Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
North-Central Pennsylvania
© 2002, © 2010 by Paul Freeman. Revised 5/8/10.
Hyner Field (revised 3/2/08) - State College Air Depot (1st location) (added 3/31/09) - State College Air Depot (2nd location) (revised 7/13/09)
Stultz Field / Peterson Memorial (1st location) (revised 5/8/10)
Tyrone Airport / Peterson Memorial (2nd location) (revised 2/7/10)
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41.32 North / 77.64 West (Northwest of Harrisburg, PA)
The earliest depiction which has been located of the Hyner Landing Field
was an October 2, 1938 aerial photo.
According to Bob Beck, “I found a local historian who provided some information about Hyner Flying Field.
I was told it operated in the 1920's to 1930's & was used as an alternate mail route airport.
There were 2 airports (one in South Renovo, now the site of the Renovo Medical Center, and the one at Hyner).
There was a flying club that administered both fields, led by Paul Maxwell.
The field at Hyner had a T-hangar & clubhouse at the North end.
The field was also used by the Civilian Conservation Corps
and was used to fly emergency supplies to the area during the flood of 1936.”
Hyner Field was evidently somewhat obscure, though,
as it was not listed or depicted at all in the 1929 Rand McNally Air Trails Map,
The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airport Directory,
the 1934 Department of Commerce Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy),
The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airport Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo),
the August 1938 NY Sectional Chart, or subsequent aeronautical charts(according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction which has been located of the Hyner Landing Field was an October 2, 1938 aerial photo.
It depicted the field as an open north/south grass area
which curves to follow the shoreline of the adjacent Susquehanna River,
along with the T-hangar at the north end.
According to Bob Beck, “After Paul Maxwell was killed,
it seems the local interest in aviation died with him & both fields fell into disuse.”
Hyner Field was not depicted among active airfields in the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock).
A May 25, 1959 aerial photo of Hyner Landing Field did not appear to show any evident signs of current use.
It depicted the field as an open north/south grass area
which curves to follow the shoreline of the adjacent Susquehanna River,
with the T-hangar still visible.
A July 7, 1968 aerial photo of Hyner Landing Field did not appear to show any evident signs of current use.
It depicted the field as an open north/south grass area
which curves to follow the shoreline of the adjacent Susquehanna River.
The only map depiction of Hyner Field which has been located
was on the 1986 USGS topo map.
It depicted “Hyner Landing Field” as consisting of a single 1,600' grass runway,
which curves to follow the shoreline of the adjacent Susquehanna River.
In the 1994 USGS aerial photo, the open area of the grass runway was still very recognizable.
A 2005 aerial view by Bob Beck looking south at Hyner Field.
Bob reported in 2005 that Hyner is “Now used as landing field for hang gliders flying from Hyner View State Park scenic overlook.”
A 2005 aerial view by Bob Beck looking southwest at Hyner Field.
A 2005 photo by Bob Beck of “all that remains of the T-hangar & clubhouse.
This is the tail section of the Tee & the back wall of the left wing section.
The roof & walls are there but are settling into the ground with grass/weeds already growing on the remains.
The rusted wind sock frame is gone.”
A circa 2005 aerial view looking southeast at the Hyner Field runway.
Hyner Field is located on the east side of Route 120, just south of the Susquehanna River.
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Stultz Field / Peterson Memorial Airfield (1st location), Tipton, PA
40.64 North / 78.29 West (East of Pittsburgh, PA)
"Stultz Field", as depicted in the 1929 Rand McNally "Standard Indexed Map With Air Trails" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
According to Tom Beamer, "Peterson Memorial was originally Stultz Field,
operated by Wilmer Stultz - Amelia Earhart's pilot on her Trans Atlantic passenger flight/ride."
The date of construction of Stultz Field has not been determined.
The earliest reference to the field which has been located
was in the 1929 Rand McNally "Standard Indexed Map With Air Trails" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described "Stultz Field" as being operated by the Altoona Aircraft Corporation,
measuring 2,000' x 1,400', and having a beacon light.
The 1934 Department of Commerce Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy)
described Stultz Field as having a 2,300' x 1,800' sod rectangular landing area,
and a hangar was said to have "Altoona-Tyrone" painted on the roof.
The Airport Directory Company's 1938 Airports Directory (according to Chris Kennedy)
described Stultz Field as having a 2,140' x 1,100' "Entire field available" landing area.
A November 11, 1938 aerial view depicted Stultz Field as consisting of an open grass area,
with a single hangar on the southeast side, near which were visible 2 light aircraft.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Stultz Field
was on the March 1940 Cleveland Sectional Chart (courtesy of Richard Finley).
Mark Rutter recalled of Stultz Field, “My father Clair Rutter worked at the original airfield from 1942-60 as chief mechanic,
as well as instructor & charter pilot.”
The 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock) described Stultz Field
as a 95 acre rectangular property within which was a sod all-way landing field, measuring 2,300' ENE/WSW by 1,800' Nne/SSW.
The field was said to have a single 100' x 50' wooden hangar,
and to be owned & operated by private interests.
The January 1949 Cleveland Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Stultz Field as having a 3,000' unpaved runway.
A 1950 aerial view by Don Struke looking west at Stultz Field.
A 1950 photo by Marian Wills (courtesy of Don Struke) of a Grumman Goose at Stultz Field.
Don noted, “On the nose it says 'British American Oil Company Limited, Toronto, Canada'.
I see Mr. Peterson was a little behind in his mowing.”
A 1950 photo by Marian Wills (courtesy of Don Struke) of Jerry Struke pretending to climb in a Fairchild PT-19 at Stultz Field.
Paul Peterson Jr, the son of the owner of Stultz Field,
was killed at the airport on March 18, 1951, while hand-propping a Waco.
The airfield was renamed Peterson Memorial in his honor.
Don Struke, “Paul Peterson was 21 when he was killed
and I think he slipped on frozen ground or ice while propping the Waco.
I flew in that plane a few years earlier as a delighted passenger.”
A 1951 photo by Don Struke of a Waco being hand-propped
in front of the hangar which had been newly painted with the field's new name of “Paul Peterson Memorial Field”.
A July 13, 1952 photo by Don Struke of the memorial at Peterson Field to Paul Peterson Jr.
The 1953 Flight Chart (courtesy of Scott O'Donnell)
depicted Peterson as a commercial airport with a 2,500' unpaved runway.
The 1957 PA Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)
described Peterson Memorial Field as having 3 turf runways,
with the longest being the 2,700' east/west strip.
The operator was listed as Altoona Aviation Corporation,
and the manager was listed as Paul Peterson.
John Hockenbury recalled, "I had my first ride at age 6 in a Super Cruiser out of the old Tipton airport.
It was a grass strip then, but pretty active."
A May 26, 1958 aerial view of Peterson Field (from Penn Pilot)
showed the field to consist of an open grass area, with several hangars along the southeast side.
Peterson Field was still depicted on the 1960 Cleveland Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)
as having a 2,500' unpaved runway.
A 1961 photo of Don Struke in front of his Piper Cub at Stultz Field.
Since I first sent the J-3 picture, I found my first log book, and its first two pages are attached in the second photo. I think the fourth instructor signature is Paul Peterson Senior's.
What's more, I ran my 1968 Corvette (an SCCA big block A Production race car) on the Peterson drag strip, probably around 1972.
Don Struke recalled of Stultz Field: “The grass strip where I learned to fly in the 1960s.
It was named for Wilmer Stultz.
Not only was he the driver the first time Amelia Earhart flew the Atlantic,
but he worked in the Pennsylvania Railroad shops in Altoona.
I do not know if it was named because Stultz owned the field or to honor him,
and it runs in my mind that Paul Peterson Sr., or Old Man Peterson as we called him,
was old enough back in the 1950s & 1960s to have been a contemporary of Stultz
and may have been the one who named the airfield Stultz Field.”
Don continued, “Mr. Peterson had air shows fairly regularly
(I met my first wife there when she & a girlfriend came to a show
and I was helping to taxi Peterson's various aircraft out of the way to make more room for the crowd to park).”
Don continued, “One final approach was down across the considerable mountain east of the highway & over a small cemetery,
where a friend managed to land after forgetting to pull on carb heat & he tried to go around. Bad idea.
The strip was far from level, generally speaking,
and one nice day a USAF student on a cross-country thought he'd drop in - unofficially - to say 'hi' to his folks.
Another bad idea, because his AT-6 ended up on its back,
the neophyte aeronaut done in by the rolling nature of the terrain.
His only injury was a cut or two when he egressed (as they say) though the shattered canopy.”
Don continued, “I remember there was a Staggerwing Beech based there
and a wrecked BT-13 was perpetually parked beside one of the buildings.
My friend Roger & I were rummaging around in the loft of the hangar with no door windows
and we found some old Wilmer Stultz-era sheepskin lined leather flying suits.
We had this idea to go over to Pittsburgh Airport some rainy, foggy night
and come wandering out of the night into the terminal lights, dragging 2 opened chutes like a couple of Twilight Zone wanderers.
We never did.
Today, of course, our first & only thought would be let's put that stuff on eBay.”
The 1963 AOPA Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy)
described Peterson Memorial as having a single 2,700' sod Runway 9/27.
The original Peterson Airfield may have gained a paved runway at some point between 1963-65,
as the 1965 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the field as having a single 3,050' paved Runway 9/27,
with a taxiway leading to a ramp on the southeast side of the field with a few small buildings.
The manager was listed as Paul Peterson.
The last depiction which has been located of Peterson as an active airfield
was on the May 1965 Cleveland Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy.
It depicted Peterson Memorial as having a single 3,000' paved runway.
The original Peterson Airfield was evidently closed at some point between 1965-67,
and a new Peterson Memorial Airfield was constructed on the site of the former Tyrone Airport,
just across Clearfield Avenue to the west.
Only the new Peterson Memorial Airfield was listed among active airfields
in the 1967 AOPA Airpor Directory (according to Chris Kennedy).
Scott Stevens recalled that the site of the original Peterson Airfield
“has been the site of a PPG factory since I was a little kid, before 1965.
My father tells me this was the original Peterson field & the site where [Peterson's] son was killed.”
A September 4, 1967 aerial view of the site of the original Peterson Airfield
shows that the site had already been reused as the location of the PPG factory,
but the majority of the length of the former runway remained intact,
along with at least some of the former airport buildings (on the southeast side of the field).
In the 1993 USGS aerial photo, the outline of most of the former runway was still recognizable,
running east/west just north of the PPG plant which took over the southern portion of the airport site.
It appears as if none of the airfield buildings remain,
as the factory occupies their former location.
However, a memorial to Paul Peterson's son remains at the site,
in the dark-colored stand of trees in in between the road & the light-colored rectangle just east of the factory.
A circa 2007 aerial view looking south at the concrete floor of the former Peterson Memorial Airport hangar.
Michael Eye reported in 2009, “I grew up across the road from the PPG building which occupies the former Stultz field site.
The original hangar floor, directly beside Route 220 was a area to play basketball provided by the PPG Corporation.
The basketball hoop is now gone but the hangar floor is still present with the notches where the doors slid.”
The site of the original Peterson Memorial Airfield is located east of the intersection of Clearfield Avenue & Spruce Street.
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Tyrone Airport / Peterson Memorial Airfield (2nd location), Tipton, PA
40.63 North / 78.3 West (East of Pittsburgh, PA)
An undated (circa 1923-29) aerial photo from a postcard depicting the Altoona Speedway.
Ironically, this property went from being an oval racetrack, to an airport, and then to a dragstrip,
before finally becoming an industrial park.
This property just across Clearfield Avenue to the west from Stulz Field
was the location of the Altoona Speedway starting in 1923.
The track was made of yellow pine 2x4's laid up on edge.
It was 60 feet wide & 1.25 miles long.
A total of 3 racers lost their lives during the speedway's existence.
The highest speed ever recorded there was 139 mph by Leon Duray, on a test run in 1926.
The Altoona Speedway operated until it was forced to close in 1929, with the start of the Depression.
A November 11, 1938 aerial view did not yet depict any recognizable aviation use of the Altoona Speedway property.
Tyone Airport was established on the site of the abandoned speedway at some point between 1941-49.
The earliest depiction of Tyrone Airport which has been located
was on the January 1949 Cleveland Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted “Tyrone” Airport as being located directly on top of an oval racetrack,
and described the field as having a 2,300' unpaved runway (which could have fit within the center of the racetrack).
Tyrone Airport was depicted on the 1953 Flight Chart (courtesy of Scott O'Donnell)
as having a 2,200' unpaved runway.
The last depiction which has been located of Tyrone Airport as an active airfield
was on the January 1955 Cleveland Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The Tyrone Airport was evidently closed at some point in 1955,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the December 1955 Cleveland Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
A May 26, 1958 aerial view of the abandoned Tyrone Airport (from Penn Pilot)
showed the outline of 2 former grass runways along with the oval outline of the former racetrack.
Note that the north/south runway appeared to extend beyond the outline of the racetrack to the south.
It is not known if the building on the southwest corner of the site was related to the airport or the racetrack.
At some point between 1965-67, this airfield was evidently reopened as the new Peterson Memorial Airfield,
replacing the original Peterson Airfield just across Clearfield Avenue to the east.
The earliest reference which has been located to the second location of the Peterson Memorial Airfield
was in the 1967 AOPA Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy).
It described Peterson as having a single 5,000' bituminous Runway 8/26.
A September 4, 1967 aerial view of the new Peterson Memorial Airfield
showed the facility shortly after the construction of the new paved runway,
with a hangar on the south side of the property.
Note the oval outline which remained of the 1920s-era Altoona Speedway.
The May 1968 Cleveland Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the Peterson Memorial Airport as having a single 5,000' paved runway,
right on top of the symbol for the oval racetrack.
The 1969 PA Aeronautical Chart (according to Tom Beamer)
described Peterson as having a 5,000' runway.
Erik Wagner recalled, "Peterson was an enigma to me - a 5,000' private use airport.”
Tom Beamer recalled, "I landed there in Beech E-18S N548MC on 10/7/70,
landed to the southwest & recall the runway wasn't in the best of shape in the touchdown zone
and may have had cones on potholes.
Paul Peterson was a CHARACTER.
I listened to his stories for an afternoon.
He claimed to know, and/or taught to fly, many famous people.
While the details are vague now I must admit his sweeping story telling, and name dropping,
left me dazed while I attempted judge the validity & listen.
My recollection is that Goldwater, JFK, Mike Todd, etc were mentioned -
it was an interesting afternoon.
[The airport's name] Memorial came from Paul's son,
[who] died from a prop strike while propping a Waco UPF-7."
Richard Finley recalled, “I met Paul Peterson in 1970. He was indeed a character.
He told me he was one of the first airline pilots. He told me about his son.
He told me how he ran the drag strip himself. He said some people took advantage of hes hearing loss.
He said 2 guys got into the back of his car when he was not looking & stole the gate receipts one day. He got a dog & cured that problem.”
Richard continued, “Yes there were cones near the east end of the runway.
Here is the story of those cones: I landed there to visit a friend who lived in Bellwood, PA in 1970.
There was a Navy S-2 Tracker parked beside the taxiway leading to the main ramp. It was listing to one side.
The next time I went in there, I mentioned it to Mr. Peterson.
He said a local man had become a Navy pilot & wanted to fly one of the squadron planes back to visit his family.
Mr. Peterson said he told the gentleman not to land at Peterson Memorial because the pavement was not built to handle the weight of an S-2.
The guy landed there anyway. On landing, they blew one of the tires.
Mr. Peterson told them not to bring the parts and repair crew in on another S-2 but they did anyway.
Peterson told them to fix their airplane then get out & don"t come back.
They fixed the flat & the first plane departed.
When the second tried to spin around in position at the end of the runway, his right main broke through the pavement and sunk into the earth below.
They had to jack it up to get it out of there.
OK, now he has a damaged runway. How do you fix it?
Mr. Peterson painted a displaced threshold on the runway.
He put up some cones & stuck a short pole with a flag on it in the hole.
He then contacted Coast & Geodetic Survey & had them shorten his runway by 200 feet on the maps.”
Richard continued, “I landed there in my Cessna 150. I asked that the airplane be serviced while I was gone.
I pointed out to the kid working the line that one of the Dzus fasteners on my oil/engine access door was missing
and had been replaced temporarily by a slotted Dzus fastener with no retainer.
I warned him to be sure that one was properly seated.
My wife & I spent the day visiting & planned to depart after dark.
That was somewhat problematic since Peterson Memorial was not lighted.
I did a quick preflight & bid Mr. Peterson a good evening. We departed from the dark runway with no problem.
Upon takeoff, we encountered a problem less than a mile from the field.
There was a snap sound followed by a very loud 'ratta-ratta-ratta' sound that would rise, ebb then rise again.
This process kept repeating itself.
I could not see in the dark what was happening but I suspected that fastener on the engine access door may have something to do with it.”
Richard continued, “Peterson Memorial was unlighted. It was located in the floor of a deep valley.
There was a large water tower very close to centerline about a quarter mile from the approach end of the runway.
There were obstacles on the pavement at the approach end of the runway.
Making an night approach/landing into an airport like that is not a safe thing to do.
Flying around with an airplane that sounded like it was beating itself to death
and not knowing for sure what the problem was was not very safe either.
I decided to try a landing.
On the downwind to the west runway, there was an obstruction light at the top of the mountain where a road crested the hill.
It was a good place to turn base. I flew toward that obstruction light but kept it off my right.
I began my descent when I was abreast of the obstruction light
and descended so as to pass the water tower at an altitude slightly above the water tower and with the tower just off my right.
I turned on my landing light & soon had the end of the runway in sight.
I made sure I crossed the threshold a little high so there would be no problem with the obstacles.”
Richard continued, “My landing was successful & Mr. Peterson was still there.
I went in to complain about what his lineman had done. He & I went out into his hangar.
He emptied out a coffee can full of junk/spare hardware. We found a Dzus fastener like the one I had been using.
Mr. Peterson never apologized for what his employee had done & he charged me fifty cents for the fastener.
I never met him again after that. He was a man with many rough characteristics.
He was still one of those people I will never forget & I am glad I had the opportunity to engage with him.”
The 1971 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted Peterson Memorial as having a single 4,810' paved Runway 8/26,
with a taxiway leading to a ramp on the south side of the field, with 3 buildings.
The field was also described as conducting drag racing.
Don Struke recalled, “I ran my 1968 Corvette (an SCCA big block A Production race car) on the Peterson drag strip, probably around 1972.”
According to Tom Beamer, the 1974 PA Aeronautical Chart depicted it as P.E. Peterson Memorial.
Peterson Memorial Field was described by the 1975 SkyCharts Enroute Atlas (according to Timothy Aanerud)
as having a single 4,800' hard-surface runway 8/26.
It indicated that the field was attended until dusk,
but that drag racing was conducted on Sundays.
The last chart depiction which has been located of Peterson Memorial as an active airfield
was on the December 1976 CF-18 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Peterson as having a single 4,700' paved runway.
Peterson Memorial Airfield may have been closed at some point in 1976,
as is was not depicted at all on the 1976 PA Aeronautical Chart (according to Tom Beamer).
Scott Stevens recalled, “I grew up in the nearby community of Tyrone.
I spent many nights creeping into the site back in the mid 1980s.
There was indeed drag racing that went on after the field closed.
In fact on one of my trips I discovered a small building with the remnants of 2 turnstiles
that may have been used to charge admission to the races.
There were also the remains of some wooden bleachers.
I was told by my family that before it was an airstrip it was a dirt banked race track.
The tale told in my family is this was how my grandfather squandered the family fortune
as the race track was his & he opened it during the depression.
I never noticed the remnants of the racetrack when I was a teen
but then at 1.5 miles in diameter it would be hard to see at ground level.”
A 1985 photo by Scott Stevens of the main hangar, with the lettering still clearly reading “Peterson Memorial Airfield”.
Scott recalled, “The hangar was still intact although the doors were rusted in place.”
A 1985 photo by Scott Stevens of the smaller hangar at Peterson, which was “full of old tires (auto not aircraft).”
A 1985 photo by Scott Stevens “of one of the fuel lines still attached to the take-up wheel & just kind laying on the ground,
almost as if waiting for a Cessna or Beech to come rolling over to be refueled.”
A 1985 photo by Scott Stevens looking along Peterson's abandoned Runway 26,
with “the large X painted on the runway right in front of my all-seeing teenage eyes.
But as narrow & faded as it looks I would imagine hat would be hard to see from any great distance.
The northern end was usually flooded due to a beaver dam between the airport & the railroad tracks.
To the right of the runway are 2 buildings.
On close examination one appeared to be some sort of concession stand & the other a bathroom.
The building with the turnstiles was even farther to the right, in the overgrown section amongst the trees.”
In the 1993 USGS aerial photo, it can be seen that most of the length of the former runway still existed,
having been reused as a street, Park Avenue.
Several buildings had been constructed on either side of the former runway.
A new road, Holiday Parkway, had been built crossing over the center of the former runway.
It appeared as if the former main hangar still remained standing (just west of Holiday Parkway on the southern edge of the field),
while the smaller hangar appears to have already been removed (there is a rectangular patch of ground at its location,
but the building appears to have been removed).
Amazingly, most of the oval outline of the racetrack which predated the airfield was also still recognizable,
on the eastern side of the site.
USGS topo map 1995.
A 2003 aerial view by Paul Freeman looking southwest at the runway of the former Peterson Airfield.
The entire length of the runway still existed & was quite recognizable from the air,
complete with circular turn-around pads at both ends of the former runway.
A recent (2000-2005?) aerial view looking southeast at the former Peterson Airfield.
It appeared as if the former main hangar still remained standing (at the top-center of the photo).
As of 2005, the site of the former airport was known as the Ardie J. Dillen Industrial Park,
and it was being offered for sale by the Altoona Blair Development Corporation.
A circa 2007 aerial view looking west at the former hangar which remains standing at the site of the 2nd Peterson Memorial Airport.
A circa 2007 aerial view looking east at the end of the former runway at the site of the 2nd Peterson Memorial Airport.
The site of the second location of Peterson Memorial Airfield
is located north of the intersection of River Road & Holiday Parkway.
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State College Air Depot (1st location), Boalsburg, PA
40.79 North / 77.78 West (Northwest of Harrisburg, PA)
An undated aerial view looking northwest at the original State College Air Deport,
from The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airport Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).
The date of construction of the State College Air Depot has not been determined.
It may have been established at some point between 1933-34,
as no airfield at this location was listed in The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest reference to the State College Air Depot which has been located
was in the September 1, 1934 Department of Commerce Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy).
It described the State College Air Depot as having 2 sod runways in a "T" shape,
with the longest being a 2,100' east/west strip.
The earliest photo which has been located of the State College Air Depot
was an undated aerial view in The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airport Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).
It described State College as a commercial airfield,
consisting of a 45 acre property having 3 sod runways, with the longest being the 2,200' north/south strip.
A single hangar was pictured on the west side of the field.
According to Rodney Hersh, his father “learned to fly from Sherm Lutz... in the 1930s at the old Boalsburg location.”
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the State College Air Depot
was on the August 1938 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted State College as a commercial/municipal airfield.
A 1938 aerial view depicted the State College Air Depot as having a grass airfield area
with a circular airport marking in the center.
A second building had been added at some point on the west side of the field,
but it is not evident that this building was related to the airport.
Jim McCoy reported his father took flight training with Sherm Lutz in 1939-40 at the Bloalsburg airfield location.
The 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described the Air Depot as having a 1,900' runway.
The 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock) described State College Air Depot
as a 42 acre irregularly-shaped property within which were 2 sod runways, measuring 1,850' east/west & 1,700' north/south.
The field was said to have a single 46' x 36' wooden hangar,
and to be owned by private interests, and operated by State College Air Depot, Inc.
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of the original State College Air Depot
was on the November 1945 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted State College as a commercial/municipal airfield.
A new State College Air Depot had evidently been established on the southwest side of the town at some point between 1945-46,
as Sherm Lutz moved his flying service to the new airfield in 1946.
The original State College Air Depot was closed by 1949,
as only the new airfield (on the southwest side of State College) was depicted on the January 1949 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
A 1971 aerial view showed no remaining trace of the original State College Air Depot -
the site had been covered with construction for a new Route 322.
A circa 2006 aerial view showed Route 322 cutting through the center of the site of the original State College Air Depot,
photo, the outline of the former Runway 4/22 is still apparent,
although homes have been built over the 2 ends of the former runway.
Two former hangars still remain standing, though
(the long, narrow white buildings just east of the former airport entrance road at the north end of the photo).
The site of the original location of State College Air Depot is located northwest of the intersection of Route 322 & Route 45.
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State College Air Depot (2nd location) (SCE), State College, PA
40.78 North / 77.88 West (Northwest of Harrisburg, PA)
State College Air Deport,
as depicted on the January 1949 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The original location of the State College Air Depot (southeast of the town)
was replaced by a new location on the southwest side of the town.
According to Rod Hersh, “The field opened in 1946.”
Sherm Lutz moved his flying service from the earliest location of the State College Air Depot
to the new State College Air Depot (on the west side of town) in 1946.
He operated a charter service, gave flying lessons,
and cooperated with Penn State's aeronautical engineering & civilian pilot training programs.
The earliest depiction which has been located of the new airfield
was on the January 1949 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted the new State College Air Depot as having a 3,300' unpaved runway.
Local government leaders considered acquiring the facility & putting in a hard surface runway,
and All American Airlines began scheduled flights in 1949 with the legendary DC-3s.
This was the first commercial air transport in Centre County,
ushering in a new era of transportation,
overcoming for the first time the mountain barriers which had formerly rendered the region difficult to access.
The 1950 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)
depicted State College Air Depot as having a 4,300' unpaved runway.
The Borough eventually decided against buying or improving the Air Depot, however,
and All American (soon to be Allegheny Airlines) ended service in 1951.
The earliest photo which has been located of the 2nd location of the State College Air Depot
was a July 2, 1957 aerial view of the (from Penn Pilot).
It showed the field to consist of 3 grass runways with 2 rows of hangars at the north end.
The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the State College Air Depot as having 3 unpaved runways,
with the longest being the 4,250' Runway 4/22.
A small ramp on the north side of the field had several small buildings (hangars?).
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described State College Air Depot
as having 3 turf runways: 4,250' Runway 4/22, 2,000' Runway 15/33, and 1,600' Runway 9/27.
The operator was listed as State College Air Depot, Inc.
The 1967 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)
depicted State College Air Deport as having a 4,200' unpaved runway.
A circa 1970 aerial view looking north at State College Air Deport (courtesy of Rod Hersh)
depicted the field as having 3 grass runways, with a few small buildings on the northwest side of the field.
A July 3, 1971 aerial view of State College Air Depot
depicted the 3 grass runways, and the cluster of hangars at the north end of the field.
According to Rodney Hersh, “I learned to fly from Sherm Lutz in the early 1970s.
Sherm was like another member of our family when I was a kid in State College.”
By the time of the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury),
apparently the 2 shorter strips had been abandoned,
as the 4,350' turf Runway 4/22 was the sole runway listed.
The 1985 USGS topo map still depicted State College Air Depot as having 3 runways.
The 1986 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy) described State College Air Depot
as having a single 4,065' turf Runway 4/22.
The 1987 USGS topo map depicted State College Air Depot as having a single unpaved runways,
with several buildings on the north side of the field.
According to Erik Wagner, "I think I still have an approach plate for State College.
It had an instrument approach into the grass runway until the 1980s when it closed."
According to Rod Hersh, “The field closed in 1987, largely because of Sherm's advancing age.
He sold the property.”
In the 1994 USGS aerial photo, the outline of the former Runway 4/22 is still apparent,
although homes have been built over the 2 ends of the former runway.
Two former hangars still remain standing, though
(the long, narrow white buildings just east of the former airport entrance road at the north end of the photo).
Jim McCoy reported that the State College Air Depot site has now been reused for a Penn State sporting complex.
The site of the 2nd State College Air Depot is located south of the intersection of Route 26 & Airport Road.
See also:
http://centrecountyhistory.org/cc_overview4.html
http://www.libraries.psu.edu/crsweb/speccol/pshistory/083sv176..htm
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