WIX Archives

Floyd Bennett Field in NYC, and Warbird accessability

Posted by Ryan Keough on Thu Oct 17, 2002 11:57:49 PM

I have been looking through some pages and have come across mention of some activity of warbirds at Floyd Bennett Field in NYC. Now, I have seen where this field is no longer in public use, but it seems as though David Tallechet has had some dealings there in the past (some sites I have seen pictures of the 'Belle and his B-25 stored there) in addition to the current activity with the C-97 and the C-54 belonging to the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation.

Does anyone know who is in control of this location with such an enviable proximity to NYC? It would be terrific to bring together a group of important aircraft and build a yearly aviation event there to bring out the youth of the city which may never be able to see such things if we didn't make it easy for them to hop on the subway to get there.

I only mention this because I see how well the Collings Foundation B-17 and B-24 draw urban dwellers when they land at airports close to downtown. The only way for us to pass the history of our veterans through the aircraft they flew is to get the youth of the world interested and that requires them to be accessible.

For our friends on the other side of the pond, has anything like this been done in London? We all realize Duxford is a mecca, but have groups like the BoBMF or Breitling Fighters come to a location closer to downtown to draw the inner-city youth out to see history close up? I am not too familiar with London, but would City Center airport work for such a thing? Merely thoughts.

All I know is that if it hadn't been for a group of caring vets and a B-17 named Fuddy Duddy near my hometown, my story as a teenager may have been a much more tragic one. Airplanes truly steered me in the right course and I would hope we can do the same for others.

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