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New York Airways Collection

National Air and Space Museum

Object Details

Creator
Wheatland, Richard, II, 1923-2009
Names
Air Transport Association of America
American Helicopter Society
Bell Helicopter Company
Civil Aeronautics Board
Civil Aeronautics Board
Eastern Airlines, Inc.
International Air Transport Association
Los Angeles Airways
New York Airways
Pan American World Airways, Inc.
Port of New York Authority
Sikorsky (Aircraft manufacturer)
Trans World Airlines
Topic
Aeronautics
Aeronautics, Commercial
Aeronautics, Commercial -- United States
Air mail service
Airports
Airports -- New York
Helicopters
Helicopter transportation
Periodicals
Provenance
Richard Wheatland II, Gift, 1973, 1992, NASM.1992.0052
Creator
Wheatland, Richard, II, 1923-2009
See more items in
New York Airways Collection
Summary
Collection consists of materials created by and collected by Richard Wheatland II during the period when he served as a Vice President of New York Airways (1953-1968), a helicopter airline operating in the New York City metropolitan area from 1952-1977.
Biographical / Historical
Incorporated on August 31, 1949, New York Airways (NYA), one of the first three helicopter carriers certificated by the United States Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), began mail service between New York City's three major airports on October 15, 1952, and on July 8, 1953, inaugurated the world's first regularly scheduled passenger helicopter service. As was the case with all of the helicopter carriers, NYA depended heavily on government subsidies for its economic health, but worked steadily towards its goal of financial self-sufficiency, extending its routes into nearby Connecticut and New Jersey, carrying freight, and doing charter work. In October 1955, NYA signed joint fare agreements with many national and international airlines, promoting their service by making it easier for passengers transferring to and from the major New York City airports to go "all the way by air." As ground traffic in the New York metropolitan area became increasingly congested, NYA, based at LaGuardia Airport, worked closely with the Port of New York Authority (PONYA) to establish heliports on the island of Manhattan, inaugurating service into the West 30th Street Heliport in 1956 and the Wall Street Heliport (at Pier 6 on the East River) in 1960. In December 1956, as part of a campaign to break the color barrier in the airline industry, NYA hired pilot Perry H. Young, Jr.; Young made his first regularly scheduled flight for NYA as a co-pilot on February 5, 1957, becoming the the first Black pilot for a commercial airline in the United States. High operating costs continued to be an issue for all of the helicopter carriers, and in 1958, after continuing criticism from the CAB on the subject of alleged excessive costs and increasing subsidy need, NYA was forced to suspend some services. In 1961 Congress put a ceiling on helicopter carrier subsidy payments. The 1964-1965 New York World's Fair provided NYA the opportunity to add passenger and sightseeing service to and from the rooftop heliport of the Port of New York Authority Building at the Fair. Ever seeking a way to reduce its need for government subsidies (which were eventually withdrawn), in June 1965 NYA entered into operating support agreements with Trans World Airlines (TWA) and Pan American World Airways, whose passengers were some of NYA's biggest customers. NYA is perhaps most famous for its regularly scheduled passenger service from the rooftop heliport atop the Pan Am Building, inaugurated on December 21, 1965. Though undeniably glamorous, the noisy NYA helicopters were not appreciated by many of their midtown Manhattan neighbors. Service to the Pan Am Building heliport was cancelled on February 18, 1968, due to inadequate passenger loads, then was briefly resumed in early 1977 until a fatal accident on May 16, 1977, ended NYA service from the heliport. Already suffering from financial setbacks and rising fuel prices, NYA ceased operations permanently following a fatal accident at Newark International Airport on April 18, 1979, and filed for bankruptcy the following month in May 1979. Richard Wheatland II, born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1923, served in the United States Navy from 1943-1946 as a deck officer on a destroyer-minelayer in the Pacific; after his discharge he did one year of graduate work in government at Harvard University and then attended Columbia Law School, receiving his law degree in 1949. From 1950 to 1952, Wheatland was based in Paris, France, employed by the US Government in a division of the Office of the Special Representative in Europe for the Marshall Plan. Wheatland returned to New York to join New York Airways in January 1953 as the Manager of the airline's Traffic and Sales Department, and soon became NYA's Vice President of Sales and Service. He was married in 1954 to Cynthia McAdoo. Wheatland left the company in 1968 to take a position in his native home of Boston, and died peacefully at his home on June 26, 2009. NOTE: The airline covered by this collection, New York Airways (1951), should not be confused with an earlier New York Airways (1927) which was founded July 8, 1927, operated as a subsidiary of Pan American Airways, and was sold to Eastern Air Transport on July 15, 1931. It should also not be confused with the unrelated but similarly named New York Air (owned by Frank Lorenzo's Texas Air Corporation) which was founded in late 1980 and ceased operations on February 1, 1987, when it merged with Continental Airlines.
Extent
7.63 Cubic feet (7 records center boxes)
Date
1929-1971
bulk 1952-1969
Archival Repository
National Air and Space Museum Archives
Identifier
NASM.1992.0052
Type
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Correspondence
Clippings
Ephemera
Financial records
Photographs
Publications
Manuscripts
Reports
Timetables
Citation
New York Airways Collection, Acc. NASM.1992.0052, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Arrangement
Contents are in original order as received by NASM Archives. Folders in both series are arranged (roughly) in alphabetical by original folder title. Materials within the folders in Series 2 (1973 Acquisition) tend to appear in reverse chronological order. Multiple copies of the same materials may appear in different folders. Digital images of materials in this collection were repurposed from scans made by an outside contractor for a commercial product and may show irregular cropping, orientation, and color variations. Some materials may not be visible online due to copyright restrictions.
Processing Information
Arranged by donor; Series 1 (1992 Acquisition) described by Liz Dawson, 1992; Series 2 (1973 Acquisition) described by Melissa A. N. Keiser, 2020; encoded by Melissa A. N. Keiser, 2020.
Rights
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Genre/Form
Correspondence
Clippings
Ephemera -- 1940-1970
Financial records
Photographs
Publications
Manuscripts
Reports
Timetables
Scope and Contents
The collection includes a variety of material, probably collected by Richard Wheatland II (1923-2009) during the period 1953-1968 when he served as a Vice President of New York Airways (NYA). The material reflects the administration of the airline and many of the activities of its president, Robert L. Cummings, Jr., as well as its dealings with organizations such as the Air Transport Association (ATA), American Helicopter Society, Bell Helicopter, Eastern Air Lines, the Grand Central Building, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Pan America World Airways (Pan Am), the Port of New York Authority (PONYA), Sikorsky, Trans World Airlines (TWA), other organizations interested in helicopter operations, and the federal government. In addition to administrative correspondence, memoranda, proposals, employee operations manuals, speeches, and reports, there are also a large number of manuscripts and publications, clippings, timetables and other ephemera, and a small number of photographs. New York Airways' fleet included several helicopter models over the airline's lifetime, including the Sikorsky S-55, Sikorsky S-58, Bell 47H (used for charter work), Vertol V-44 (civil version of the Piasecki H-21 Workhorse), Boeing-Vertol Model 107, and Sikorsky S-61L and S-61N models. The collection contains materials relating to these aircraft and helicopter operations in general as well as other vertical flight and short take off and landing (STOL) aircraft including the Cierva CR Twin (CR LTH.1, Grasshopper III), Hughes H-500, Hiller FH-1100, Bell 206 JetRanger, and Fairchild (Pilatus) Porter (Heli-Porter, Turbo-Porter). In addition to the material directly relating to NYA, the collection includes material on topics of interest to the NYA executives. This includes information on the other two helicopter carriers, Los Angeles Airways (LAA) and Helicopter Air Services (HAS) of Chicago, as well as the later San Francisco & Oakland Helicopter Airlines (SFO), and other international, national, and local airlines. Also included are a large number of materials directly relating to air transportation and urban planning issues in the New York City metropolitan area (including northern New Jersey), particularly those related to the airports NYA served: Newark International Airport (IATA airport code EWR) and Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey, LaGuardia Airport (LGA), West 30th Street Heliport (JRA), Downtown Manhattan/Wall Street Heliport (JRB), Pan Am Building Heliport (JPB), and New York International Airport, Anderson Field, commonly known as "Idlewild" (IDL). New York International Airport was renamed as John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on December 24, 1963. Series 2I (1973 Acquisition) contains more of Wheatland's personal notes on various topics, and also includes materials on topics of general business executive interest such as public speaking and management techniques.
Restrictions
No restrictions on access
Related link
Record ID
ebl-1529511005124-1529511005127-0
Metadata Usage
CC0
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2b3bbcc9d-3a28-4c1e-b604-d388bf85f32e

In the Collection

Pages

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  • Manuscripts, "Helicopters, A Developmental Program" (Speech) Robert L. Cummings, Jr.

  • Documents, Courses and Schools and Books

  • New York Airways, List of Pilots, Hours in Helicopters and Fixed-Wing Aircraft

  • Documents, New York Airways, Confidential Memos, Proposed Budget, August 1964

  • Photographs, Aircraft

  • Studies, "Fleet Planning Study"

  • Documents, New York Airways, Segment Fares and Yield

  • Manuscripts, "The Airport Situation: Some New approaches to a Growing National Problem," Stuart G. Tipton (ATA)

  • New York Airways, Employee Contact List

  • Speech, "Helicopter Service and Its Future," Robert L. Cummings, Jr., President of New York Airways, to the Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences, pages 1-17

  • Documents, agreement with Thai Airways International and timetable effective May 1, 1960

  • Documents, proposal for operation of helicopter airlines service from downtown Washington, DC, to Dulles Airport

  • Studies, "Legal, and Related, Aspects of Airport Land Use Planning"

  • Studies, Book, Transportation by Helicopter 1955-1975, The Port of New York Authority, Aviation Department (New York, NY)

  • Documents, "Wall St No Res Plan, RLT" New York Airways, Concept, Wall Street Heliport Shuttle Service (No Reservations Plan) "The Lift"

  • 89th Congress Temporary Telephone Directory

  • Documents, New York Airways, General Facts and Figures

  • Manuscripts, "A United States Supersonic Transport" (Speech) C. R. Smith (American Airlines)

  • Air Canada Timetable, "North American Services, April 24 - July 31, 1966"

  • The Port of New York Authority PONYA, Exhibit for CAB Docket No. 15661, "Ground Travel Time and Cost Estimates To and Between New York Region Airports"

  • New York Airways, "Season's Greetings" card redeemable for a "Special Flight"

  • New York Airways Timetable," New York Airways, Winter Schedule effective December 21, 1965: The Skyline Route"

  • Documents, Miscellaneous (4)

  • Correspondence, AVENSA Project 1967 (Aerovias Venezolanas S.A.)

  • Clipping, unknown source, Westland Sikorsky S-55 drawing

  • Braniff International Timetable, "Braniff International System Timetable effective September 1, 1966."

  • Documents, "Congress - Hearing May 11, 1965" Garnering support for appropriation for helicopter airlines

  • Documents, "Joint Fares - Roof" Pan Am Building Heliport

  • Documents, Miscellaneous (6)

  • Studies, "Aviation Demand and Airport Facility Requirement Forecasts..."

  • Delta Air Lines Timetable, "Delta Air Lines effective October 1, 1966."

  • Manuscripts, "New York; Survival or Decay" (Speech) Robert L. Cummings, Jr.

  • Documents, General Correspondence

  • New York Airways, "Glad to Have You Aboard!"

  • Sikorsky, Miscellaneous

  • Skyliner: Published Bi-weekly for TWA Employees, Vol. 23, No. 1, January 7, 1960

  • Reports, "Senator Allott Book"

  • Documents, New York Airways, Confidential Memos, Proposed Budget, September 16, 1964 2 of 2

  • Documents, Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), Orders, New York Airways (Operating Certificate)

  • Studies, "Fleet Development, 1953-1965" (1 of 2)

  • Documents, New York Airways, Night Service

  • Documents, Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Airport Affairs Committee

  • Documents, Addresses

  • Documents, New York Airways, John E. Gallagher (New York Air Exhibit #309), New Equipment Comparisons

  • Studies, Vertol 107, Specifications

  • Speech, untitled, New York Airways, pages 1-10

  • Notes, U. S. Mail

  • Project, Hawaiian Tug and Barge Company, Ltd (HTB)

  • Documents, New York Airways, Confidential Memo, "One Voice" Media Inquiry Policy

  • Manuscripts, "STOL Operations in the City Center," Oscar Bakke (FAA)

  • Report of the Task Force on National Aviation Goals (Project Horizon), Federal Aviation Administration

  • Air Transport Association of America, ATA Airport Affairs Memorandum No. 67-28, "FAA Draft Advisory Circular AC-150/2510, Airport Tenantry Ground Safety Standards"

  • Publications, Periodicals, Raritan New Jersey Traffic Club, Raritan Traffic Digest

  • Article, "Skyscraper Sky-Lift: Mid-Manhattan gets its first heliport," LIFE, Vol. 60, No. 1, January 7, 1966, pages 55-56.

  • Clippings, Magazines

  • Brochure, Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority

  • Studies, "The Federal Budget: The Airline Interest"

  • Documents, American Airlines Proposal, La Guardia Service

  • Program, Conference on Airports for the Future, At the Institution of Civil Engineers, London UK

  • New York Airways Timetable," New York Airways, Summer Schedule July 1962: The Skyline Route"

  • Paper, "Commercial Helicopter Outlook Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) Aircraft Air Traffic Control System"

  • Reports, Sales and Service Reports, 1960-1965

  • New York Airways Timetable," New York Airways, Summer Schedule May 1, 1963: The Skyline Route" 2nd copy

  • New York Airways Timetable," New York Airways, Summer Schedule effective April 24, 1966: The Skyline Route"

  • Booklet, "Saint Francis College: A Century of Service to Brooklyn Youth," copyright Kings County Trust Company (Brooklyn, NY), 1957

  • Documents, New York Airways, Memo, Noise Facts

  • Paper, "The Airport Situation: Some New Approaches to a Growing National Problem"

  • Eastern Air Lines, Financial and Statistical Data (1 of 2)

  • New York Airways, "A New Star Over New York" (PB-78-0258-5M)

  • Reports, The Port of New York Authority PONYA, Monthly Summary Reports of Airport Activities

  • Proposals, Shorts S.C.7 Turbo Skyvan Brochure

  • Project, Dunlap and Associates RFP, Helicopter Ambulance Operations

  • Civil Aeronautics Board, Washington Baltimore Helicopter Service Investigation

  • Civil Aeronautics Board, Certificate Amendement Case

  • Publications, Air Transport World, Vol. 3, No. 5

  • Studies, "Fleet Development, 1953-1965" (2 of 2)

  • "Testimony of Robert L . Cummings before the Aviation Sub-Committee of the Sentate Committee on Commerce on behalf of New York Airways"

  • New York Airways, "New York Airways Scheduled Helicopter Service, Winter Schedule effective January 1, 1962: The First Helicopter Airline"

  • Press Kit, Inauguration of New York Airways Service from the Pan Am Building Heliport

  • Booklet, Conference of Local Airlines, "Fly Local Airlines to Main Street, U.S.A."

  • Map of proposed New York Airways Authorizations in the Washington Metropolitan Area

  • Documents, "Sponsor" comparisons of helicopters, New York area air taxi services

  • William C. Wold Associates, "A Unique Opportunity… To Acquire a Fully Equipped Helicopter Fleet" Sikorsky S-55, Sikorsky S-58

  • Envelope, Dedication of Port Authority-West 30th Street Heliport

  • Notes, Straight Rate Prorate Definition and Example

  • Studies, "The Mood of Travel 1966 and 1967," Louis Harris Associates, Inc.

  • Correspondence, Letter of Recommendation for Clar E. Liske

  • Memo, Helicopter Costs, Sikorsky vs Vertol

  • Documents, Brochure Notes for production by H. A. Bruno & Associates of a NY Airways "Who We Are, What We Are" brochure

  • Newsletter - The American Helicopter Society, American Helicopter Society, Vol. 7, No. 2, February 1961

  • Publications, Periodicals, United Aircraft Corp, Bee-Hive

  • American Helicopter Society, Inc (AHS), Newsletters

  • Ephemera, New York Airways, Inaugural Flight from Pan Am Building Heliport

  • Conference, Airports for the Future, London (UK), April 11-12, 1967

  • Report, New York Airways Five Year Plan

  • Clipping, Peter Greenough, "First True Sky Bus to Become a Reality This Summer," The Boston Sunday Herald, February 19, 1961, page 60

  • New York Airways, "For Your Information - Some Facts About New York Airways Scheduled Day and Night Helicopter Service" 2 copies

  • Paper, FAA Study Group, "STOL and VTOL System Study: San Francisco - Los Angeles Model"

  • Publications, Book, Frank J. Delear, The Miracle of the Helicopter, Sikorsky Aircraft Division of United Aircraft Corporation

  • Brochure, "5th Hospital Star Night"

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New York Airways
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