Did You Know Charles Lindbergh Landed in Armonk?

ARMONK, N.Y. – In 1925 local man Clifford Payton used a flat piece of land belonging to Frederick Schmaling, opposite McDonald Avenue along Old Bedford Road, as a landing strip for his Curtiss “Jenny” bi-plane and began a business giving rides and lessons to Armonk residents, according to a publication of the North Castle Historical Society.

Payton died at 27-years-old in a plane crash in 1927 and a few months later Rye resident Daniel Barrett bought the land and converted it from an airstrip to an airport.

As the airport grew it attracted famous personalities to land there such as Eddie Rickenbacker, Howard Hughes, Jean Harlow, Clarence Chamberlain, Ruth Nichols and Colonel Patrick J. Hurley Secretary of War.

Perhaps the most famous person to land at the Armonk Airport was Charles Linbergh who in August 1928 landed his B-IX Brougham. Lindbergh stayed overnight in Armonk and left the next day.

Before World War II parachute jumps and air acrobatics were very prevalent at the airport but by the mid 1950’s the airports activity was limited and was eventually covered by Interstate 684 in the late 1960’s.

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