Aviation

Big Flats is a center for aviation in the region. In 1927, American Airways leased 100 acres of farmland to use as an emergency airfield. By the 1930s, the runways were being used daily by express and passenger airlines. Today, the Elmira Corning Regional Airport covers thousands of acres and offers daily flights by three national carriers. Since the 1930s, Harris Hill has been the site of the National Soaring Contests, earning it the title of the Soaring Capital of America. Big Flats was also home to the Schweizer Aircraft Corporation. The company started making sailplanes in the 1930s and later expanded to small helicopters and light aircraft.

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Big Flats

View of the airport in 1945 During World War II, the Department of Defense commandeered the airport for military use. After the war, Chemung County purchased the airfield and built three hard-surface runways, several taxi lanes, and guide lights. Image courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.
Sailplane over Harris Hill, c. 1940s The art of thermal soaring, or using masses of ascending warm air to gain altitude, was first developed at Harris Hill. Image courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society
Schweizer Helicopter, 1986 In the mid-1980s, Schweizer Aircraft Corporation stopped making sailplanes and turned its attention to helicopters and small powered planes. Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation acquired the company in 2004 and closed the Big Flats plant in 2012.

Aviation

View of the airport in 1945

During World War II, the Department of Defense commandeered the airport for military use. After the war, Chemung County purchased the airfield and built three hard-surface runways, several taxi lanes, and guide lights. Image courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society.

Sailplane over Harris Hill, c. 1940s

The art of thermal soaring, or using masses of ascending warm air to gain altitude, was first developed at Harris Hill. Image courtesy of the Big Flats Historical Society

Schweizer Helicopter, 1986

In the mid-1980s, Schweizer Aircraft Corporation stopped making sailplanes and turned its attention to helicopters and small powered planes. Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation acquired the company in 2004 and closed the Big Flats plant in 2012.