On June 8, 1962, the West Schuylkill Herald reported on a new airstrip located in Clarks Valley just outside Tower City, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.
Pictured above is the Aeronca 7 AC Champ owned by Gene Bendigo, Tower City, RD. It is equipped with a Continental 4-cylinder 65 h.p. engine.
The headline and article:
LOCAL AIR STRIP LISTED ON AIR MAPS; 1600 FOOT RUNWAY
Tower City has found itself on the air-map again, not because of a vast Spending program, but because several local citizens took the time and effort to learn that an inexpensive airport is possible.
It all started last summer when Clinton Kessler and Gene Bendigo were loaned a large dozer and operator from the excavating contractor relocating route 325 in Clarks Valley. After considerable dozing, grading, rolling, seeding, a strip 1600 feet by 100 feet was selected and recently approved by the Pennsylvania Aeronautics Commission as a personal use airport. The strip is plainly marked with bright yellow cans and orange wind-sock. From the air it looks like an ideal airstrip with clear approaches on either end.
Mr. Bendigo found a group of air enthusiasts. William Pickalavage, Wayne Mace, and Fred Heimbach of Williamstown who helped restore an unused building into a useable hangar with the plan being that others would be added as needed. One corner of the hangar is marked with an air map and proudly displays the newly acquired airport license. Eventually gas service may be added. Already there is a discussion of adding another 600 feet to qualify as a commercial airport and a lighting system to operate at night.
Shortly after the strip was tentatively approved in early spring, Mr. Bendigo purchased an Aeronca 7 AC trainer. Recently Jay Seiler, Tower City, purchased an all-metal Luscombe which he uses to commute between home and Washington, D. C., where he is employed as an Airline captain with eastern Airlines.
Almost immediately , as operations began, old and new prospective pilots showed up around the airport expressing their interest in aviation, which is on the upswing. Mark Minnich, Tower City RD, has spent several hours in the air and is already becoming adapted to basic flying. He and Mr. Bendigo have made several good-will flights to nearby airports.
Robert Tallman, Tower City RD who operates his own private airport has flown in with his Super Cub to welcome the new plane owners and relate some of his own flying experiences. Other flying visitors were Mr. Mentnor of the Pennsylvania Aeronautics Commission and Paul Lesher who operates the Airport near Elizabethvile.
Efforts are being made to provide low cost flight instruction by starting a flying club with ten to fifteen men. To be eligible for flight instruction you must be over 16 years of age and pass a prescribed physical examination. Good used trainers can still be purchased in the $1000 to $1500 range and if you maintain an aircraft in good condition you can very often sell it for just as much as you paid for it. Many aircraft go from year to year with very little or no depreciation. Airplane buying is fortunately much different than automobile buying. In one respect if the airplane looks as it if it is clean and in good condition, it very likely is in good condition because airplanes are required to have annual inspections by certified FAA representatives and are required by law to log every minute of engine use and aircraft operations and all maintenance performed, including the changing of oil.
The Tower City Air Strip could be developed to provide the missing link between the community and the outside world bringing them with minutes, not hours. In the meantime it is an informal meeting place for local pilots and prospective pilots are to congregate around that wonderful world of “Flying.”
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Article from Newspapers.com.
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