HELP PREVENT THE CLOSURE OF ANOTHER HISTORIC AIRPORT

The historic Tanner-Hiller airport (8B5) located in New Braintree, MA, is currently closed and in imminent danger of being closed forever. Small airports across the country are disappearing at an alarming rate.

Hi, I am Paul Gibney, and I represent a group of pilots who have utilized Tanner-Hiller Airport since 1995. We are currently involved in litigation to preserve our deeded legal easement for use of the runway. The airfield has been purchased and is currently closed by the latest owner, The East Quabbin Land Trust (EQLT).

Catherine Hiller, the original owner of the airport, deeded an easement to an individual prior to selling the airport. The easement specifies the grantee; his heirs and his assignees are to have access rights to the runway. We purchased those deeded rights from the legal owner of the easement, the son of the original assignee. We are currently engaged in a lawsuit to enforce the covenants of the easement.

We believe our case has sound standing and look forward to successful adjudication however, as with such cases, the outcome is uncertain. Our lawyers have done an outstanding job with discovery but were unable to avoid eviction proceedings.

The primary goal is to defend our deeded easement, sue for damages associated with litigation expenses and regain access to the runway for flight operations.

This litigation has been going on for about a year, and the cost of our legal team continues to grow exponentially. As of February 2026, the court is reviewing the validity of our deeded easement. Legal fees continue to increase. At the time of this writing our total bill is over $85,000, of which $30,000 has been paid by only a few people.

We are asking for financial assistance in paying the ongoing legal costs, current and future, resulting from the efforts to preserve flight activity at Tanner-Hiller Airport. We do not want another airport to disappear; once it is gone, it will be gone forever.

I know there are hundreds, if not thousands of pilots/family/friends who experienced Tanner-Hiller airport in the past. Please keep reading for a more detailed history and reasons for this effort.

History of Tanner-Hiller Airport:

Airport operations began in 1948 by Frederick and Catherine Pierce Hiller (1930 to 1985). Catherine was a member of the “99’s”, the historical all female regiment of Pilots that ferried military aircraft of all types from US factories to bases around the world during WWII.

Catherine continued to develop a flight school business (with an emphasis on female students) as principal instructor (powered and glider) following her husband’s passing. While powered General Aviation was the predominant activity, it was also one of the largest Sailplane airfields in the region for many years. Gliders were either towed up by powered aircraft or launched by a ground winch made from a Model A drive train.

The airport was sold to Leonard Tanner in 1980 becoming Tanner-Hiller airport. During its heyday, in addition to Catherine’s flight school, the airport was very popular with aviators who frequently flew in from across the US to enjoy the gourmet restaurant, swimming pool, camping, and other entertainment events. Non-aviators from around the region flocked to the airport to use the pool, get ice cream or a steak dinner and watch airplane operations.

By the early ‘90’s Len Tanners’ health had been deteriorating, and so was the airport. Upon his passing, airport management was assigned to the executor of his estate and nephew, Mitch Tanner. Mitch had no interest in maintaining an airport, so it was listed for sale. Most of the tenants were forced to relocate so Mitch lost what income he had to support it.

By 1995 Mitch agreed to let our Silver Wings Ultralight Club lease an open hangar on the field. We had 5 aircraft tied down and two inside the hangar. With our two-place Quick Silver Sprint II we were able to continue Catherine’s legacy of flight instruction for our members. We hosted public fly-ins for all aircraft types and invited local non-pilots to learn more about what makes us happy.

Rhett Radford moved his Hang Glide New England aero-tow operations at about the same time. A large following of hang glider pilots quickly learned of the excellent soaring conditions which was what attracted the sailplane pilot's decades earlier. Weather permitting, Rhett was towing people into the sky providing many newcomers the joy of soaring.

Tanner-Hiller Airport offered a unique, open culture environment for pilots of all disciplines and those wanting to learn to fly or just watch and have fun. The airport supported a hang-gliding tow operation, an ultralight flying club, powered paragliding, light-sport and general aviation activities.

Please help us reestablish these activities at Tanner-Hiller Airport by donating and/or sharing this GoFundMe campaign with others.

Please note that any excess funds available at the conclusion of the court cases will be donated to an aviation related charity.