Wurtsboro–Sullivan County Airport is a privately owned, public use

airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial air transport. Airports usually consists of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surface ...

located two nautical miles (4 km) northeast of the

central business district A central business district (CBD) is the commercial and business centre of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides with the "city ...

Wurtsboro Wurtsboro is a village located on U.S. Route 209 in the town of Mamakating in Sullivan County, New York, United States, near its junction with New York State Route 17 (which is being upgraded to interstate standards and will be renumbered as ...

, in Sullivan County,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. It is privately owned by a local pilot. It is commonly called Wurtsboro Airport. It is believed to be the oldest operating

glider Glider may refer to: Aircraft and transport Aircraft * Glider (aircraft), heavier-than-air aircraft primarily intended for unpowered flight ** Glider (sailplane), a rigid-winged glider aircraft with an undercarriage, used in the sport of glidin ...

airport in the nation. The airport is located along

Route 209 The following highways are numbered 209: Canada * Manitoba Provincial Road 209 * Nova Scotia Route 209 * Prince Edward Island Route 209 * Quebec Route 209 * Saskatchewan Highway 209 China * China National Highway 209 Costa Rica * National Rout ...

and the D & H Canal in the town of Mamakating.

History

The grave of Manual Gonsalus, the first non-Indian settler, is located on the Airport. His tombstone is dated April 18, 1752, and is one of the oldest tombstones in the state. Before it was an airport, it was the Helm Family farm. The first known operator of the Wurtsboro Airport was Lee Lord, he gave flying lessons in the 1920–30s. In the 1940s Wurtsboro Airport was bought by Anthony Barone Sr, and his wife Theresa from Hoboken, NJ. Anthony raised his family on the airport, in the old homestead that used to reside there. The Barones kept it a family business for many years, with both George and his sister Patricia running the business. Patricia and George ran a very well known airport offering glider and airplane rides, lessons and rental with many private clientele from New York City. Including the late

Christopher Reeve Christopher D'Olier Reeve (September 25, 1952 – October 10, 2004) was an American actor, best known for playing the title character in the film ''Superman'' (1978) and three sequels. Born in New York City and raised in Princeton, New Jersey, ...

, who used to fly gliders out of the airport. The airport is located on Barone Road in the town of Mamakating, just north of the village of Wurtsboro. After the sudden illness and subsequent deaths of both George and Patricia Barone, the airport was sold by the remaining family. In 2006 the airport was acquired by Shalom Lamm. In February 2021 it was purchased by one of the pilots who grew to love the airport over the many years he flew there. The airport still offers scenic airplane and glider rides today, as well as flying lessons, aircraft rental and aircraft maintenance.

Facilities and aircraft

Wurtsboro Airport covers an area of which contains four unlit

runway According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft". Runways may be a man-made surface (often asphalt concrete, as ...

s: * Runway 5/23: 3592 x 60 ft (1095 x 18 m), Surface: Asphalt * Runway 14/32: 2101 x 120 ft (640 x 37 m), Surface: Turf * Runway 18/36: 1250 x 150 ft (381 x 46 m), Surface: Turf * Runway 9/27: 1100 x 110 ft (335 x 34 m), Surface: Turf Services available: * Glider and Power Rides, Instruction, Rental, Sales and Tow. * Hangars and Tiedowns. * Attended 0900 – 1700. There are 97 aircraft based at this airport: 52 single-engine and 45 gliders.

References

External links

Historic Wurtsboro Airport flies high after transformation

Wurtsboro Airport takes off again under new leaders

Wurtsboro Airport
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wurtsboro-Sullivan County Airport Airports in New York (state) Transportation buildings and structures in Sullivan County, New York

History

Facilities and aircraft

See also

References

External links