Aircraft
When the first commercial airline began operating in Florida in 1914, the world, in effect, became smaller. With air transportation, people could cross vast distances in a relatively short amount of time. In 1927, the airport in Big Flats, known today as the Elmira Corning Regional Airport, was established. Over the years, dozens of airlines have connected the people of Chemung County to the rest of the world. Aircraft industries have also brought economic opportunities. Locally, Willys-Morrow Co., Bendix Aviation Corporation, Schweizer Aircraft Corporation, and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation have manufactured aircraft, airplane engines, and components.
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Willys-Morrow Co. employees work on Curtiss OX-5 engine, 1918
Willys-Morrow Co., maker of automotive parts, got into the aviation business during World War I. It manufactured 7,500 Curtiss OX-5 airplane engines for use in the Curtiss Jenny and other small military airplanes.
Caton Avenue Airport, 1920s
The Caton Avenue Airport was established in 1927 on 87 acres of farmland in Southport. It operated until 1934.
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Chemung County Airport, 1970s
The Chemung County Airport began in 1927 as an emergency landing strip for American Airways. It expanded in the 1960s with a new terminal and longer runways. In 1983, its name was changed to the Elmira Corning Regional Airport.
Gliders on Harris Hill, c. 1970s
Harris Hill became the site of international soaring meets starting in the 1930s and Elmira became known as the Soaring Capital of America. While gliders today are used primarily for recreation, the motorless aircraft were used to transport supplies and troops during World War II.
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First helicopter manufactured by Schweizer Aircraft Corporation, 1986
The Schweizer Aircraft Corporation began making sailplanes in the 1930s. It later manufactured small helicopters and light aircraft. Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation bought the company in 2004 and operated in Big Flats until 2012.