About Us
"There’s no such thing as a natural-born pilot."
--Chuck Yeager
The Upper Fifteen Flying Club began just after the end of
World War II. It was 1948 and the country was full of men and women desperate
to settle down after having endured the job of defeating tyranny around
the globe. The housing shortage was in full bloom but rationing had ended
– rubber, gas, metals, meats and many other things that were rationed during
the war were now available. And for a number of men at Siena College, some
who had learned to fly during the war, the itch to get back in the sky was
unsatisfied. So they got together, bought a used airplane, arranged for
it to be kept at the new Albany Airport, and formed the Upper Fifteen Flying
Club.
Many Upper Fifteen members joined the club to learn to fly.
Others joined after having “earned their wings” by obtaining that cherished
FAA Pilot Certificate. Still others joined to enjoy the camaraderie offered
by the club members. Everyone who has had the pleasure of being a member
of Upper Fifteen joined for their own reasons. But once in the club they
all experienced the satisfaction of being a member of a first rate “safety
first” club devoted to the enjoyment of flight.
Upper Fifteen takes pride in its equipment and strives to keep up to date
avionics in its aircraft so as to allow its pilots to take advantage of
the latest technology in communications and navigation. It also take pride
in its formalized maintenance program for its aircraft, spearheaded by appointment
of aircraft managers for each of its aircraft.