Thu, May 26, 2011
Contains Local History, Aviation Stories, Area Attractions
Searching for the $100 hamburger ... and just flying in The Bay
State in general, may be a bit more fun with "The Pilots' Guide to
the Airports of Historic Massachusetts" by John Fiske. The author's
latest book covers the local history, area attractions and aviation
lore of the Commonwealth's 38 airports. "I came up with the idea
for the Pilots' Guide when making plans to fly into every airport
in Massachusetts," said Fiske. "While working on my flying goal, I
researched and wrote The Pilots' Guide."
Fiske's research highlights how aviation grew up in
Massachusetts. The first airport in the Commonwealth was in
Newburyport, at Plum Island (2B2). The busiest is Logan (BOS). The
second busiest is Nantucket (ACK), which was the setting for the
NBC hit series Wings. World War l pilots who wanted a place to fly
after returning home built the airport in Fitchburg. Cranberry
farmers built one for aerial spraying in Hanson.
Fiske describes each airport in historical context as well.
Logan Airport, in East Boston, was the site of an active clipper
ship building industry in the 19th century. Gardner Municipal
Airport in Gardner is where factories produced millions of chairs.
Southbridge Municipal Airport in Southbridge is where optical
equipment was made, and Westfield Airport, where the Mass. Air
National Guard's A-10s are based, was famous for buggy whips, and
is still known as "Whip City."
"Writing the Pilots Guide was a lot of fun," Fiske says.
"Massachusetts has such rich history. Viewing it through the lens
of aviation gives it a different glow."
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