1909-1998 |
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Courtesy of Richard W. Vockroth, 5-8-04 |
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by Richard W. Vockroth To read the rest of this fascinating story, click on: |
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via email from Dick Vockroth, 4-14-04 He was born February 22, 1909 and died on November 11, 1998. He is buried in St. Mary's cemetery in Corning, NY. His son, also named Joe (but with a different middle name) now operates the airport in Painted Post. Joe is most remembered for his ill-fated flight to Rio de Janiero in 1937 and the story of the flight is told briefly in the book, Revolution in the Sky by Richard Sanders Allen. I wrote a more detailed account for a now-defunct magazine, Pegasus based upon many discussions with Joe, and it is quite a story. With the onset of WWII, the military realized that they would need civilian flight instructors to do most of their training, and a civlian pilot training program was developed. I don't recall exactly what it was called, but I'm sure you know. Joe was recruited, and taught primary and advanced flying at Alfred University in upstate New York, Roosevelt Field on Long Island, and at Grand Junction, CO throughout the war. Afterward he returned to Corning and operated as FBO at several locations in the ElmiraCorning area. In 1993 the Empire State Aerosciences Museum presented Joe with the Aviation Pioneer Award "in recognition of your outstanding contributions to the development and advancement of General Aviation." In 1994 the Federal Aviation Administration, Rochester Flight Standards District Office presented Joe with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The plaque reads, "Presented to Joe Costa in recognition of 65 years in aviation. Your career and contributions to the aviation community is a beacon for others to follow." Also in 1994 the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Administration Administration, Eastern Region presented Joe with a Certificate of Appreciation "in recognition of 65 years of distinction as an aviator." He never kept count of how many people he taught to fly, but it is unquestionably in the thousands. He was quite a gentleman as well as a superb pilot of low-powered, single-engine airplanes. Hope this is helpful. I'm happy to see Joe get the recognition he so richly deserves. Dick Vockroth |
by Ken McBrayer, 6-28-05 Joe not only flew the aircraft but he wore it. I mean he could manipulate the controls like no other. Flying in the southern tier of New York was very challenging because of the rolling hills. Turbulence was always a factor to consider and Joe handled it with ease. I remember his stories about Amelia Earhart and his theories of her accident. He also laughed when he recalled Bill Lear driving around in a Model "T" trying to get that gadget called an ADF to work. (Bill Lear, founder of Lear Jet, Motorola, 8 track tapes and hundreds of others.) I left Corning in 1983 and never returned. I often think of Joe and recall the basic aviation skills that he taught me that I still use today. Ken McBrayer Captain, Boeing 757/767, United Parcel service |
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The Saga Continues Courtesy of Bob Van Wicklin, 6-22-05 New York's 29th Congressional District NEWS RELEASE Contact: Bob Van Wicklin, 202 226-1924 (office) or 202 225-4505 (cell) E-mail: bob.van.wicklin@mail.house.gov – visit us at http://kuhl.house.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 22, 2005 KUHL ANNOUNCES GRANT FOR ERWIN AIRPORT Town of Erwin IDA will receive $2.5 million grant from FAA for major improvements "This grant is terrific news for the Town of Erwin and the Corning-Painted Post area," said Rep. Kuhl, Vice Chair of the House Aviation Subcommittee. "These funds will be used to pave and light the existing grass runway at the airport which will allow it to operate all year and meet the FAA's stringent safety and design standards. The airport will be able to accommodate increased traffic and, in turn, attract increased economic activity to the area." "I sincerely thank Congressman Kuhl for all of his help in securing these funds and getting them released by the FAA," said Thomas M. Tammarro, Supervisor of the Town of Erwin. "This is a good thing for the area as it allows the airport to stay open year round and it means jobs and opportunities for local residents." The Corning-Painted Post Airport is a public-use, general aviation airport designed for small planes of 12,500 pounds or less. The facility is owned and operated by the Town of Erwin Industrial Development Agency. The airport is home to Costa's Flying Service, founded in 1930 by legendary aviation pioneer Joe Costa, which offers fuel service, flight instruction and air tours of the Finger Lakes region. The airport is generally bounded by I-86 to the north, and Meads Creek and State Route 415 to the west and south, and includes the existing grass runway, six nested T-hangar units, a bulk hangar, a maintenance hangar, a terminal building, and a car parking area. The funds for these airport improvements are made available by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The AIP is authorized by Congress under the Aviation Investment and Reform for the 21st Century Act (AIR-21). |
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Contributed by Ken McBrayer, 6-9-11 |
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via email from Ken McBrayer, 6-9-11 I snapped this photo for your website. Thanks, Ken McBrayer |
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Editor's Note: This collection is believed to be housed at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, NY. |
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Joe Costa died on November 11, 1998. He is buried in St. Mary's cemetery
in Corning, NY.
If you have any more information on this pioneer aviator, please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper Back 
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