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Tanner–Hiller Airport

Coordinates: 42°21′23.0000″N 72°07′48.3000″W / 42.356388889°N 72.130083333°W / 42.356388889; -72.130083333
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Tanner–Hiller Airport (Closed)
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorLeonard A. Tanner Estate
LocationNew Braintree, Massachusetts
ClosedSeptember 18, 2024 (2024-09-18)
Elevation AMSL584 ft / 178 m
Coordinates42°21′23.0000″N 72°07′48.3000″W / 42.356388889°N 72.130083333°W / 42.356388889; -72.130083333
Map
Map
Interactive map of Tanner–Hiller Airport (Closed)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
6/24 3,027 923 Asphalt

Tanner–Hiller Airport, (ICAO: K8B5, FAA LID: 8B5) in Barre, Massachusetts, was a public airport formerly owned by the G&C Group of Acton, MA, who purchased the field from the Leonard A. Tanner Estate in May 2017. It had one runway, averaged 30 flights per week, and had approximately 25 aircraft and hang gliders based on the field.[1] During the summer months the airport was home to hang gliding operations and extensive ultralight activity. The airport sat adjacent to the Ware River and near to the town of New Braintree. The airport closed on September 18, 2024.[2] The property has begun a process of being converted into Menameset Habitat, a wildlife management area, and a 2 mile section of the Mass Central Rail Trail.[3][4][5]

History

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The airport runway was constructed over the Central Massachusetts Railroad former right of way, a section abandoned in 1941.[6]: 49–50  The airport began operations in 1946, and is named after two of its owners, Fred and Catherine Hiller, and Leonard Tanner. The airport was originally opened by the Hillers. After Fred died, Catherine continued to develop a flight school business at the airport, both as an instructor and as an FAA examiner. A series of different owners passed through between 1973 and 1980, until Leonard Tanner bought it. One of the more interesting aircraft that has called the airport home was the prototype of the Lockheed YO-3A quiet observation aircraft, a type later used during the Vietnam War. It too was restored in a hangar at the airport before moving on.[7] Leonard Tanner died in 1998 and his estate continued to operate the airport. The airport had been deteriorating in recent years, something that was particularly apparent in the poor condition of the runway. The surroundings, however are still picturesque. There are no services provided at the airport as of November 2015. In its heyday the airport was home to many activities and businesses. Camping, swimming, a fine restaurant, and aircraft maintenance were once part of daily operations. Fuel sales also ceased in 2015. In May 2017, after many years of being offered for sale, the airport was purchased for a reported US$1.1 million by G&C Group of Acton, MA, a subsidiary of a large flight school in China. The estate had had several offers prior to that, but the manager of the estate preferred to hold out for what he hoped would be better offers. The final decision to sell was accelerated by the departure of the airport's long time manager, Burchard Aviation, who also operated an aircraft maintenance shop in one of the dilapidated hangars. The new owners planned to open a helicopter school after some years.[8] The airport closed on September 18, 2024, after acquisition by the East Quabbin Land Trust, a Hardwick based land trust, in partnership with Mass Audubon.[2][3][9]

As of 2025, the property has begun a process of being converted into Menameset Habitat, a grassland bird sanctuary and wildlife management area, by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.[4] Additionally, the former airport runway and connecting Airport Road are in the process of being converted into a 2 mile section of the Mass Central Rail Trail.[3][10] Converting the property into a wildlife refuge also enables the Wheelwright Pond Dam removal project to proceed, to restore natural riverine processes and reconnect 130 miles of high-quality freshwater habitat in the Ware River Watershed. Removal of the dam will be one of the largest and most significant dam removals in Massachusetts.[5][11][12]

Former services

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Hang Glide New England was a hang gliding tandem and instruction business that operated between May and October. The Silver Wings Ultralight Club was active and occupied the west hangar.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ AirNav.com: 8B5, AirNav.com, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Freeman, Paul (2025-03-18). "Hiller Airport / Barre Airport / Barre-Hiller Airport / Tanner-Hiller Airport". Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields. Retrieved 2025-03-19.
  3. ^ a b c Ouimette, Paula (2024-09-26). "Ride N2B on the MCRT" (PDF). Barre Gazette. p. 12. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  4. ^ a b "Menameset Habitat Restoration Project Summary". Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. 2025-06-02. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
  5. ^ a b "Six Land Conservation Projects Complete Thanks to Catalyst Fund". Mass Audubon. 2025-09-05. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
  6. ^ The Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society, Inc. (2008). The Central Mass (Second ed.). Brimfield, MA: Marker Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-9662736-3-2.
  7. ^ Atlantic Flyer, aflyer.com, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  8. ^ G&C Group, gcgroupusa.com, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  9. ^ "Conservation along the Ware River" (PDF). East Quabbin Land Trust. 2025-06-01. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
  10. ^ MilNeil, Christian (2025-10-08). "Healey Administration Announces $7.5 Million in MassTrails Grants". Streetsblog Massachusetts. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
  11. ^ Hopkins, Julia E. (2025-03-17). "Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $2.1 Million to Support Ecological Restoration Projects". Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
  12. ^ Revolus, Aisha (2025-09-04). "Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Nearly $11 Million in Funding for Dams, Levees, and Coastal Infrastructure". Mass.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
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