The primary objective of Sky Training,
LLC is to provide career minded students the education and practical experience necessary to become professional pilots. Training
at Sky Training, LLC meets or exceeds the standards established by the Federal Aviation Administration, and all instrction
is provided by experienced FAA certified flight instructors.
Located in the beautiful scenery of West Milford, New Jersey you can fly over the thick forests while
learning to fly or when you're renting. Located right next to the flight school is a tasty restaurant, Blue Skies Cafe. Our helpful instructors are always happy to teach.
Located outside the main office is 'The New Jersey Connie.' The
original Lockheed design was finished in 1939 and shortly after Howard Hughes ordered the first 40 "Connies" for
TWA. But because of World War II production was stopped by the military so it wasn't until the end of the war in
1945 that the orders could be filled. TWA bought the military "Connies" and converted them. Four were bought by
France in 1946 to fly between Paris and New York. One of them was the "Connie" located here.
In
1947 she suffered a slight mishap at La Guardia Airport where her starboard main landing gear failed. Although there was damage,
she was not scrapped and was fixed to fly again.
1950 Air France decided to upgrade and sold the planes back to
TWA. She was rechristened "The Star of the Azores" with a new tail number. She also got some upgrades and was put
into service. During the early 60s she went from one small airport to the next. By 1963 she got weather radar installed
and a new black tipped nose. She continued to go from owner to owner, airline to airline for a few years.
From
1966-1967 she was in the southwest being stored. In 1968 she was purchased again and flew under "Hawthorne Nevada Airlines",
later renamed "Air Nevada" before in folded in 1969. During this time she was called the "Champagne Lady".
Between 1964 and 1970 her three sister ships had been scrapped. From the end of 1969 through 1976 she was stored in various
places.
Finally in 1976 she was bought by Frank Lempo Enterprises (owner of Greenwood Lake Airport) for $45,000
to be used as a restaurant and lounge. In 1977 she was prepared for her final flight and landed her in West Milford, New Jersey
on the 2700-foot runway. She was anchored to the main building and hasn't flown since. By 1981 the renovations were done
and the restaurant opened, and then closed due to a lack of customers. In 1986 the unused plane was turned into a shop for
the pilots, but once again it closed, this time due to the inconvenience of the stairs. It has been said at some time during
this, someone tried to start the engines, #2 actually ran quite well while the others were unwilling to start. In 2000 the
State of New Jersey bought the airport and in 2005 a flight school used the plane as an office, but has since left leaving
the plane open once again.
Jungle Habitat
Also
with some interesting history is Jungle Habitat located right next door to Greenwood Lake Airport. Open from 1972-1976, it
was a safari for local visitors to drive-thru with a small walk through area with some cages and stores. Operating as normal
for Halloween 1976, it turned out to be the last day. Shortly after, local townspeople voted down the park's expansion
so Warner Brother's closed it. Since then many visitors have still walked through the abandoned park and some rumors have
flourished about it as well. Currently, it is used for the "Thunder in the Highlands" Forth of July fireworks
show.
During the time Jungle Habitat was open, the airport changed its name to Nairobi Airport and painted its
planes to fit the theme.
