Dutchess County in upstate New York has been working to develop its aviation industry. Centered around Hudson Valley Regional Airport (KPOU) with its 5,000-foot main runway, recent improvements include the opening of the Dutchess County Community College’s (DCCC) new $16 million, 31,000-sq-ft aviation education center on the field. The school’s aviation management program is the first of its kind to receive FAA certification in the past 50 years.
Earlier this year, at a nominal cost, DCCC obtained “Falcon One,” a former U.S. Air Force Gulfstream III that had carried Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, as well as served as the transport for Army General Norman Schwarzkopf during the Gulf War.
The aircraft—which has become the centerpiece of the school’s AMT training program—was restored through the help of local aircraft detailing specialist Automaxx+, other in-kind sponsors, and a team of volunteers. In the aircraft’s interior, the leather furnishings were reconditioned, while the exterior was cleaned and recoated.
“The coating is a very expensive process, costing tens of thousands of dollars, and we would not have been able to afford to do this without their support,” said Genna Suraci, coordinator of DCCC’s aviation maintenance program. “In my eyes, they’re saving a piece of history–polishing a gem and keeping it pristine.”