The Oldest Airport in CT

Plainville… Planeville?
Robertson Field, Plainville

April 8, 2009

I had never heard of Robertson Field before my visit to the Plainville Historic Center. There, my guide offhandedly mentioned that Robertson Field was the oldest airport in Connecticut. My ears perked up and I noted it, but pretty much forgot about it.

airport2.jpg

To refresh our collective memory, here’s the bit I wrote about Plainville’s place in aviation history back then:

“It turns out our little Plainville is home to some serious aviation history – on two fronts.

74s.jpg…One Mr. Nels Nelson, who, in 1911 first flew his 33-foot “flying machin” from the Scott Swamp District off present Route 177 in Plainville. He was a daring 22-year-old from New Britain who went on to put on flying exhibitions around the country. Who knew?

Also, I learned all about the little local airport, Robertson Field. Opened in 1911, it is the oldest airport in Connecticut! Furthermore, John H. Trumbull, a Plainville native and Connecticut’s Governor from 1925 to 1931, is known to have used the airfield. He was dubbed “The Flying Governor”. My guide told me that Trumbull was actually a terribly pilot who had a habit of bad landings – but somehow never died doing so.”

airport.jpgI found myself at a writer’s event at Tunxis Community College (where I visited the Wallace Barnes and Barbara Hackman Franklin Art Gallery) and noticed a small sign pointing the way to the nearby airport. Eh, I had some time so I went to check it out.

The airport lies just past a residential area, which is sort of weird. Just before entering the gate, there is a little monument dedicated to Nels Nelson. That’s nice.

This is a pretty cool little place. You can park right next to the “terminal” which is a small building with a couple offices and such. While the runway area is fenced off, visitors can get very close to the action – something that I enjoyed and I hope Damian will someday too.

(Actually, there a field a few miles away that is officially used by model plane enthusiasts. It’s really cool to go and watch these guys fly around their very expensive toys – and Damian HAS enjoyed that.)

airport31.jpgAnd lest you think it’s so small that you won’t see any action, you’d be mistaken. While small, (Robertson Field covers an area of 39 acres which contains one runway and one helipad), for the 12-month period ending July 31, 2006, the airport had 59,200 aircraft operations, an average of 162 per day. There are 110 aircraft based at this airport.

Beyond the history (which they disappointingly don’t play up in the lobby area), Robertson Field is interesting for another, more recent, reason. It is privately owned by the Tomasso Brothers who may sell it to developers for $7 million. But the town has fought back, seeking public funds to purchase the airport to keep it “as is.” The neighbors actually LIKE the place!

Here’s a story about the push to buy it with a worthwhile video to watch as well. And here’s another one with some passionate comments from readers.

Maybe someday I’ll learn how to fly. Yeah, I’d like that. (Don’t worry, my wife doesn’t read this stuff.)

2 responses to “The Oldest Airport in CT”

  1. dick hemenway says:

    High Flight

    Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
    And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
    Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
    Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things
    You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung
    High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there
    I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
    My eager craft through footless halls of air.
    Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
    I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace
    Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
    And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
    The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
    Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

    Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
    No 412 squadron, RCAF
    Killed 11 December 1941

  2. Dick Weinberg says:

    Glenwood Springs, Colorado. First used as an airport in 1913. I have three pictures that are dated 1916.

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