Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: New York, Western Suffolk County

New York, Long Island, Western Suffolk County

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Brindley Field (revised 9/28/11) - Central Islip Field / Bender-Brentwood Airport (added 2/9/15) - Deer Park Airport (revised 9/12/16) - Flowerfield Airfield (revised 2/5/15)

(Original) Islip Airport (revised 11/23/14) - Smithtown Airport / Smithtown Aviation Country Club (revised 6/11/14) - Zahn's Airport (revised 12/31/15)

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Central Islip Field / Bender-Brentwood Airport, Brentwood, NY

40.78 North / 73.22 West (East of New York, NY)

A circa 1940 photo of a Fleet Model 2 biplane in front of the wood-tin hangar at Bender-Brentwood Airport.

Central Islip Field was reportedly founded in 1929.

It was taken over by Harry Bender in 1933 & renamed Bender-Brentwood Airport.

The earliest depiction which has been located of Bender-Brentwood Airport was a circa 1940 photo of a Fleet Model 2 biplane in front of the wood-tin hangar.

Bender-Brentwood Airport was said to consist of 33 acres, and to have 1 hangar housing 3 planes, with several others tied down outside.

However, Bender-Brentwood Airport was not yet depicted on the 1945 NY Sectional Chart (perhaps overlooked due to its modest size).

The 1949 USGS topo map depicted Bender-Brentwood Airport as a commercial/municipal airport.

The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Bender-Brentwood Airport was on the 1950 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).

It depicted Bender Brentwood as having a 1,500' unpaved runway.

The 1953 Aviation Week Airport Directory (according to Stephen McNicoll) described Bender-Brentwood Airport

as an S-1 commercial airfield with a 1,500' unpaved runway, a hangar, offering minor repairs & fuel.

The earliest aerial photo which has been located of Bender-Brentwood Airport was a 2/15/54 USGS aerial view.

It depicted Bender Brentwood as having 2 unpaved runways,

and at least 5 light aircraft parked around some small buildings on the southeast side.

The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Bender-Brentwood Airport was on the 1955 NY Sectional Chart (according to Stephen McNicoll).

The 1956 USGS topo map still depicted the clearings of Bender Brentwood's 2 runways, but no longer labeled the airport,

which may indicate that it had been closed by that point.

Bender-Brentwood Airport was evidently closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1955-57,

as it was no longer depicted on the 1957 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).

John Dolan reported in 2005, “The site is now a storage yard for the LI Power Authority.”

A 2014 aerial photo did not show any remaining trace of Bender-Brentwood Airport.

The site of Bender-Brentwood Airport is located southwest of the intersection of Route 111 & Route 100.

Thanks to John Dolan for pointing out this airfield.

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(Original) Islip Airport, Islip, NY

40.75 North / 73.21 West (East of New York, NY)

An 8/4/28 of the dedication ceremony at Islip Airport (courtesy of Andrew Muir).

The original airport for the town of Islip was located just north of the town along Route 111.

This 25 acre general aviation airport was established in 1928, having two 2,000' grass runways & 1 steel hangar.

It was founded by Charles Lawrence, the designer of Wright radial engines.

Islip Airport's 8/4/28 dedication ceremony was attended by Amelia Earhart.

The earliest depiction which has been located of Islip Airport were 2 photos of its 8/4/28 dedication ceremony (courtesy of Andrew Muir).

A photo of the 8/4/28 of the dedication ceremony at Islip Airport (courtesy of Andrew Muir)

depicted 2 monoplanes & a biplane in front of a hangar.

The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Islip Airport was on the November 1931 NYC-Albany Air Navigation Map.

The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Islip Airport was on the 1935 Regional Aeronautical Chart,

which depicted Islip as an auxiliary airfield.

John Dolan recalled, “The original Islip Airport... It's notable as the home of the first airline service between Long Island & Connecticut.

Licon Airways flew for awhile between Islip & New Haven CT.”

The earliest aerial photo which has been located of Islip Airport was a 1938 aerial view (courtesy of Andrew Muir).

It depicted Islip as an irregularly-shaped grass field with a single hangar on the southeast side.

A 5/19/38 photo (courtesy of Andrew Muir) of a Brightwaters Mayor Walker & pilot William Thies with his Travelaire 6000B

in front of a hangar marked “Islip Airport” during the occasion of Suffolk County's first airmail flight.

John Doxsee recalled, “Islip Airport... As a child (before 1940) I have vague memories of planes flying in & out & soldiers jumping with parachutes.”

John recalled, “I can remember visiting the site as a child (after it was deactivated)

and seeing the old hangar with the big airport rotating beacon on the roof.

My dad took me there once to see airborne paratroopers practice.

I have vague memories of a big antiaircraft flak gun off to one corner, covered by a netting of some sort.”

The last depiction which has been located of Islip Airport was on the 1947 USGS topo map,

which depicted an open area with several small buildings along the east side.

The Islip Speedway began operation in 1947 on the Islip Airport property.

A 1954 aerial photo showed the Speedway has been constructed over the center of the Islip Airport site.

But the hangar remained on the eastern side, and the overall airport perimeter remained recognizable.

The former hangar remained visible in a 1962 aerial photo.

A 1978 aerial photo showed that the former hangar had been removed at some point between 1962-78.

The Islip Speedway ended operation in 1984.

A 2007 photo by Larry Lund of a historical marker commemorating the original Islip Airport.

A 3/6/12 aerial photo did not show any remaining trace of the original Islip Airport.

The site of the original Islip Airport is located southeast of the intersection of Freeman Avenue & Spur Drive South.

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Brindley Field, Commack, NY

40.84, -73.31 (East of New York, NY)

An undated postcard of a Jenny biplane in front of hangars at “Brindley Flying Field”.

Originally this installation was to be named Chapman Field after Lt. Col. C. G. Chapman who died while fighting in France.

The name was then changed just before it opened to Brindley Field in memory of Major Oscar Brindley

who had just died testing a new plane & was considered at the time to be one of the best pilots.

Brindley Field was a satellite field which supported flight training operations at Mitchell Field.

It was constructed on the former Randel Farm,

and operated for less than one year.

According to an interview with lifelong Commack resident Henry Shea,

“The first thing we knew of Brindley Field, or any activity of it occurring there, was in June 1918.

The first sight of any of this activity was a long line of army trucks coming up the old Jericho Turnpike with soldiers in them.

To see a truck of any kind was a unique experience in those days.

They just didn't exist in Commack.

And they came around the corner into Larkfield Road, or it was known as Larkfield Avenue in those days,

and pulled right into the gates of the property on the north east corner of Jericho Turnpike & Larkfield Avenue.

Then we learned, or I did, that it was to become a training field for aviators to be sent to France during W.W.I to be fighter pilots.”

Shea continued, “The field itself consisted of 90 acres of land,

with the buildings, and barns, one large barn, and several other storage barns of a smaller size, and other out buildings.

And a main house which they immediately established as a headquarters for the field.

From that time on, for the next month or so, the place blossomed out into a tent city.

I'd say up until the middle of July it was a tent city, with all the troops stationed there.”

An undated aerial view of Brindley Field.

Shea continued, “The first thing I remember being built in there, in the way of buildings,

was the mess halls where the soldiers had to go to eat their meals.

The next permanent buildings being built were the barracks for the men to sleep in.

In the beginning the tent city was used as their sleeping quarters.

I also remember the set up of officers tents, and the medical center in a tent.

Then about the first of August they built quite a number of barracks.

I think all together about 16 or 20 of them all together.

They were built along the north side of Jericho.

The nearest barrack was just inside the fence line on the pike."

Shea continued, “The field was protected every day by guards who would walk the parameter of the field.

After July there were no more visitors allowed inside the camp.

I had some access in the beginning being a kid, but they gradually phased me out.

This field was a satellite field of Mitchell Field in Mineola

and was the last training field for flyers before they went to France.

It was a very important field at the time & sometimes other planes would fly in for a few days.

Some were the DH-4 with the most powerful engine at the time.”

Shea continued, “Towards the end of that summer they found they needed more space

so the rented some more land to the east.

In one case they had to condemn the land from the owner, but only temporarily.

They did some considerable clearing of woodland in the north east corner of the property.

They cleared that area of trees entirely.

They cut them down, removed the stumps, and graded it off.

That was quite a project.

Then they felt they had enough safe room to feel satisfied with.”

Shea continued, “In August of 1918 they started to build 5 big steel hangars,

the nearest one was about 150 feet from Larkfield Avenue.

They stood in a line behind the original hay barn that had been used to hold airplane parts at that time.

They were for what we called Jenny planes at the time.

They had dogfights in their training over the field & surrounding areas.

One of the most serious accidents happened while they were having dogfights over the Havemeyer property east of Townline Road.

Two pilots were killed when their plane crashed into the ground after loosing control.

What happened was one of the wings crumbled.

It as the only death during all that flying time.”

Shea continued, “I can actually remember when the accident happened

because someone had come over to our house & told us that there had been a crash over in east Commack.

In the medics' hurry to get there they tried to go straight instead of taking the roads

and that was a mistake because they ran into hedgerows & had to take down fences.

But it was no use to save them because they were both killed outright.

There was quite a service held for the 2 pilots at Mitchell Field,

and then they were shipped by train one to California, and one to Pennsylvania.”

An undated postcard of unidentified biplanes at Brindley Field.

An undated photo of pilots at Brindley Field in front of an unidentified biplane.

An undated photo of a biplane (a Jenny?) from Brindley Field which came down in Johnson's field.

Operations at Brindley Field ended in May 1919,

less than one year after the field was established.

Lorraine Scudder reported, “Brindley Field...my family lived across from it on the south side of Jericho Turnpike.

My grandfather told me that right after the airfield was decommissioned,

my great-grandmother purchased 2 of the barracks & had them moved across the street. She had one of them converted into house for her.

When she passed away in the 1920s, it was left to my grandfather. He & his family moved in shortly after.”

The other sits directly in front of the house & was used as a barn & lodgings for migrant workers

for many years by a farmer who purchased it and land from my great-grandmother.”

Brindley Field was no longer listed among active airfields in the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock),

nor depicted on the 1947 USGS topo map.

A 1953 aerial photo did not show any recognizable trace of an airfield – just open farm fields.

Mark Wilkinson recalled, “I moved to the area in 1961.

The site of the former airport, the corner of Larkfield Road & Route 25 (Jericho Turnpike), was a farm field at that time.

As a teenager, I worked as a pumpkin picker in the field, never knowing at the time the historical significance.”

Lorraine Scudder reported that her family's house (the former Brindley Field barracks)

“stayed in the family until my parents sold the house in 1983.

I'm pretty sure the current owners don't know this information.

I know when my parents sold the house they didn't tell the buyer.

The barn is commercial property & has changed hands many times.”

A circa 2000-2005 USGS aerial photo shows no trace remaining of the former Brindley Field.

Mark Wilkinson reported in 2005 of the site of the former Brindley Field, “It's now a shopping center.”

Two 2005 photos by Mark Wilkinson of historical plaques at the site of Brindley Field..

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Flowerfield Airfield, Flowerfield, NY

40.9 North / 73.14 West (East of New York, NY)

A 1954 aerial photo depicted the single north/south runway at Flowerfield.

This little airfield was the home of a pioneering but little-known company

in the history of aviation - the Gyrodyne Company of America,

which developed the first practical unmanned helicopter.

It is ironic that in the beginning of the 21^st century,

the development of armed unmanned aerial vehicles seems to be "all the rage" in the American aircraft industry,

yet this obscure little company was mass-producing an armed unmanned helicopter

(that even operated from the decks of small ships) way back in the 1960s.

The founder of Gyrodyne, Peter Papadakos,

was the pioneer who perfected the American Coaxial helicopter design.

While other helicopter pioneers such as Igor Sikorsky pursued the tail rotor system,

Frank Piasecki the tandem rotor system and Charlie Kaman, the intermeshing rotor system,

Papadakos believed that the coaxial rotor system held the greatest promise.

Papadakos spent his entire life working tirelessly promoting his ideal of the "perfect helicopter".

Papadakos bought the assets of the bankrupt Bendix Helicopter company in 1946

(which included the unfinished design of a coaxial helicopter), and founded the Gyrodyne Company of America.

A small hangar facility was leased at Fitzmaurice Field at Massapequa, NY,

and it was there that the Gyrodyne Model 2B compound helicopter was developed

and eventually performed demonstrated flights for 7 Air Force pilots.

No airfield was yet depicted at this location on the 1947 USGS topo map.

By 7/1/51 enough capital has been raised to acquire a tract of land for the new company in St. James.

Originally called "Flowerfield", the property had been a flower nursery,

run by a retired General Motors executive's wife.

On the 320 acres that Papadakos acquired for the company,

several buildings & 2 homes stood.

The bulb storage facility (eventually called Building 1) totaled some 28,000 sq.ft.,

which was transformed into executive offices, engineering, drafting and machine shop facilities.

In 1951, Gyrodyne moved to this new location

which provided the company with both a permanent home & a base for future expansion.

From this new base of operations, the young Gyrodyne company

began to perform subcontract work for Long Island's strong defense base.

Such nearby aircraft companies as Republic & Grumman were customers for Gyrodyne's machine shop

and allowed for new tools & machines to be acquired

and underwrite the expenses associated with the helicopter development.

Most of the 50 or so part-time employees working for this small start-up were paid in Gyrodyne stock.

A machinist made $5 / hour, which translated to 1 share of common stock / hour.

Papadakos felt that making his employees shareholders of the firm

was his best chance of holding onto his quality machinists & engineers which were in high demand at the time.

In 1951, Papadakos sought a better way to control the Model 2B compound helicopter.

He knew he had to modify the airframe, but did not want to take his only flying aircraft apart.

One evening, a group of engineers gathered at the company's new facilities at Flowerfield.

The engineers saw what they needed to do -

they literally cut the Model 2B in half in order to widen it & also lengthen the cabin;

all without Mr. Papadakos' knowledge.

Needless to say, many stressful days soon followed!

His Gyrodyne crew soon modified the model 2B by also removing the 2 side engines.

Also added were movable tail surfaces, power boost controls and other minor improvements.

In June 1951, Gyrodyne received it's first contract from the Naval Bureau of Aeronautics,

to accumulate & submit flight test data pertaining to the coaxial configuration.

The scope of the contract was to record the flying qualities of the coaxial configuration.

The resultant Model 2C was instrumented for the flight test program.

The instrumentation package included an oscillograph & a photo panel.

The flight test program was completed & final report submitted by December 1952.

This was the first documentation of flying qualities of a coaxial rotor helicopter in the US.

An undated photo of the sole Gyrodyne GCA2 (N74101),

a 5 passenger compound helicopter which first flew in 1951.

Movable vertical surfaces (rudders) & differential collective in the rotors were incorporated for yaw of the flight test.

The results of the instrumented flight test indicated that the coaxial rotor configuration

possessed excellent flying qualities in all regimes of flight except for the low speed autorotation

where the yaw control means proved inadequate.

In order to overcome this difficulty,

Gyrodyne continued its research work toward improving the directional control characteristics.

In March of 1953, the idea of using tip brakes on the tips of the rotor blades was conceived.

Flight tests of this concept proved that the problem of effective yaw control in autorotation

for a coaxial helicopter had been solved.

This was a major breakthrough for the coaxial configuration,

and the company was granted a patent for this configuration.

The tip brake "made the coaxial possible", Mr. Papadakos was to later state.

If fact, shortly after the development of that tip brake design,

the XRON Rotorcycle contract was awarded & Gyrodyne was on its way to becoming a major defense contractor.

The desired configuration of the XRON was changed to that of an unmanned drone helicopter,

thus creating the QH-50A (later known as the DASH).

The earliest depiction of the Flowerfield Airfield which has been located was a 1954 aerial photo.

It depicted the single north/south runway,

which appeared to be the only aviation facility at the site at that time.

The Flowerfield Airfield was depicted (but labeled only as "Airstrip") on the 1956 USGS topo map.

It depicted Flowerfield as having a single 1,900' runway, oriented north/south.

A 1960 photo of Gyrodyne's XRON 1-man reconnaissance helicopter flying over Flowerfield.

A 1961 aerial photo showed that a tethering rig had been added at some point between 1954-61 just southwest of the runway.

A 1962 aerial photo showed Flowerfield's north/south runway, tethering pad to the southwest,

and the Gyrodyne company plant buildings at the southwest corner.

An undated (circa 1960s?) aerial view looking northeast at the Flowerfield Airfield of the Gyrodyne Company (courtesy of Jos Heyman).

It depicted the single runway, as well as a circular "tethering rig" to the southwest of the runway,

and a "hydrodynamic basin" on the opposite (western) side of the railroad, across from the manufacturing plant.

By 1963, Gyrodyne had over 700 employees

and many stationed all around the world to support the U.S. Navy's DASH weapon system.

However, Mr. Papadakos, still maintained the position as "head of marketing"

as he personally would invite dignitaries to his large Gyrodyne establishment

and speak with them of his company's coaxial helicopters & their benefits.

When it appeared that the modified XRON drone would actually become the initial DASH prototype,

major visits by the head Navy personnel increased dramatically by 1961.

A 1965 photo of a DSN-1 (QH-50A) on a Gyrodyne Flowerfield hover fixture.

An undated (circa 1960s) photo of DS-1694, a QH-50D with the Snoopy sensor package, at Gyrodyne Flowerfield before it was deployed to Vietnam.

The QH-50 DASH drone helicopter which was eventually developed & mass-produced by Gyrodyne was a remarkable machine,

and an amazing engineering achievement for such a small independent company,

particularly way back in the 1960s.

The QH-50 was powered by a single small turbine engine,

which turned 2 contrarotating main rotor blades.

It was capable of operating off of the very small helicopter deck of Gearing-class destroyers, even in open sea conditions.

The mission of the DASH was to extend the anti-submarine 'reach' of its parent destroyer,

by delivering a payload of 2 homing torpedoes onto a submarine target detected by the destroyer.

With the development work & subsequent manufacturing of the QH-50A/B, QH-50C & the QH-50D,

Mr. Papadakos' life was centered on his evolving company.

It seemed that the greatest obstacle to his unmanned machine, that being Naval Aviators,

had accepted the idea that manned flight off destroyers was best left to expendable drones,

but that was not to last.

While the QH-50C's enemy was that of the undersea "red menace"

in the manner of 300 Soviet fast-attack submarines & was a weapon system of deterrence,

the QH-50D found itself flying from fewer & fewer destroyers

as those DASH equipped ships began to reach their limit of their operational lifetime.

Yet DASH was not being installed on the new destroyers joining the Navy.

While the Navy's ship count was decreasing, the size of naval ships was increasing,

and the flight deck of new destroyers was being made larger

and designed around the new LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Mission-Purpose-Ship based) concept helicopters.

Suddenly, the Navy had more QH-50's than it needed,

and by August 29, 1969 the last Navy QH-50D had been delivered.

Although the Japanese DASH program had begun,

it had not taken long to deliver their twenty D models

and parts demand for the meticulous Japanese mechanics was not as strong as it had been for the U.S. Navy.

One tech-rep for Gyrodyne had reported that Japanese QH-50s with over 1000 landings

looked as if they had just come from the assembly line; they were so well maintained!

Mr. Papadakos had seen this end coming

and had positioned the company to possibly having to survive with little or no government defense work.

On 6/14/66, he formed the Flowerfield Properties wholly-owned subsidiary of the Gyrodyne Company

for the purpose for holding certain assets of the company's property.

A circa 1968 photo of the world's first armed drone helicopter: a Gyrodyne QH-50 armed with 2 torpedoes, at the Flowerfield test site.

A 1969 aerial photo showed that another plant had been constructed to the southwest of the airfield

(on the east side of the road) at some point between 1961-69,

along with a large paved area that may have been related to flight tests.

During this time, however, Papadakos continued to try & convince

the Department of Defense of the value of the coaxial rotor system.

In 1969, the Allison powered QH-50E had flown.

In 1970, the 2-stage transmission equipped 24' rotor system had successfully been flown.

That aircraft, with a slower rotor RPM of 570,

allowed for greater speed & a payload of close to 2,000 pounds.

Then in 1971, Mr. Papadakos used the knowledge gained from the 2-stage transmission / 24' rotor system program

to enter the Heavy Lift Helicopter (HLH) competition.

Unfortunately, the government decided after asking for a request for proposal

from all the helicopter companies to cancel the program.

That was the final request for proposal Gyrodyne ever responded to.

Papadakos felt that to place his company at risk on the whimsical needs of the military no longer justified the risks.

He consolidated the remaining helicopters in part of Gyrodyne's building #17

so that what parts support & transmission overhauls required could occur.

By 1972 Papadakos was remodeling the now empty Gyrodyne Flowerfield manufacturing facilities

and subdividing them into small suites in order to turn the property into an industrial park.

In 1986, Papadakos was approached by both the Israeli Aircraft Industries & Dornier Gmbh of Germany

to examine the use of the QH-50E as a modern surveillance drone with modern electronics.

While the Israelis purchased a Technical Data Package containing engineering reports & flight analysis of the QH-50E,

Dornier took their interest much further.

In the Summer of 1986, Dornier sent a 3 person team to learn all they could about the QH-50D.

After dismantling one aircraft for inspection & then reassembling it,

Dornier flew the aircraft on a hovering fixture on October 16, 1986.

This had been quite an effort for Mr. Papadakos,

who at age 72, found himself working long hours as a Program manager yet again.

Papadakos also had found it difficult to find former employees

whom after 17 years since the assembly line had shut down, were physically able to do the work.

Luckily, several former employees were available to assist in the effort

which concluded when Dornier asked to take the aircraft back to Germany

to integrate their digital auto-pilot & other modifications for their GEAMOS program.

In the spring of 1987, Mr. Papadakos received visitors from the Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, CA.

The QH-50D was still in use by the Navy as a target for anti-helicopter missiles.

The Navy needed rotor blades for those aircraft & requested a bid to have blades made.

Papadakos put a bid on the cost of finding personnel from the production days

when Gyrodyne made their own blades.

Also, the Navy wanted to take possession of the remaining helicopters they owned under a no-cost contract,

but which Gyrodyne had stored for the Navy for safe-keeping.

In the fall of 1987, those helicopter assets left

with many of the Rotorcycles going to museums & schools (which wanted the Porsche engines for shop classes).

From 1988-91, Papadakos spent his time assisting Dornier with their drone development.

During this time, political upheaval had changed the mission of the Dornier/QH-50E

from that of a land based drone used for reconnaissance against East Germany

to that of being based on a destroyer to patrol the waters of a unified Germany;

like it had been during the DASH days.

To see the revitalization & interest of the very aircraft that had launched his company's future some 35 years before

was a huge source of pride for not only Mr. Papadakos,

but the few still surviving original helicopter employees

that had been part of the largest Unmanned Aerial Vehicle program in the world.

Papadakos kept working on advancing his aircraft's role in the world

until he died on May 26, 1992.

As seen in the 4/8/94 USGS aerial photo, the single north/south runway remained intact at Flowerfield.

The tethering pad (previously used for helicopter flight tests) is just to the west of the runway,

and the former Gyrodyne company plant buildings are at the southwest corner.

Mr. Papadakos' death left many tasks uncompleted.

By 1995, Gyrodyne was producing 60 plus rotor blades for the Navy - a contract worth over $ 1.4 million.

Dornier continued with their program & eventually received 3 aircraft & other parts

for their Allison engine powered SEAMOS maritime surveillance drone.

By 1998, Gyrodyne faced the hard economic realities

of storing helicopter assets that had not generated any income since 1986

in which the personnel who had created those assets, had simply passed away.

Faced with not being able to service the now only user of the QH-50,

the Army's Program Executive Office, Simulation, Training & Instrumentation (PEO STRI),

Gyrodyne management made the decision to enter into an agreement on October 29, 1999

with Aviodyne U.S.A. of Los Angeles, to take possession of all remaining QH-50 assets

to support the U.S. military users of the QH-50.

President Stephen Maroney reported that "This action is in keeping with our clear direction

to focus on the Company's primary asset - the 326 acre Flowerfield property."

By December 1999, all helicopter assets had been removed from Gyrodyne-New York,

and placed within the company in Los Angeles, called Gyrodyne-CA.

In combination with the disposal of its oil investments,

the Company was expected to realize proceeds of approximately $400,000.

"While neither of these sales represent a major financial impact for the Company,

the Aviodyne agreement brings closure to a very significant part of Gyrodyne's history -

the design & manufacturing of helicopters for military use primarily during the 1950 & 1960s", Maroney said.

As of 2004, the Gyrodyne Company continues to operate,

but its primary focus has become the redevelopment of the Flowerfield property (a total of 314 acres).

Five former Gyrodyne buildings (Buildings 1, 2, 7, 8, and 17) have been leased to other tenants for light industrial uses.

However, the primary intended use for the Flowerfield property is to transform it into as golf course.

A 4/4/04 aerial view depicted the Flowerfield runway in largely the same manner as seen in 1994.

The primary element of the Flowerfield redevelopment plan envisions transforming the former airfield property

into a private community with an 18-hole championship golf course & 336 luxury residential units.

Yet another airfield removed to make way for a golf course -

that seems to be a common fate for so many of our country's historic airfields.

A circa 2006 aerial view looking west at the former Flowerfield tethering pad (previously used for helicopter flight tests).

According to Keith, “The big building on the far side of the pic of the tethering pad was” dates from before 1973.

A circa 2006 aerial view looking west at the former Flowerfield runway.

According to Keith, this was added at some point after 1985.

A 11/25/06 aerial view showed that land adjacent to the east side of the former runway had been cleared for construction,

and much of the former runway pavement had faded (or been removed).

A 3/31/07 aerial view showed that construction had begun on a building on the east side of the former runway.

A 9/6/09 aerial view showed that an unknown building had been completed on the east side of the former runway,

and the alignment of the former runway was no longer recognizable,

erasing the last sign of this little former airfield which occupied an interesting place in American military aviation technological development.

The site of Flowerfield is located northwest of the intersection of Mills Pond Road & Parkside Avenue.

Thanks to Jos Heyman (of Australia) for pointing out this airfield.

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Smithtown Airport / Smithtown Aviation Country Club, Smithtown, NY

40.83 North / 73.23 West (East of New York, NY)

A 1947 aerial view of Smithtown Airport (courtesy of Jim Daly).

The date of construction of this small general aviation airport has not been determined.

The earliest depiction which has been located of the Smithtown Airport was a 1947 aerial view (courtesy of Jim Daly).

It depicted Smithtown as having a single unpaved northwest/southeast runway.

There were no hangars or buildings associated with the airfield, but there was one single-engine aircraft on the southeast runway end.

No airfield was depicted at this location on the 1947 USGS topo map,

the January 1949 NY Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy), or the 1950 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).

Smithtown may have been omitted from the charts, as a relatively small airfield.

An article by John Fleischman in the 2/99 issue of Air & Space / Smithsonian Magazine

described how the members of the former Hicksville Aviation Country Club

looked at "a small private airport at Commack" in 1950 as a possible replacement site for their former airfield in Hicksville,

which they had sold due to rising property values.

The club planning committee reported that it was only "15 minutes further away from NYC (by car) than our present location...

being readily adjacent to the new Northern State Parkway Extension."

The committee added that the 100-acre field could be acquired at $550 an acre,

and so with only 50 members paying $3,200 a year, the club could take to the air again.

The members, however, had lost interest, and that August, 90% voted to dissolve the club forever.

Chris Bobka recalled, “I do remember the Smithtown Airport. I remember it from the earliest days of my airport bumming.

I may have been in diapers... As my parents moved to Huntington in 1952.

I can only remember that it had very tall original growth trees surrounding it

and that a horse stable where my older sister would go to rent horses was quite close by.

I also seem to vaguely remember seeing the V-tail of a Bonanza there.”

The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Smithtown Airport

was on the June 1953 USAF Hudson River World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It depicted Smithtown as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.

A 1953 aerial view looking northeast (courtesy of Carl Markmiller)

depicted Smithtown Airport as an open grass area with several buildings on the north & east sides of the field.

Carl recalled, “I kept my J-3 at this field. Those were the great flying days, almost no restrictions!”

A 1954 aerial view depicted Smithtown as having 2 grass runways, with several hangars on the north & east sides of the field.

A closeup from the 1954 aerial photo depicted a total of 10 light aircraft visible parked outdoors at the Smithtown Airport.

The Aerodromes table on the January 1955 USAF NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

described "Smithtown" Airport as having 2 runways,

with the longest being a 2,100' turf strip.

The last photo which has been located showing the Smithtown Airport was a 1955 photo (courtesy of Carl Markmiller)

showing large numbers of cars parked on the runway for the annual Republic Aviation picnic in 1955.

Note the barn used as a hangar, and several aircraft parked behind it.

The 1956 USGS topo map depicted the "Smithtown Aviation Country Club"

as having two 2,000' unpaved runways, oriented southeast/northwest & east-southeast/west-southwest.

A single building was depicted on the east side of the field, in between the 2 runways.

The Smithtown airfield was evidently closed at some point between 1955-57,

as it was no longer depicted on the 1957 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe) or subsequent Sectional Charts.

A 1962 aerial view showed that a number of buildings had covered the site of the former airport,

but 2 former hangars still remained standing on the north side of the site.

The 1992 USGS topo map labeled the group of buildings occupying the site of the former airport as the "County Center".

Amazingly, a circa 2006 aerial view looking north shows that 2 former hangars from the Smithtown Aviation Country Club remain standing:

the 2^nd & 4^th buildings from the left.

Ironically, the location still has some aviation use, as a helipad is visible on the left (but there is no heliport listed at this location as of 2008).

A 5/4/09 aerial photo shows the buildings covering the site of the former airport.

The site of the Smithtown Aviation Country Club is located

northeast of the intersection of Route 347 & Old Willets Path.

____________________________________________________

Zahn's Airport, North Amityville, NY

40.71 North / 73.4 West (Southeast of Republic Airport, Long Island, NY)

A 10/5/41 aerial view looking northeast at Zahn's Airport.

This general aviation airport was located along Albany Avenue,

only a half-mile southeast of Republic Airport.

Joe Zahn first cut a 1,200' airstrip into part of his apple orchard in 1936.

The earliest depiction which has been located of Zahn's Airport was a 10/5/41 aerial view looking northeast.

It depicted the field as a square grass field,

with 2 single-engine aircraft parked near a few small buildings on the southwest side of the field.

Joe Zahn & his friend Jack Looney flew a J-3 Cub from the strip until the early years of WW2,

when the land of the airstrip was returned to cultivation to help boost food production for the war effort.

After the end of WW2, flight instructor Ed Lyons was determined to make a career in aviation

and saw an opportunity to start a flying school on Long Island.

He leased land on Zahn's farm in 1945.

Ed made a deal to rent an empty tool house adjacent to Zahn's strip in order to start a flying school.

Ed began teaching with a surplus Canadian Fleet trainer & a 45 horsepower Piper.

With GI money available for education for ex-servicemen, Ed soon had many students.

Students paid $10/hr for instruction, and the business boomed.

Ed established Amityville Flying Service & looked for other partners.

Zahn became a partner & set aside 840 acres to establish Zahn's Airport.

Don Brzezinski recalled, “In 1946 I took flying lessons at Zahn's on the GI bill.

Zahn, Looney, Hoffman, had their flying school one side of the airport, Lyons flying service on the other.

Ed Lyons (real name Ed Liebowitz) flew during the war in Spain as a fighter pilot.

Ed Lyons was a Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol.

His aircraft were Piper J3s - yellow with a lion's head on the side.

There was only grass for the field runways & they were a different orientation than in later years.

The left-hand pattern intersected with Republic Airport's right-hand one.

This made a very interesting approach, either a Seabee, the Rainbow or some other military traffic going your way.

No traffic control at Zahn's - just landing aircraft on the final had the right-of-way.

Zahn's had the only hangar, the fueling was run by Weber (a former B-29 pilot).

The fueling & the snack bar were on Lyons' side of the field.”

The 1947 USGS topo map depicted Zahn's Airport, along with a dizzying array of other general aviation airports,

almost all of which are long-gone.

"Zahn" Airport was depicted on the 1949 NY Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy)

as having a 2,200' unpaved runway.

Walker Hoffman began a second flying school on the opposite side of the field.

The 2 flight schools eventually merged in 1950.

"Zahn", as depicted on the 1950 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).

Zahn was bought out in 1950 by Ed Lyons, Jack Looney, and Walter Hoffman.

The business expanded, and Zahn's Airport became at the time the largest privately airport in America.

It eventually grew into the region's largest general aviation airport,

with more than 200 resident aircraft & helicopters.

With the closure of Roosevelt Field in 1951, Zahn's became the busiest general aviation airport in NY State.

A 1950s photo of Sig Uyldert's flight training office at the northwest corner of Zahn's Airport,

showing a Piper Tri-Pacer & 3 Cubs.

A 1951 aerial view looking south depicted Zahn's Airport as having several grass runways, with several hangars on the northwest & northeast sides of the field.

Dozens of light aircraft were visible on the field.

John Schaefer recalled, “I already had a Private Pilots License when I first went to Zahn's Airport

and checked out in a Piper J-3 Cub (NC42859).

I'd rented Cubs at other airports so the flight check consisted of making a few wheel landings for 30 minutes of total flight time.

Then I rented the Cub & flew it solo for 1:45 just doing wheel landings, not 3-point landings.

Then another 30 minutes with an instructor making wheel landings;

all in preparation to flying Lyons Flying Service Mooney Mite, which is a single-seat aircraft.

Then I got into the Mooney Mite's cockpit, studied it for a bit

and then took off & practiced 90, 180 & 720 degree turns, stalls & various other air-work for 35 minutes.

I was then qualified to rent & fly the Mooney Mite any time.”

An undated (circa 1950s?) photo of long-time Zahns flight instructor Bob Havecker teaching a flight student in a Link trainer (courtesy of Steve Moddle).

An undated (circa 1950s?) Christmas photo of Joe Zahn, Walt Hoffman & Jac Looney in front of a Beech Bonanza & their hangar (courtesy of Steve Moddle).

The "Whitney Hangar" was located approximately halfway down the east side of the north/south runway.

The hangar was built to house the DC-3 of John Hay Whitney, but also hangared other corporate aircraft.

A November 6, 1951 photo of John Schaefer in the cockpit of a single-seat Mooney Mite from Lyons Flying Service at Zahn's Airport.

John recalled, “I was 2 days shy of my 19^th birthday.”

A circa 1953 photo (courtesy of Robert Brown) of the Zahn's hangar, with the Grumman Mallard of the NY Daily News,

and the Twin Beech in which the Levitt brothers commuted to the PA where they were building Pennsylvania's Levittown.

A circa 1953 photo (courtesy of Robert Brown) of the 4 partners of Zahn's Airport (left to right):

Ed Lyons, Jack Looney, Walter Hoffman, and Joe Zahn.

A 1953 article in Flying Magazine (courtesy of Robert Brown)

described Zahn's Airport as having a 4,200' paved runway,

which was described as "handling DC-3s with ease."

The airfield had a total of 35 T-hangars & 2 larger concrete hangars.

Two more concrete hangars (described as "being large enough to house 4 DC-3s) were under construction,

as was a 3,000' east/west runway & runway lights.

A National Guard unit had 40 L-19s & 2 Navions based at Zahn's,

and it had a new hangar under construction for 10 helicopters which were planned to be based at Zahn's.

As of 1953, there were 3 flying clubs based at Zahn's, as well as a unit of the Civil Air Patrol.

A 1953 aerial photo depicted over 52 light aircraft visible parked outside at Zahn's.

It depicted the field as having 2 paved runways,

with several hangars on the west & east sides of the field.

An undated (circa 1950s?) advertisement for Zahns Airport.

Charles Spence recalled of Zahns: “I learned to fly there in 1954.

Ed Lyons gave me my private flight examination, making me spin the J-3.

I later moved up to a Tri-Pacer & then flew a Comanche from there.

An ADF approach could be made from the signal on Mitchell Field to the West near Hempstead.

On a good Sunday afternoon it was not unusual to be 8^th or 10^th on downwind with every mix from J-3s to twins.

With that traffic, after moving to the Comanche I learned a lot about slow flight.”

A 6/22/54 aerial view (courtesy of Bill) of the Zahn's National Guard ramp & hangar,

showing 17 Cessna L-19s & 2 North American L-17 Navions.

The 1954 USGS topo map depicted Zahn's as having 2 runways & several buildings scattered around the sides of the field.

Edward Materson recalled of Zahns, “I took a few lessons back in the 1950s.

I took lessons with Walter Hoffman who yelled at me for making a rather sharp correction

close to the ground on the final approach.

I didn't realize then how dangerous that could be when flying close to the ground & close to the stalling speed.”

According to Mike Machat, Zahns' “old T-hangars became stand-ins for Roosevelt Field

during filming of the 1957 aviation classic 'The Spirit of St. Louis' starring Jimmy Stewart as Charles Lindbergh.

Growing up on Long Island in the 1950s & 1960s, Zahn's Airport was Mecca for General Aviation.”

Zahn's was depicted on the 1958 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Norman Freed)

as having a 4,200' paved runway.

A circa 1950s-63 photo of John Fuchs in a National Guard L-17 Navion at Zahn's Airport (courtesy of William Fuchs).

According to William Fuchs, “My father, Major John Fuchs was the Commander of Army National Guard 42^nd Infantry Division

air operations at Zahns during the 1950's until his retirement in April 1963.

Most of the aircraft were L-19 Bird Dogs; 1 or 2 L-20 Beavers & an L-17 Navion.

I made a few trips there [in] 1958-60. I remember 2 rows facing each other (6-8 aircraft in a row),

running from a open area in front of the hangar to a gate that opened on to the taxiway on the west side of the north-south runway.

The facility was on the west side of the airport diagonally across from the Nike missile battery.”

An undated (circa 1950s-60s?) photo from the cover of a French aviation magazine,

showing Ed Ferner & a Cessna 310 in front of the Zahn's hangar.

A circa late 1950s aerial view looking southeast at Zahn's Airport (courtesy of Carolyn Agenjo),

showing 5 large hangars & a large number of general aviation aircraft.

According to William Fuchs, “The hangar in the background at the top right center is the Army facility.

There are at least 6 L-19s parked wingtip to wingtip between the hangar & the runway.”

A 1960 photo of 3 Piper Cubs (with 2 on skis) in front of the Zahn-Hoffman-Looney Flying Service hangar.

Zahn's was listed among active airports in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory,

with 2 asphalt runways (4,200' & 3,000' long),

and the operators listed as Amityville Flying Service & Uyldert Flying Service.

The Piper Cubs of Amityville Flying Service were known to their students as the "Amityville Horrors"!

Banner towing flights were conducted from Zanh's, using J-3 Cubs.

A 1963 photo by Steve Dobin (courtesy of Chris Bobka) of Chris's “1961 Cessna 150A N7051X at Zahn's Airport.

It was a school ship at Sig Uyldert flying school. It spent about 10 years at Zahn's.”

A circa 1960s cover of an Aurora plastic model of the Aero Commander featured the Zahn's hangar in the background.

Mike Machat observed, "This scene is dead accurate. Those aircraft were actually based there & the local gas service was indeed Gulf for as long as the airport existed.

The green & black Aero Commander 560F shown in the foreground belonged to a very cool guy named Stan.

His hangar was located directly across the field from the flight school & he used the plane for private charter & aerial ambulance work.

Sometimes Stan would jump into the cab of the gas truck during the fueling of his plane & floor the engine to expedite fuel flow

while rushing to launch for yet another emergency aeromedical mission.

His high-speed low passes before entering the landing pattern were legendary & it was easy to see why he was known around the airport as the 'Ace of the base'.”

An undated (circa 1960s?) photo of a Navy SH-3 Sea King helicopter visiting Zahn's (for what purpose?).

Mike Machat recalled of Zahn's Airport, “I worked there as a Line Boy & then took lessons before enlisting in the Air Force in 1967.

To this day, people don't believe me when I say I soloed in a hand-propped 1947 Piper J-3 Cub, or flew over downtown Manhattan VFR in a Cherokee.”

A January 1967 aerial view by Daniel Levy (courtesy of Mike Mchat) looking south at Zahn's Airport on crosswind leg after takeoff.

An April 1967 photo by Andrew Bonime (courtesy of Mike Machat) of a Piper Cherokee 180C N8496W in front of classic Zahn's Airport hangar.

John Biggers recalled, “I was a student pilot in 1969 at Amityville Flying Service

and soloed in J-3 N70581 in November 1969.

I thought I was taking off in a jet fighter! ...the acceleration was exhilarating!

This flight was the ONLY one in my 18,000-hour career where I lost an engine.

I was so enamored by the fact that I was soloing that I forgot carb heat... and it was a cold day in November.

I took my private pilot written test at the FSDO at Zahns in 1970

and took my private check ride with Ed Lyons in August 1970 in a PA-28-140 N6749J.

I remember Dan Foote behind the desk... 'Zahn's landing North; Left-hand traffic.'

Zahns was the ONLY airport in the country that was a controlled on weekends using a light gun only

from a trailer towed to the approach end of the runway.”

Lonnie McLaughlin recalled, "Just before I bought my TriPacer in 1970,

I went to Zahn's to get checked out & get some familiarization flights in their PA-22-108 Colt

(Like a TriPacer but with only front seats).

At that time the local FAA GADO was still there.

The North/South runway had the beach at the South end & a row of T hangars at the North end.

The wind was almost always off the water all summer.

If you landed to the South (over the T-hangars) and came in too low,

they could plant you right where you crashed as there was a cemetery between the T-hangars & the railroad tracks.

Although the East/West runway was almost never used due to its shorter length & obstructions,

I logged over an hour of 90 degree crosswind take offs & landings on it that June."

Ray Jacobelli recalled, "I learned to fly with Amityville flying service between 1970-73;

my 1^st flight was in a Piper PA -28 Cherokee 180.

The east/west runway was used as often as the wind changed from the prevailing to east/west.

There was a slight dip in the east/west runway & I remember flying solo in a PA-28A 140 -

the dip occurred roughly at the rotation point of the take roll - you were airborne with little to no effort.

There were telephone lines on the approach to east runway -

same thing at the south runway approach over the T-hangars at the north end of the property.

When taking off north (from the south end of field) it was difficult to see traffic on final due to tree & houses.

Parked in a grass tie down area were a collection of Luscombes, Talyorcrafts, Ercoupes,

an old rotting away Fairchild PT-26, and later day C-150s.

I took my ground school in classrooms in the large hangar at the east end of the field - taught by Dan Foote."

Thomas Lembessis recalled, "I learned to fly at Zahn's in 1972.

There was no other airport like it.

If they were around today, I would have definitely based my plane there.

They weren't the newest. Their facilities were a shambles.

But these people knew how to fly, unlike anyone else.

In cleaning out my house recently, I came across a photo of N4372J,

a Cherokee 140 owned by Zahns, in which I flew my first solo flight in. What a memory!"

An August 1975 photo by Mike Machat of a Amityville Flying Service Piper J-3 Cub N2038M preparing to taxi out for takeoff at Zahn's Airport.

A 1978 aerial view showing the huge number of general aviation aircraft based at Zahn's Airport.

An October 1978 photo by Dave Welch of a Piper J3C-65 Cub at Zahn's Airport.

Dave recalled, “I used to rent it at $9/hour! Free pick up & drop off at the train station included!”

The 1979 USGS topo map depicted Zahn's as having 2 runways.

A circa 1978-79 aerial view by Gary Agranat of a hangar at Zahn's.

A circa 1978-79 photo by Gary Agranta of Ercoupes in front of a hangar at Zahn's.

According to Gary Agranet, Ed Lyons owned the field & also ran Amittyville Flying Service.

In Gary's words, "My first flight lesson started here.

One day I just walked in to that shack on the right.

I told the man behind the desk that I wanted to take flying lessons.

He had me fill out some paperwork. And then off I went.

I continued to take lessons here for almost a year.

The type of aircraft I flew was the Piper Cherokee 140.

The 140 was nothing fancy. But it was rugged.

The school also had Cherokee 180's & Piper Cubs, but I didn't get the chance to fly those."

Gary continued, "Zahns was a small uncontrolled airport with its own unique character.

It was home to lots of small airplanes, old hangar, and tall grass.

The field was quiet, but not too quiet.

It was located on Long Island about 40 miles east of downtown New York City.

It was far enough from the city that you didn't have to compete with the city commercial air traffic.

But it was still close enough to get enough air traffic to keep you alert."

Gary continued, "The runway pattern was shaped like a 'T'.

Most of the time I used the longer north/south runway.

The shorter east/west runway ran along the north side of the field.

Just to the north of that was a line of small hangars.

And beyond that was a mainline track of the Long Island Railroad.

Both runways seemed to have potholes from years of 'wear & tear',

but the east/west runway seemed to me to have more.

I only used that short runway once, when there was a strong westerly wind blowing right down it.

I don't know which scared me more,

that strong gusty wind or that very short runway with its potholes & the hangars so close!"

Gary continued, "At Zahns you still did have to be aware of traffic.

Just within a mile to the north was Republic Airport in Farmingdale.

It had a control tower, jet traffic & an ILS instrument approach.

Zahns' airport traffic pattern fit just between the approaches to Republic's runways 1 & 32.

And above 3,000' overhead was the outer ring of the terminal control area for JFK International.

You learned the controlled airspace demarcations & prominent landmarks very quickly.

Unfortunately, Zahns closed about a year after I started flying."

Zahn's was still depicted as an active airfield on the 1979 NY TCA chart (courtesy of Bill Suffa).

It was depicted as having 2 paved runways,

with the longest being the 4,200' north/south runway.

An undated photo at Zahns Airport (courtesy of Steve Moddle), which Steve Moddle observes is of “Walt Moddle (my son), ?, ?, Jim Bohlebor & Bob Havecker

after delivering the last of the J3 Cubs before the airport closed, with the PA24.”

An undated photo of the "Whitney Hangar", which was built to house the DC-3 of John Hay Whitney.

There were office/shop areas along both the north & south wall; hence, the windows were up high.

A 4/30/80 photo of the last plane to leave Zahn's Airport. The field was closed at sunset.

Zahn's was bought by the town in 1980 & turned into an industrial park.

A 1980 aerial view showed that the runway pavement & all of the hangars had been removed,

but the outlines of both former runways were still apparent.

The June 1982 NY Terminal Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mitchell Hymowitz)

depicted Zahns as an abandoned airfield.

A 4/8/94 USGS aerial photo showed that not a trace remained of the field.

A 5/4/09 aerial photo showed no obvious trace remaining of Zahn's Airport.

A 12/24/09 photo of a curious remnant of Zahn's Airport:

a shed located in Farmingdale (possibly relocated from the airport site?) bearing a sign for Sig Uyldert Flying School.

A September 2010 aerial photo of what appears to be the last remnant at the site of Zahn's Airport –

the rutted pavement which appears to be the foundation of the National Guard hangar on the west side of Zahn's Airport.

John LeVasseur reported, “I discovered what appears to be a remnant of Zahn's contained within the industrial park now located there.

I decided to go there & see if what I saw on the image was actually something left of the old airport.

I was able to find some post holes, foundation footings which match fairly well to your image [of the National Guard hangar].

I also found a brass metal strip sticking out of the ground.

I pulled it out & it was embossed with the phrase, 'Property of the U.S. DOD', so I suspect this may be the area of the National Guard hangar.

I did a little digging with the town & discovered there was a small parcel of land on the site that the town could not purchase due to the fact it was owned by the US Department of Defense.

I suspect it was sold by Zahn's for use for the National Guard area within Zahn's.

Incidentally, this spot is quite far from the only other US military sites in the area, the former Nike base located about 1 mile southwest of this parcel and across the road.”

A 2012 photo by Mike Machat of a restored Zahn's Airport Mobile Tower, seen at the American Airpower Museum on Republic Field in Farmingdale.

Thanks to Brett for pointing out this airfield.