I am dedicating this website to my father, Anthony (Tony) Riccio, and his legacy in bringing aviation to Western New York through Buffalo Air-Park.
Mike Steffen, Tony’s Flight Instructor
Mike Steffen was Tony’s flight instructor when he learned to fly at Burgard Vocational High School in the early 1930s while attending night classes. The two developed a pretty unique relationship and remained good friends throughout my father’s aviation career. Tony graduated on February 26, 1935, after enrolling in Burgard’s three-year evening vocational aviation course.Continue reading “Mike Steffen, Tony’s Flight Instructor”
Tony Riccio, a P-47 Test Pilot
Tony had heard that Republic was hiring for test pilots to fly their newly developed P-47 in the summer of 1942, and he knew that he couldn’t let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity pass by. Two years have gone by since he first opened his Gardenville airport, and he felt this could be financially beneficial to expandContinue reading “Tony Riccio, a P-47 Test Pilot”
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