Landing on "The Rockpile"

The top of Mt. Washington in the rugged White Mountain of New Hampshire is hardly a hospitable location for casual traveler and an even more unlikely location for an airport. It was however, transformed into a makeshift landing site in the spring of 1947 for Carmen Onofrio. Mr. Onofrio was the airport manager, mechanic and a local air enthusiast when he was asked if landing on top of the “rock pile” could be accomplished. Changing out his rubber tires for a pair of skis and after a few hair-raising attempts to get the approach just right, he successfully landed his 1941 J-3 Cub .

In cooperation with the US Army Signal Corp and Northwest Airlines, the mission was set in motion to test instruments in near arctic conditions. Beginning on March 12, 1947, Mr. Onofrio made a total of 42 flights to the top delivering men and equipment in pursuit of air safety. Using the Glen House as a staging area, a record 14 flights were made in a single day.

There is no question that Mr. Onofrio had nerves of steel and a strong sense of adventure. No one has ever made another attempt at the summit.

The Flying Connie

Flying into the Auburn-Lewiston Airport in Maine carries with it a look back to the grandeur of the first transcontinental airplanes. Long the dream and focus of local resident Maurice Roundy, two of his historic planes have been acquired by Lufthansa historic flight foundation, Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin-Stiftung (DLBS), to restore the aircraft to airworthy condition. One is still sitting on the tarmac and its sheer size as compared to the other general aviation planes is immediately striking. The sleek silver airplane with its 150-foot wingspans and tri-tail design are unlike anything on the ground or in the sky today.

This extraordinary airship traces its roots back to 1939 when Howard Hughes unveiled a plan for faster non-stop passenger service coast to coast. The Constellation, or Connie as it was affectionately called, would enable his TWA airline to lead the way in air travel. Lockheed produced the plane from Hughes rough sketches and made it the most elegant aircraft of the time. 

As soon as the plane has been completely restored, it is destined to be relocated to Europe. If you want to get a glimpse, don’t delay!