Bayport Aerodrome, airport in New York, United States of America
Bayport Aerodrome is a small airport near Islip on Long Island with a grass runway about 2,700 feet (820 m) long used by rare aircraft. The site features a row of 24 hangars housing restored planes from the early 20th century and operates without a control tower or modern navigation aids.
The airfield opened in 1945 shortly after World War II on farmland owned by Curtis Davis and initially operated as Davis Field. It was later sold to George Edwards, a Bayport resident, and renamed Edwards Airport until the 1970s when developers sought to convert the land into housing.
The name comes from the nearby town of Bayport, where early aviation enthusiasts settled on Long Island. Today it serves as a gathering place where pilots and collectors share their passion for vintage aircraft and swap stories about how flying began.
Visit during good weather, as landings and takeoffs depend on conditions and the grass runway has no modern navigation aids. Peak times are during Bayport Aerodrome Society events, when collectors display their restored aircraft and have time for conversations.
The site nearly disappeared in the 1970s but was saved by local residents led by John G. Rae, who founded the Bayport Aerodrome Society in 1972. Their advocacy led the town of Islip to purchase the property in 1978 and officially name it in 1980, preventing conversion to housing.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
