EDGEWOOD: THE EARLY YEARS
A SYNOPSIS
Here was a large property, actually 680 acres, which looked like a good place to fly. Many years before the demolition, another flying club had flown behind the building. They eventually left. Now that the building was gone seemed like a good time to apply for a permit to use the area. I was one of several interested parties who wished to use the field, along with several present Edgewood members who were from other clubs similarly inclined.
A small group of us approached the Department of Environmental Conservation at their offices in Stony Brook and eventually scheduled a meeting with a Captain Topping. We explained our purpose and who we were and each of us presented him with a check from our respective clubs for a permit. He gently pushed them back and insisted we form one club who would be responsible for use of the field if he granted a permit.
We regrouped and tried to formulate a working arrangement with all the interested parties. We named the club The Edgewood Flyers Association and decided to have an Executive Board comprised of seven members chosen from amongst the groups. There was no election of President, etc. Those offices were chosen from members on the Board. The Board made all the considerations to present to the membership for a vote. We drew up a Constitution and By-Laws based on one from a club in Reston, VA and we were off and running.
One of the members in the early days insisted on setting up a runway in a basically north/south direction which was acceptable. However, he wanted to use the paved road near the tree line, east of our present runway, as the pit area. That would have meant no sun in the morning but the over-flight or flight traffic pattern area would have been right smack over Commack Road, as you may imagine.
That was definitely not acceptable to the rest of us. Regardless of the sun, we felt the pit area and runway should be as you see it today. Actually, I believe the DEC gave us only a 400x400-foot section to utilize. We made what we thought was a good choice. Others thought that the prevailing winds dictated other than a north/south runway. It just wasn’t possible to go in any other direction, due to Commack Road and the houses just west of it. Any east/west runway would most certainly put us over Commack Road. They were concerned about crosswind activities but were invited to either do it or not fly. There simply was no other choice.
When it came time to set up a runway, we looked around and there was nothing but sand, construction material, pieces of coal residue and debris. We finally decided to bring in 300 yards of topsoil and mix it in with the “crap” that was there and fertilize and plant seed. Over the years, we have had soil analysis almost on a yearly basis. We have had various agronomists and landscapers with separate and costly ideas. Unfortunately, it has been expensive and has cost the club many thousands of dollars and did not solve the problems.
Then we tried sprinkler systems but were prohibited from burying pipes by the DEC. We found ways to handle some of the sprinkling but it required having someone turn it on and off. Not only that but between vandals stealing fire hose and errant aircraft hitting sprinkler heads, we sort of gave up. So now the field is as you see it after some further planning, feeding, seeding and depending on Mother Nature and it is doing okay.
In those early days, we were only permitted to have one vehicle go to the pit area, unload and return to the parking lot. We all invented various carts to pull up our equipment and planes to the pit area. In subsequent years, thanks to diligent negotiations, they finally allowed 4 cars. It has changed from year to year since then.
Some time ago, we attended a public meeting where use of the area was discussed. There were all sorts interested parties there, including DEC, political representatives and users of the property. We were informed we were a part of a 10-year State plan for usage and felt very safe about our position. We had a good turnout and spoke to hikers, hunting dog owners, falconers and other interested parties. They all stated that we did not interfere with their activities, which seemed to please everyone.
That about brings you up to date. The enforcement of DEC rules has subsided somewhat due to budget constraints. We still have vandal problems but the main thing is that we still can fly...
AN APPEAL
Most members have not heard this story and simply do not realize how tenuous our position is up there at the field. Some of us feel that the least little mistake we make, they will shut us down. Do not take this field for granted.
We realize there are people who don’t care about rules as they go through their life but our rules don’t affect one individual who, for example, might get a ticket from a policeman for some infraction. Our field rules and DEC rules affect almost 200 fliers who have no other place to go. Yes, some members belong to other clubs and see us down there once in a while. And that is okay. But they may need that field one day.
I was one of many who used Edgewood as an “insurance field.” It finally paid off when the club I was flying with lost the field. Also, ask some CLAM or LIFT members how it feels to lose a flying site.
If this one disappears, for whatever reason, where will we go? I implore you, let us not be the direct cause for any loss...
Bob Schoppe
AMA 14739