Founded in 1956

Our History: The Nutmeg Soaring Association

Nutmeg has its roots in the postwar aviation boom that was spreading across the U.S. This enthusiasm for flight inspired a group of individuals to pursue the fledgling sport of soaring, and to build a community around it. We have kept that community alive to this day.

How we began (1956)

Our club was founded in 1956, when four pilots pooled their resources to buy a single sailplane, a Schweitzer 1-26 (N3800A serial #3), and formed a soaring club at a small private airstrip in Northfield, Connecticut—The Nutmeg State. Like many soaring clubs of that era, we started small with big enthusiasm and a willingness to do everything ourselves. Being a part of the club meant a shared commitment to learning how to soar, flying safely, and helping one another get into the air.

From those beginnings, our membership grew steadily. New gliders were added, airports changed, and experience was passed down from member to member. The name “Nutmeg” became part of the regional soaring landscape.

Nomadic Nutmeg: 50 Years of Migration

Over the years Nutmeg was always searching for a home base. The club moved right after its founding from the original private airstrip to Bethany Airport, which subsequently closed in 1965 due to encroaching land development and rising costs. Johnnycake Airport was next with its eponymous mountain top location in central Connecticut. Then the migration continued further west to the Housatonic River Valley along the Taconic Mountain range. This included North Canaan Airport in the north western corner of Connecticut, and the Great Barrington Airport in western Massachusetts. The proximity to nature provided amazing views from the cockpit. Finally, we made the move to a new base at Candlelight Farms Airport in New Milford, Connecticut.

Those years shaped who we are. Members learned not only how to fly, but also how to run a soaring operation from the ground up. Management of the flight line, instruction, tow duties, and maintenance: all handled by club participants. The rural airports and grass airstrips fostered our tradition of running a week long encampment around the July4th holiday. All we really needed to soar was a runway, towplane, gliders, and the people who showed up to fly.

While we succeeded as a club, we lacked permanence.

A volunteer club at our core

From the beginning, we have always been a member-run nonprofit organization. Our instructors, tow pilots, and operations staff are volunteers. That model isn’t just about keeping costs down it’s part of soaring culture. Flying gliders safely and well requires teamwork, discipline, and shared responsibility, and our club has always reflected that.

Training and safety have remained central to our mission. We have welcomed complete beginners, transitioning power pilots, and experienced soaring pilots alike, all learning and flying side by side.

A new chapter: Our home at Freehold, New York

As aviation and land use evolved over the years, we faced the same challenges that many glider clubs do: securing a long-term home. Eventually, we made a major decision—to relocate north to the Catskills and establish ourselves at Freehold Airport in Freehold, New York.

This move marked a turning point in our history. We didn’t just move operations, we committed to permanence. Through a shared ownership structure involving the club and participating members, we took responsibility for the airport itself. That step ensured that Freehold would remain a place for soaring, not just for us, but for future generations of pilots.

Freehold Airport today

Today, Freehold Airport is our home. We operate with a club towplane, multiple club gliders, hangars, visitor tie-downs, and a clubhouse that supports both flying and the social life that keeps a volunteer organization strong.

Our soaring season typically runs from mid-April through early November, with weekend operations and an extended daily flying period around the July 4th encampment. The Catskills reward us with excellent soaring conditions: thermals, ridge lift, and the Catskill wave… with memorable flights over beautiful terrain.

We also enjoy sharing soaring with the public through open houses and introductory flights, helping new people discover the unique experience of unpowered flight.

What hasn’t changed

While our location and facilities have changed, the heart of the Nutmeg Soaring Association has not:

• We are still a club built by volunteers.

• We still believe safety and instruction come first.

• We still believe soaring is best when it’s shared—with friends on the flight line, and in the clubhouse at the end of the day.

From one sailplane in 1956 to a club-owned airport in the Catskills, our history is one of adaptation, dedication, and a deep love of soaring. We’re proud of where we came from, grateful for the members who carried us forward, and excited for the flights—and pilots—still to come.