About the Aero Club of Buffalo

Our History

Back in the 1880’s, members of the Carrier Pigeon Club of Buffalo became interested in the trials of wings, and soaring. At the same time, members of the Buffalo Bicycle Club (the High Wheel Club) worked at developing a blimp whose power was obtained from a propeller driven by pedals in the same way as a cycle. These daring men pioneered & pedaled their “sky bicycles” around Buffalo.

In 1900 the group of air enthusiasts broke away from the Automobile Club of Buffalo and, headed by John M. Satterfield, who later became known as the “father of aviation in Buffalo” founded the AERO CLUB of BUFFALO. He said “We organized when the Wright Brothers were still experimenting with their walloping windowpane”. A few years later the club received its charter as the first US Aero Club Chapter from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale of France, making it the world’s second oldest aero club and the oldest in America.

From pigeon, bicycle and motor clubs came the “flying & engineering group” that was the nucleus of the Aero Club of Buffalo.

Forty members of the Aero Club formed the nation’s first flying squadron and were federalized in 1916 as part of the New York National Guard.

Our members, since the beginning, have been the leaders in the aviation field including presidents and engineers of all the aircraft industries, corporate and combat pilots and reads the Who’s Who of aviation. Our speakers have included all the aviation history makers – Lindburg, Earhart & Rutan to name just a few of the past and we have speakers now who work for & on the future of aviation.

The early objectives of the club were to foster interest in the principles and development of aeronautics in Buffalo, to inspire and educate youths, defend our country through air power and to promote all aspects of aviation in the community as a positive influence. These goals are just as important today as they were back in the early years.

We invite anyone, not just pilots, with a love of aviation to join us to share the history and the future of aviation.

Historic helicopter delivering Christmas presents to the Aero Club of Buffalo

Our mission

The Aero Club of Buffalo fosters interests in the principles and development of all aeronautic interests (whether a pilot or interested in learning more about aviation) in the Buffalo and WNY surrounding areas. The Aero Club teaches, inspires and awards our youth through scholarships to reach their full potential in all areas of aviation, from mechanic to pilot to astronaut. We not only defend our country through air power, but also serve as a positive influence to the aviation community through education and service.

Message From The President

View our yearly message from the Aero Club president, detailing the accomplishments of the past year and the opportunities to come.

Our Leadership

Officers

 

Mark Ables
President

Vice President
VACANT

Dennis Perry
Treasurer

Mary Mattocks
Secretary

Cindy Pughakoff
Exec Secretary

Board Members

 

Gerald Bainbridge

Pamela Crassidis
pcrassidis@gmail.com

John Kozinski
kozinski@hotmail.com

Arlene LoPresti
toggletog@verizon.net

Paul Maze
paulmaze@roadrunner.com

Stanley Nowak
stanjn79@hotmail.com

George White
n8486z@gmail.com

Larry Cobado
larrycobado@gmail.com

Walter Gordon
c130h3driver@gmail.com

David Brown
david.brown@magellanwealthadvisors.com

Jared Cummings
jcc1778@yahoo.com

Mike Belcher
Fr8trdog@juno.com

Ron Franco
chariot412@msn.com

Jeremy Chapman (Associate)
jeremych@buffalo.edu

Past Presidents for the Aero Club of Buffalo

 

John M. Satterfield
Russell W. Bryant
John D. Larkin
Joseph D. Dotterweich
Michael F. Steffen
Hubert F. Boehm
Lawrence D. Bell
J. L. Stromme
Theodore P. Wright
Ray P. Whitman
E. Howard H. Roth
Burdette S. Wright
John W. VanAllen
John A. Williams
F. Leslie Marsden
Robert J. Woods
Ralph S. Damon
Fredric Flader
H. Liebee Wheeler
Charles M. VanDerveer
Lester Benson
Peter N. Jansen

Theodore H. Merckens
Clem G. Trimbach
A.D. Palmer, Jr.
John W. Dunn
Howard E.R. Hutton
Leslie L. Irvin
Roy J. Sandstrom
Robert M. Stanley
Clifford C. Furnas
Julius J. Domonkos
George L. Russell
Ira G. Ross
Leston Faneuf
Gordon W. Campbell
Herbert H. Roosa
John C. Seal
William G. Gisel
Edmund O. Carmody
Waldemar O. Breuhaus
Lawrence G. Riley
Richard H. McKee
Jack B. Prior

Nello L. Infanti
Richard M. Hurst
Harold K. Fletcher
John L. Beilman
Charles F. Kreiner
Robert J. Stein
George A. Hof, Jr.
Robert P. Harper
Henry C. Newcomer
William J. Carberry
Michael J. Feeney
Chester R. Hardt
Hugh M. Neeson
Joseph J. Lanza
Gerald R. Stevens
James F. Downing
M.R. (Jim) Kalletta
David D. Coe, Jr.
Maxwell Bennett
Thomas J. Comer
Charles J. Berthe
Paul D. Faltyn

Raymond F. Mambretti
Robert Palmatier
Daniel F. Rahill, Jr.
Edward F. Loomis
Ernest S. Panepinto
Darla E. Richter
James Cavanaugh
David E. Mittlefehldt
Robert A. Stone
Albert F. Belcher
Richard E. Forrestel
Peter C. Treichler
Thomas P. Kopera
Richard F. Brox
Ronald A. Grimm Jr.
Fran Bainbridge
Gerald J. Bainbridge
Stanley Nowak
G. Wayne Hawk
Michael F. Belcher
Walter O. Gordon
Larry M. Cobado
Mark Ables