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Early Aviation in Franklin.

A SHORT HISTORY OF AVIATION IN FRANKLIN

As written in the 1954 Franklin Junior Chamber of Commerce AIR SHOW Booklet by Marian J. Hoffman.

Aviation in Franklin had its beginning in 1929 when two local businessmen, Wayne W. Bleakley and Joseph McElhinney, Jr. became interested in and developed the first airport in this vicinity, located in Sugarcreek Township at the site of the present McElhinney farm and greenhouse. This airport consisted of two runways approximately 3800 feet long, running north-west and east-west, with a brick hangar erected theron.

Some time later several local businessmen formed a corporation and under their direction and managership the airport continued in existence until 1938, at which time the field was abandoned due to lack of funds for necessary improvements in order to have it approved and licensed by the Civil Aeronautics Authority. It was reopened by members of the Franklin Aero Club in 1940 for a short period, but again, due to lack of funds for improvement to the field, the project was abandoned.

In May 1930, Mr. W.E. Barrow, together with his son, C.A. Barrow and J.P. Bauer founded the Franklin Aircraft Corporation with headquarters in one of the former Colburn Tool Company plant buildings located on Buffalo Street near Third and they manufactured what was known as the Franklin Sport Plane. This plane was assembled and test flown at the Franklin Airport. The Franklin Sport was a two-place, dual control sport biplane and at that time was considered the finest flying small plane on the market. The Franklin Aircraft Corporation operated for approximately two years, when they consolidated with the Taylor Aircraft Company in Lock Haven and moved all their equipment there.

In 1950 work was begun on the Chess Lamberton Airport. During the interim � 1941 � 1950 � local pilots flew from the Splane Memorial Airport in Oil City.

Synonymous with the history of aviation in Franklin is the Franklin Aero Club, which was founded and incorporated in 1940 and headed by Wilford A. Rose. Following are the ten charter members of this club: Wilford A. Rose, Dr. J.C. Pankratz, J.P. Bauer, L.B. Brown, H. Jeanne Johnson, Paul J. Rennard, Merrill Rex, Frank Proudfoot, J.R. Mills and Marian J. Hoffman.

This club did much to further aviation in Franklin and vicinity and at one time numbered 65 members. However, due to the number of members lost to the armed forces and the number obtaining employment elsewhere, the club became inactive in 1951.

coordinated and transcribed by Penny Haylett-Minnick