Charlotte at AOPA Summit 2009

2B2 TAKES PART IN AOPA’S AVIATION SUMMIT
By Charlotte Vincent
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) held its annual convention in Tampa, Florida, from November 5-7, 2009. Previously known as EXPO, the 2009 convention took on a new name and format to reflect the new leadership at AOPA under President and CEO Craig Fuller. 2B2 was well represented at this year’s Aviation Summit by our AOPA Airport Support Network (ASN) delegate, Alex Hasapis. Yours truly tagged along to hear what AOPA had to say and what it all means for 2B2.

Threats Facing GA
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the launch of AOPA as an advocate for General Aviation (GA). In his welcoming remarks, AOPA President and CEO, Craig Fuller, emphasized that the need has never been greater for a strong and powerful voice and presence to advocate at the national, state and local levels on behalf of GA. In today’s tough economy and post 9/11 world, the threats facing GA are varied and very real. They include:
• Costly user fees
• Increased security requirements from Homeland Security that are burdensome and downright impractical for GA airports
• Business downturn in the use of corporate jets during a “bail out” economy
• Growing negative perception of GA as a greedy, frivolous extravagance for the rich and famous fueled by political posturing and the media’s repetitive sound bite coverage
• GA airport closures in response to political and economic pressures
• Lackluster growth within the GA industry in recent years and still too little diversity within its member population.

AOPA Acts to Protect GA
Craig Fuller is determined that AOPA not let these threats go unchecked. He states his message simply and clearly: “We are serious about preserving our freedom to fly and are ready to face the challenges ahead”. Within the last year, AOPA has backed up these words with action. The following AOPA initiatives caught our attention.

Congressional letter to “kill” user fees – A signed congressional letter is evidence that AOPA is successfully lobbying its case against user fees and effectively pressuring our political leaders to let the public know where they stand on this looming threat to GA. One hundred members of Congress have signed and submitted a letter to President Obama taking a firm and public stand against user fees. The letter states that any proposal to enact user fees that comes before it will be “Dead on Arrival”.

“GA Serves America” Campaign – AOPA is taking measures to refocus and reset the dialogue, attitudes, mindsets and perceptions of GA across government and industry sectors, businesses and communities, and the public at large. AOPA has launched a year long public relations campaign to inform, educate, raise awareness for and promote the economic value and public benefit of GA. The campaign highlights the following value and benefits of GA.

GA’s Economic value - GA contributes $150 Billion to the U.S. economy. It creates jobs across a full spectrum of industries. Examples include:
• Aviation (e.g., pilots, FBOs, ATCs, maintenance/service technicians, etc.)
• Engineering, technology, manufacturing - (e.g., planes, avionic products, simulators, etc.)
• Education and training (CFIs, Test Instructors; Flight Simulation Trainers, etc.)
• Insurance and finance (e.g., insurance agents, investment planners, financial lending, etc.)
• Medical (e.g., doctors, administrative staff, etc.).

GA’s Public Benefit - GA provides medical, humanitarian, environmental, and community services through its Air Care Alliance (ACA) network of 70+ volunteer organizations for public benefit flying. On any given day, across the U.S., pilots volunteer their own general aviation aircraft, expertise, and time to fly in the spirit of service. These pilots, along with the volunteer staff on the ground, provide free air services to 100s of people every month. Though all benefit flights are undertaken with the same spirit of service, each benefit flight has a unique mission. When you scan down ACA’s list of the compelling reasons prompting volunteer pilots to take to the skies, you can understand why ACA describes public benefit flying as “Ordinary pilots … ordinary planes … extraordinary flights!”
• Medical emergency evacuations
• Search and rescue missions
• Disaster and emergency relief
• “Angel Flights” transporting patients, family and caregivers to medical facilities which are otherwise out of reach geographically and financially
• Life saving flights to deliver organs, tissue and blood
• Environmental observation, monitoring and assessment
• “Honor Flights” transporting today’s service men and women for family visits and war veterans to war memorials in their honor
• Educational flights for youth.
• Animal flights to transport animals to shelters, veterinary hospitals, or adoption facilities.

Call to Action for 2B2
We left the AOPA Summit feeling not only the threats facing 2B2 as a small GA airport, but a genuine pride in the significant economic value and public benefit which 2B2 brings to our neighborhood and surrounding communities. We also heard the following “calls to action” for the members and friends of 2B2.

Join the fight against GA user fees: Write to our representatives in Congress urging them to take a public stand against user fees by adding their signature to the Congressional Letter on its way to the desk of President Obama.

Add a 2B2 voice to AOPA’s “GA Serves America” public relations campaign: Raise the awareness of and promote the value of 2B2 via a variety of communication channels and promotional events. The following are a few highlights of how 2B2 is already stepping up to this “call for action”:
• A new Web Site for Plum Island Aerodrome, Inc. is under development with the help of Newburyport High School’s Technology Center faculty and students. The web site will spread the 2B2 story to visitors to our site, as well as to visitors to linked sites such as Historic New England and the Massachusetts Aviation Historical Society.
• Feature articles on 2B2 are being scheduled with local news media such as “The Daily News” to inform the public about 2B2 (who we are, what we do, etc.) as well as to raise awareness of the value which 2B2 brings to the community both from an economic and public benefit standpoint.
• Centennial celebrations are currently being planned with Historic New England and the Massachusetts Aviation Historical Society. Celebrations are also being planned with the Town of Newbury in honor of its 375th anniversary. Throughout 2010, a calendar of events will showcase the pivotal role which 2B2 played 100 years ago in the beginning days of aviation history. These events will also highlight the role which 2B2 played in the history of our local communities and the value which it still brings today.

By the way that's Charlotte with Corkey Fornof, Hollywood stunt pilot (three James Bond movies amongst others) representing the LoPresti Fury behind them.

We're Back

Ok, it's been a while; but give the old man a break. The summer got off to a slow start but when it did come, it was too good for blog writing. Weddings, family and friends gatherings and good flying days took priority. I will attempt to bring this up to date with regard to 2B2 happenings.
On June 27 the aerodrome hosted the second annual Northeast Radio Control Model Club.Although the fog rolled in early that morning, it decided to stay for the whole day. Nevertheless the model pilots came and demonstrated their skills to a large group including some senior citizens who were bussed in for the event. The day began with 2B2's fantastic breakfast followed by hamburgers and dogs. Keeping a watchful eye on the donation box was our lovely Ashley Noyes. The model flying went on as scheduled although at lower altitudes. The model jet flew into the clouds for a while and was finally brought in IFR (instinct for retrieval). Hopefully next years event will be fog less.
Yankee Homecoming brings our great skydivers out for their annual jump on the beach and Dusharme's fabulous culinary gig. With Butchy taking care of the logistics and Steve and super dog flying the jumpers all day, a good time was had by all. By the way Steve had the good sense to stay in the plane.
To cap the summer season, the traditional Noyes taildragger fly-in was held as always on the third weekend in September. The howling winds kept some folks at home on Saturday but the hardy pilots flew in anyway. Doctor Bob and Son came down from the north country in their super dog on a screaming tail wind in record time showing 193 mph over the ground. Fortunately the bird is a Noyes special, so the wings were still on it when they landed. Commander Hughes demonstrated crosswind landing skills in the fiery twin Comanche from NH16. Veronique and Serge flew in on Saturday also, all the way from Montreal, in Serge's beautiful Super Cub. They enjoyed a good tail wind as well. Steve also was the resident chef for breakfast and PM burgers and dogs. The photographer managed to talk Charlie to pose with two locals. Talk about a rose between two thorns. Windy or not, the glider was up with Paul and Tom taking turns and they even talked Steve in going up again. No; he did not do any screaming this time. All in all, it still was a pretty good turnout. Thanks Steve and Tina!

Joint Venture

Plum Island Airport Joins Forces with Newburyport High School for Web Site
by Charlotte Vincent

Plum Island Aerodrome Inc. (PIA) is joining forces with Newburyport High School (NHS) to design and build its official web site!

The collaboration is a “win-win” for both NHS and PIA. NHS’ Technology Engineering Department secures a client for its web design students to gain practical, “real world” experience. PIA gains the talent and expertise to launch and maintain its web site.

Sarah Leadbeater, Technology Engineering Instructor, mobilized the student project team and is overseeing the web project for Plum Island Airport. Sarah’s name will be familiar to those of you who followed our blog coverage of NHS’ stellar performance in this year’s Real World Design Challenge (RWDC). Sarah mobilized NHS’ “A” team and functioned as the team’s teacher/coach during the competition. NHS’ “A” team became the winning team for Massachusetts and went on to take 2nd place at the nationals in D.C.

In fact the idea of joining forces first came up at the March 18th RWDC State Award Ceremony held at 2B2’s Working Museum Hangar. Alex Hasapis, PIA’s Public Information Officer, approached Sarah regarding the availability of web training for the general public through NHS. As Sarah further explored 2B2’s need, she shared her own need to find a client for her web design class. By the end of the conversation, the Plum Island Airport web site project had been initiated!

The project officially got underway with an initial information gathering and design meeting with Sarah, Alex, and yours truly. Since then, the student team has been hard at work creating alternative designs for the airport web site. The final design and content for the PIA web site will reflect and support PIA’s two fold mission, i.e.,

• To restore and preserve the historic character of Plum Island Airport
• To educate the public on the history of Plum Island Airport, as well as on its impact on aviation and the community today.

This joint venture with NHS is another example of how Plum Island Aerodrome is both bringing educational value to people and forging ties with surrounding communities.

At the end of the official project kick off meeting for the PIA Web Site, Alex and Sarah took to the skies in Alex’s Varga Kachina for a short flight “around the light houses at Thatcher's”. The flight was the unofficial inaugural for the joining of two formidable forces in the community … Newburyport High School and Plum Island Airport!

Recent Visitors

In the past few weeks we have had some noteworthy visitor activity. A critical cycling accident on the Plum Island bridge necessitated the evacuation of the injured cyclist by medical helicopter.The importance of the access to the airport cannot be emphasised enough in situations like this.
Another visit by helicopter recently was one of a military mission, where a local serviceman, who had been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, was picked up by an Army helo, piloted by another local serviceman, and flown to a site for advance special training. Thanks to all that serve.(Helo photos by Richard Neville)








Jim and Jane Mengenhauser are from Alexandria Virginia. Jane grew up in Haverhill and spent summers on Plum Island. Her family now lives in Plaistow and Jane regularly visits them. Jim was not always keen on making the trip; that is until he found out that Plum Island Airport was a Birddog(L-19) roost. You see Jim, a Ph.D. research chemist, flew Birddogs in Korea for the US Army from 1956 till 1958. On his return to the states he qualified as a Senior Aviator at Ft. Bliss and checked out in a variety of Army aircraft. To make his visit more memorable, Steve (Noyes that is) took Jim up in the Super Dog.

Last Thursday, Diane Viera, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Historic New England (our landlord) stopped by with members of the Board of Trustees of HNE after touring the Spencer-Peirce-Little farm. Charlie Eaton presented PIA history in the Burgess Museum and Steve led the tour of the hangar as well as pointing out the future site of hangar2. Yours truly tagged along adding post scripts throughout the visit.

Plum Island Airport Facts Q&A

Plum Island Airport History Facts

Q: When was the Plum Island Airport founded?
A: Continuous commercial operation of the airport started in 1933 by Joseph Basso and W.F. Bartlett. However, it was designated as an Emergency Landing Field by the U.S. Army Air Service in 1926. In the late 20s, the new Civil Aviation Administration (now the FAA) installed a beacon tower at the Plum Island field as a primary navigation aid to mark the Boston-Portland air route. The base of the beacon tower can still be seen at the bend in the Plum Island Turnpike.

Q: I heard the airport is the second oldest airport in the country. Is that true?
A: This is a popular local legend, but it is not true. The source of the claim is the 1910 Burgess Aerodrome (much more on that below) on Plum Island proper, about two miles ESE of the current airport. The last flight at the Burgess Aerodrome was in August 1910, and there is no documented use of the current airport until 1926 (see above).

Q: OK, then what is Plum Island’s significance in aviation history?
A: The Burgess Aerodrome on Plum Island was New England’s first flying field. On February 28, 1910, a biplane designed and built by W. Starling Burgess, a Marblehead yacht builder, and Augustus Herring, an early aviation pioneer, took off from the frozen surface of Chebacco Lake in Hamilton, marking the first successful manned, powered flight in New England. After that single flight, Burgess moved the operation to Plum Island, where he built a hangar and conducted a series of increasingly successful tests through the spring and summer. The first flight at Plum Island was April 17, 1910.

Burgess, Herring, and their collaborators had connections to the most prominent aviation pioneers:

• Herring tested gliders with the Father of Aviation, Octave Chanute, on the shores of Lake Michigan as early as 1895. He attempted powered flight in 1898, and spent a brief time with the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk in 1902 before he overstayed his welcome.
• Alexander Pfitzner, who had worked with Glenn Curtiss, tested his biplane on Plum Island alongside Burgess.
• Norman Prince, later a co-founder of the Lafayette Escadrille, hosted the Chebacco Lake flight and participated in the 1910 Plum Island flight tests.
• Burgess witnessed the Wright Brothers’ demonstrations to the US Army in 1908, the first time large numbers of people had seen an aircraft in flight. In September 1910, Burgess displayed his biplanes at the Harvard-Boston Aero Meet, the first successful aero meet in the United States. As a result he sold several aircraft to Claude Grahame-White, the best known English aviator of the time (first aircraft export from the United States), and signed a contract with the Wrights to build their Flyers under license in his Marblehead aircraft factory (first manufacture of aircraft under license in the US).

Q: What else did Burgess do after the Plum Island flights?
A: The Burgess Company manufactured over a hundred aircraft of various designs up to the end of World War I. Among his claims to fame were:

• First aircraft of flying wing design (also Burgess-Dunne).
• First aircraft sold to the Canadian armed forces (Burgess-Dunne).
• First aircraft to both take off from and land on water.

Q: Q: Did Charles Lindbergh land at Plum Island?
A: There is no reason to believe he did. There is, however, a rumor that he flew into another airport in Newburyport, but this is completely undocumented.

Q: Did Lindbergh last leave the United States over Plum Island on his famous flight to Paris?
A: No. The source of this claim is an erroneous caption on a photograph in the Chicago Tribune shortly after the flight saying he left land over Plum Island, Mass. Lindbergh’s route is well known, and did not take him anywhere near Plum Island, MA. The likely explanation is that he flew over Plum Island, New York, off the tip of Long Island.

Q: Who was Johnnie Polando?
A: Polando was nationally famous as the holder of the long-distance flight record, together with Russell Boardman, for their 1931 non-stop New York to Istanbul flight. In May 1937, Polando began passenger service, airmail service, and pilot training flights at the Plum Island Airport.

Q: Who was Warren Frothingham?
A: Frothingham was Polando’s partner. Starting in 1937, they expanded airport facilities as business increased. In July 1937, a green light was added to the beacon, thus permitting all types of aircraft to land there. Three hangars, an office building, the asphalt runway, and a small building beside the beacon tower were built before World War II. The small building (the current airport office) was used for many years as a restaurant known as the Cockpit Café, named by a local girl in a May 1938 contest in return for flying lessons. Polando left in 1942, but Frothingham ran the airport up to the 1960s.

Who We Are

This post is meant to give a deeper understanding of what this little historic airport is all about. With some notes and an outline provided by A.H., Charlotte Vincent put together the following. I believe it will clearly show the value to the community, especially for those who have wondered if 2B2 is just a playground for a few. Following this post will be a series of question and answers submitted by Ted Russell, our airport and regional historian, clearing up some facts and myths that are related to the history of flying around Plum Island.

PLUM ISLAND AERODROME, INC.

Who We Are

Plum Island Aerodrome, Inc. (PIA) is a Not For Profit 501(C)3 organization which manages the Plum Island historical airport in a lease arrangement with Historic New England.

Plum Island Aerodrome has a two-fold mission:

• To restore and preserve the historic character of Plum Island Airport
• To educate the public on the history of Plum Island Airport, as well as on its impact on aviation and the community today.

Steve Noyes is President of Plum Island Aerodrome, Inc. and the Flight Base Operations (FBO) manager responsible for the day to day operations at Plum Island Airport.

Volunteers provide the backbone both for airport operations and for the fulfillment of PIA’s mission. More specifically, volunteers perform all of the work required:

• To maintain and upgrade the airport for day to day operations
• To maintain, update and expand airport museum facilities and related services including the historical Burgess Museum and the Working Museum for the restoration of classic aircraft
• To provide, expand and diversify PIA’s educational and community services
• To maintain communications and public relations with adjacent neighbors, surrounding communities, government boards and agencies, regional Historical Societies, Historic New England and the public at large.

As a strong nonprofit organization, Plum Island Aerodrome relies on both earned and contributed income to offset the costs of day to day operations, ongoing maintenance and authorized improvements:

• Parking Tiedown Fees
• Fuel Sales
• Office Space Rental
• Minor Aircraft Maintenance
• Membership Dues
• Fund Raising Events
• Tax Deductible Donations from the public.

An appointed Board of Directors provides the governing direction and oversight for Plum Island Aerodrome, Inc.



Services We Offer

Plum Island Aerodrome, Inc. offers a variety of services to a diverse and growing user base.

PIA provides the following aviation services to the Flying Community:

• Aircraft Fueling Station with 100LL Fuel
• Parking Tiedowns
• Airframe Service (Minor)
• Powerplant Service (Minor).

Recreational services are available year-round to the General Public, weather permitting. These include:

• Glider Rides
• Scenic Flights.

Plum Island Aerodrome offers a broad range of Community Services for schools, youth groups, community organizations, and the general public. The following are examples of the community services which PIA hosts:

• Educational field trips with museum tours, educational presentations, and viewing of aircraft restoration work in action; Mothers of Little Farm, Newburyport High School, and Bagnall Elementary School in Groveland, MA are some of the organizations for which PIA has hosted educational tours
• Tours of Burgess Museum which displays the rich history of Plum Island Airport, its pioneering role in the aviation industry, and airplane and pilot models and memorabilia; Both walk-in, self-guided tours and scheduled historian-led tours are available
• Tours of Working Museum which provides both displays of renovated classic aircraft and live-viewing of aircraft restoration work underway
• Workshops providing hands-on training and experience in Aircraft Restoration
• Annual “Sails and Trails Weekend” sponsored by Essex County Heritage Commission which includes Plum Island Airfield on its list of historic site stopovers
• Annual Bird Dog and Tail Dragger Fly Ins with pancake breakfasts, all day cook-outs, and free parking.

Plum Island Aerodrome also accommodates non-PIA sponsored community events. In these cases, PIA closes airport operations and makes its grounds available to community groups and private citizens. The following are examples of the one-time or recurring community events which have been held at Plum Island Airfield:

• Annual Scouting Events, e.g., Explorer Scout Camping Expeditions; Boy Scout Lone Tree Rocket Launch and Pancake Breakfast
• Special Ceremonies, e.g., 2009 Award ceremony sponsored by Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission to present state awards to Newburyport High School for their first place finish in the national Real World Design Challenge sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy; 2008 private wedding ceremony and reception
• Annual Benefit Concert - “An Evening of Rock”, e.g., open air concert sponsored by the Evening of Rock Foundation to “preserve our natural wildlife resources… support our communities’ rich history … and to provide an atmosphere to formulate partnerships, share ideas and innovations in a social and entertaining environment”; Proceeds from the 2008 first annual benefit concert went to Parker River Wildlife Refuge and Plum Island Airfield
• Annual Youth Kite Flying Day
• Annual All Day Demonstration of Model and Radio-Controlled Aircraft sponsored by Northeast Radio Control Model Club and the Cape Ann R/C Model Club.

While the community events above require PIA to close down airport operations, PIA also opens airport operations and makes the Plum Island Airfield available for several critical and life-saving community services. These include:

• Emergency medical evacuations to transport injured accident victims and medical patients to premiere medical facilities in Boston and surrounding areas; The fourth and most recent evacuation took place on May 27, 2009
• Emergency Coast Guard Rescue Operations
• Massachusetts National Guard flights to bring in Emergency Management Staff for their evaluation of Plum Island beach erosion
• Massachusetts New England Mosquito Control for environmentally safe spraying of surrounding communities as a matter of public health, safety and comfort.

Our Economic Impact

Through its community services, Plum Island Aerodrome contributes both indirectly and directly to the economies of our local communities at numerous levels and in varied ways.

There are no admission charges or parking fees for any of PIA’s community services. Private citizens – young and old – can come together as individuals, groups, or families to take part in PIA’s educational and community events without tapping into their individual and family wallets.

There are no venue charges for holding a community event at Plum Island Airfield. Schools, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies do not incur costs for the time and effort put forth by PIA volunteers in preparing for, conducting, and breaking down the event. Nor do they incur costs for utilizing the PIA grounds and facilities. Local schools, nonprofits, and government entities can make these events available to their students, members, or citizens without the need to fund-raise or draw down their budgets.

Whether for an hour museum tour, a morning Boy Scout rocket launch, a family day of kite flying, an all day demonstration of Radio-Controlled Aircraft, an evening concert, an overnight of boy scout camping, a weekend of historical stopovers, or an all day, all weekend Fly-In, PIA’s community events draw people not only to Plum Island Airfield but to the surrounding communities as well. This influx of people brings customers into the doors of our local businesses and communities. The following always stand to yield positive business benefit from PIA and its community events:

• Local beaches and state parks; MASS Audubon and National Wildlife Refuge
• Retail Shops
• Restaurants, Lounges; Fast Food, Take-Outs; Coffee Lounges
• Bakeries, Ice Cream/Gelato Parlors, and Candy Stores
• Food Markets, Convenient Stores, Drug Stores, and Wine and Spirits
• Cinemas and Theaters
• Street Performers: Actors, Mimes, Musicians, Singers, Magicians, Comedians
• Boating and Fishing; Water Rentals, Tours, and Cruises
• Sightseeing and Historical Tour Businesses
• Taxis and Livery Services; Car Rentals
• Town and City Parking Fees
• Hotels, Inns and Bed & Breakfasts.

Through this cascade effect from its community events, Plum Island Aerodrome has had, and will continue to have, a direct, positive and broad-sweeping impact on the economies of our surrounding cities, towns, and communities.

Our Commitment to Being a Good Citizen and Good Neighbor

Plum Island Aerodrome is committed to being a good citizen and a good neighbor. PIA consistently backs up this pledge with action.

• Plum Island Aerodrome offers a diverse and growing portfolio of community services as was highlighted in the previous section.

• As a public use airport, Plum Island Aerodrome is compliant with and stays current of all safety and security regulations issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission.

• Plum Island Aerodrome has been proactive in controlling and minimizing noise at the airfield. Guidelines for noise abatement flight patterns are prominently posted at strategic locations around the airfield. These guidelines are consistently followed and enforced. As a result, complaints about noise have become nonexistent.

• Plum Island Aerodrome has also been proactive in initiating and maintaining good communication and relations with adjacent neighbors, surrounding communities, government boards and agencies, regional Historical Societies, Historic New England and the public at large.

Our Solid Reputation as a Vital Community Member and Partner

Comments from adjacent neighbors and surrounding communities offer solid evidence that Plum Island Aerodrome has established a solid reputation for living up to its mission statement and commitments, as well as for being a vital member of and contributing partner with surrounding communities. The following are examples of these acknowledgements.

• “We have been pleased to see the progress at the airfield in blending in the local aviation history, with the vintage/golden age fly-ins and the contemporary aviation flights and flight training…. The airfield had good informative articles in the press along with event interviews…We are also willing to help on airfield or museum programs and projects … and with your museum displays, the family open house events and the other airfield community activities that proved so popular…”. (Massachusetts Aviation Historical Society, Inc.)

• “The Plum Island Airfield is an important asset to the communities of Newbury and Newburyport. It serves not only to support the local economy but provides a significant educational and recreational component to the fabric of life on the North Shore.” (Town of Newbury, Office of the Board of Selectmen)

• “… we have found the operators to be careful, responsible and responsive in their management of the airfield. They strive for good community relations and professional operation and have, in our opinion, succeeded. ….Plum Island Airfield has made every effort to work responsibly, and to make the site as attractive and well run as possible. We have enjoyed partnering with them for special events, where we have been able to outreach to the community about the refuge and the wildlife habitat of the area.” (Parker River National Wildlife Refuge)

• “… Airfield personnel have been very responsive to issues we have raised and have shown understanding and consideration of our goals and mission…We appreciate the cooperation and community spirit evidenced by the Plum Island Airfield.” (Mass Audubon)

Coming Events

Just a reminder of some coming events in the area. Hampton Field Flea Market--May 16-17. On June 27 the field will be closed as the Boy Scouts will be launching home- built rockets from the Farm. The airfield will be dedicated to the Radio Control Flyers from the Northeast region.
Click on poster below to enlarge.




Will Fly for Food at Northampton Airport

Northampton, MA- During the week of May 20, Rich MacIsaac, manager of Northampton Airport in Northampton, Massachusetts is planning to join aviation legends in the pages of the National Aeronautic Association’s record books. MacIsaac will attempt to be the first pilot to take off and land at all 39 of the public use airports in Massachusetts…all in one day! “I am hoping this will bring awareness to general aviation in Massachusetts. There are so many great little airports in the state and lots of places to see.”

MacIsaac is going to tackle this aviation challenge in a Flight Design Light Sport CT. Northampton’s CT is a top of the line model with a glass cockpit, great visibility, 112 kt cruise, 4.5 gph fuel consumption. As head flight instructor at Northampton Aeronautics, MacIsaac hopes to gain some well-deserved exposure for the Light Sport as well as inspire people to train. “Whether you are completely new to aviation or have flown aircraft before, a Sport Pilot License may be for you,” says MacIsaac. This license allows for easier and lower-cost access for enthusiasts wishing to participate in the joy of flight.

While attempts at this record have been made in the past, nothing has been documented as an official record. The NAA requires that an independent observer, who must be present to document each landing and the time of the flight must have a commercial certificate with an instrument rating. MacIsaac has a few co-pilots in mind to accompany him. “My plan is for us to leave at 7am, weather permitting, and it should take about 10-12 hours to complete,” says MacIsaac. “Maybe down the line, this flight will inspire others to try to visit all 39 airports.”

In addition to calling attention to the Light Sport program, Northampton Airport will be flying for food to help the Northampton Survival Center through this event. The Survival Center is an emergency food pantry which provides low-income individuals and families in 16 Hampshire County communities with free food, clothing and household goods. “We will be collecting monetary donations as well as non-perishable foods for the center’s Kids’ Summer Food Program. During the summer months, this program provides breakfast and lunch foods to children who receive free or subsidized meals through their school,” says the airport’s marketing manager, Holly Lurgio. People can come in to the airport and choose a leg of the flight to sponsor either with food or monetary donations. “We feel it is important to reach out and support the communities that have been so supportive of us,” says Lurgio, “and this seems like a great way to start!”

For more information contact Northampton Airport at 584-7980 or email marketing manager, Holly Lurgio at hollyl@fly7b2.com.

Little Friends of the Farm

Once again the young friends of the Spencer, Pierce, Little farm paid the airport a visit. Uncle Steve, the kiddy's pal, was the gracious host and ground school instructor for the kids and their mothers. Charlie Eaton was available again to share Plum Island airport history and his personal experiences with the group. Our airfield is a gem in the greater Newbury landscape and part of our mission is to share it with the community. The airport's historical link to the farm is maintained by events such as the visit by the Friends of the Farm. Come back soon!