Send us Fan Mail
At just 13 years old, Dan Willis rode his bicycle from Syracuse’s Valley neighborhood to Amboy Airport for 20-minute flying lessons that cost three dollars.
Now 91 and still flying, Dan returns to the former airport grounds at Reed Webster Park to share firsthand memories of learning to fly on the grass runway, soloing at 16, completing his cross-country flight, owning five airplanes, working with aerial advertising banners, and experiencing one unforgettable spin during his pilot check ride.
Dan also discusses the important place Amboy Airport holds in Central New York aviation history, the commercial airlines that once served the airport, and the remarkable pilots and public figures whose names appear in its historic records.
Recorded on location at Reed Webster Park, this conversation preserves the memories of someone who did not simply study Amboy Airport’s history—he lived it.
Visit the Amboy Aviation Exhibit at:
412 Dunning Drive
Camillus, New York
The exhibit is generally open Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Check the organization’s current schedule before visiting.
Subscribe for more conversations with the people preserving the stories, history, and communities of Central New York.
Skip Happens Podcast / Inner Harbor Cast
Hosted by Skip Clark
Every boot tells a story.
Support the show
Thanks for listening! Follow us at youtube.com/@skiphappenspodcast
