50 YEARS AGO
A bustling Saratoga Co. Airport
Business was booming at Saratoga County Airport with air taxis, flight instruction courses, sightseeing flights and ambulance and hearse services. It lacked a terminal and control tower, but its office, lounge and hangar were in constant use. The airport was open more than 12 hours a day, 365 days a year. The runways were lit at night and airport director Richard Kaylor felt the high electricity bill was worth the convenience to fliers. The airport, built during World War II, had served as a fuel base for B-17s of the Army Air Corps. The county-owned airport was leased to Richmor Aviation Inc., which provided air ambulance and air hearse facilities, planes for charter and rent at a cost comparable to commercial airline rates and air cargo shipping, Cessna sales and maintenance and helicopter instruction.