the same story, built on the same values.
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2nd Generation
Andy Takes the Controls
Andy Darlington — who grew up mowing the ramp and fueling aircraft — returns after college to lead Air Marion into its next era.
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Recent Years
IWU Partnership & JROTC Academy
Air Marion becomes the local flight training partner for Indiana Wesleyan University and begins hosting the Air Force JROTC National Flight Academy each summer.
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Today
Growing & Looking Forward
Three CFIs, three aircraft, a growing flight school, community events, Sky High Scoops, and a reputation as one of Indiana’s most welcoming GA stops.
Our Values
Personal Service
We know our regulars by name. We remember what you fly. We treat every transient pilot like a neighbor. That’s what a family-run FBO does — and it’s something no chain can replicate.
Safety First
From our flight training standards to our line service procedures, safety isn’t a checkbox — it’s the foundation of everything we do. Our 94% JROTC PPL completion rate reflects that commitment.
Growing Aviation
We take seriously our role in developing the next generation of pilots. Every discovery flight, every IWU student, every JROTC cadet is an investment in the future of general aviation.
Meet Andy Darlington
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Andy grew up at the airport — literally. As a kid, his jobs were mowing the ramp and fueling aircraft at KMZZ. Aviation was never a career choice so much as an inheritance, and one he’s embraced fully.
After college, Andy returned to Marion to take over Air Marion and build it into something worthy of the family legacy. He holds a CFII certificate and is currently working toward his MEI, with a focus on expanding the school’s multi-engine capabilities.
When he’s not instructing or managing the FBO, Andy is building training materials, developing the IWU partnership, and doing whatever it takes to make Air Marion the best GA stop in Indiana.
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Part of the Community
Air Marion has never been just a place to fuel up. We’re a hub for Indiana’s aviation community — and the Marion community at large.
Annual Fly-In / Cruise-In
Our signature community event brings together pilots, car enthusiasts, and families from across Indiana for a day at the airport. One of the highlights of the KMZZ calendar.
Indy Airstrip Attack
We participate in and support the Indy Airstrip Attack — a unique Indiana aviation event that celebrates backcountry-style flying on general aviation strips.
Monthly Hangar Talk
A casual monthly gathering for pilots and aviation enthusiasts at KMZZ. Good conversation, hangar flying stories, and a standing invitation for anyone who loves aviation.
JROTC Flight Academy
Each summer, high school cadets from across the country train at KMZZ. A 94% Private Pilot completion rate and a program we’re genuinely proud to host.
StatFlight Trunk-or-Treat
We partner with StatFlight for an annual Trunk-or-Treat event that opens the airport to families and kids in the Marion community.
Sky High Scoops
Our on-airport ice cream shop is open to pilots and the public — because airports should be welcoming places for everyone, not just aviators.
Come See Us at KMZZ
Whether you’re stopping for fuel, learning to fly, or just curious about your local airport — we’d love to meet you.
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