History

In the late Fall of 1939, a few Penn Yan fellows who wanted to learn to fly got together and decided to do something about it. It was mid 1940 before they incorporated for the purpose of “to advance the science of aeronautics, to encourage interest in aviation, to develop aviation, to provide economical flying rates for its members, and to bring to more people the social benefits and pleasures of flying activities.” They started with 22 members, no airport to fly from and no aircraft.

September 1941 saw the Club with 30 leased acres of a local farm, a part time instructor from Corning, New York, one Cub purchased new, one used Cub, one parachute, two t-hangars and a 6’ by 8’ club house. They were up to 86 members by 1942.

In April of 1943, owing to the War Products Board limitations order, and the fact that the need of airplanes by the government was acute, the Club was obliged to sell the Cubs to the Defense Plant Corporation. Two used Taylor Crafts were purchased so that they could keep flying. An interesting note is that at the beginning of WW II it was necessary to maintain a 24-hour guard at the Airport or remove the props from the aircraft when no one was there. Many cold nights were spent in the small Club room by members.

During the years 1941 to 1946 lots seemed to happen. Several members purchased private aircraft and built hangars. The Club purchased the 30 acres they had originally improved as well as another 70 acres giving them 100 acres by 1944. The 70 additional acres had a large barn on the property which was made into hangar space on the second floor and a club room on the lower floor. The airport was starting to be used by the general public and became known as the Penn Yan Airport. Three runways were established, an East – West 2,350 feet long, a North – South 1,675 feet long and a NW –SE one 1,800 feet long. In 1945 Penn Yan Aeronautical Service was started on the Airport by the Middlebrooks as a maintenance facility. This business is today known as Penn Yan Aero the Engine People.

The late 40s saw a number of airshows that later turned into the annual July 4th fly-in breakfast. In later years close to 3,000 people drive, fly or walk into breakfast. These have become a pleasant social event for the community as well as a fund raiser for the Club. 1950 saw the burning of the mortgage and the appointment of an airport manager.

Springtime brings lots of very soft ground and there were more people using the airport for business year around. It became necessary in the mid-50s to put in a 25 by 2,350 gravel runway as the tail wheel aircraft were being replaced by airplanes that could not operate from soft muddy ground or on skis in the winter. This became runway 10/28, 50 feet by 3,200 feet of pavement by 1973. The airport activity outgrew the Flying Club’s desire to manage it with volunteers and to subject the members to the added liability as larger aircraft came along. The longest runway and some of the other property was sold to Yates County in the early 1990s with the Club retaining 10 acres and use of the County airport. The County has since added runway 01/19 that is 100 feet by 5,500 feet.