Brown's Airport / Aero Country Club Photo Gallery - click on image to enter Photo Gallery by Don Boyd at pbase.com

Brown's Airport / Aero Country Club Photo Gallery - click on image to enter

Thank you to Norman Dale Reed for contributing these aerial images of Brown's Airport / Aero Country Club in Kendall taken in 1960. Dale says there was a spot landing competition going on at the time of the photos.

Brown's Airport, also known as the Aero Country Club in the latter years, was located at 25.67 North / 80.31 West, or just south of SW 72nd Avenue and 107th Terrace. It was originally built in the 1942-1943 time frame. It had up to three 2000' grass landing strips at one time.

Development eventually surrounded the airport and most of the new residents objected to the airport being there and the airport was finally sold to a housing developer in the mid 1960's. For more information on Brown's Airport please visit:
http://www.airfields-freeman.com/FL/Airfields_FL_Miami_S.htm#browns

In a search for more information on Brown's Airport, I found these aircraft still in the FAA database as being registered at Brown's:

FAA Registered Aircraft: 4

Aircraft: PIPER PA-12 (Fixed wing single engine, Category: Land, Seats: 3, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 82 mph), Engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 HP) (Reciprocating) N-Number: 2838M, Serial Number: 12-1411, Year manufactured: 1946 Registrant (Individual): Albert J Howe, Browns Arpt, Kendall, FL 33156

Aircraft: PIPER J3C-65 (Fixed wing single engine, Category: Land, Seats: 2, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 67 mph), Engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES (65 HP) (Reciprocating) N-Number: 42268, Serial Number: 14518, Year manufactured: 1945 Registrant (Individual): Albert J Howe, Browns Arpt, Kendall, FL 33156

Aircraft: PIPER PA-18A 150 (Fixed wing single engine, Category: Land, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 97 mph), Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 HP) (Reciprocating) N-Number: 6975D , Serial Number: 18-5502, Year manufactured: 1957 Registrant (Corporation): Howe Aviation, Browns Airport, Kendall, FL 33156

Aircraft: PIPER J3C-65 (Fixed wing single engine, Category: Land, Seats: 2, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 67 mph), Engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES (65 HP) (Reciprocating) N-Number: 70837, Serial Number: 17854, Year manufactured: 1946 Registrant (Individual): Albert J Howe, Browns Airport, Kendall, FL 33156

1953 - advertisement for instrument rating flight instruction at Brown's Airport in Flying Magazine

1960 - Brown's Airport / Aero Country Club in Kendall

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Rob Howe		27-Jan-2023 14:45
I remember Browns airport well. My father was Harold Howe of Howe Aviation (he retired as a Captain with Pan Am), and my uncle Albert Howe. My grandmother was a cook in the coffee shop (all have passed some time ago). My sister has the old photos of the airport including the stone wall and the tall BBQ. Thanks for remembering Browns.

Bo Seignious		11-Jun-2018 19:22
Started flying there when a student at Miami Sr. High in 1956 with Forrest Boyd as my instructor. First solo there in a Kendall Flying School J-3 then on to private check ride with Mary Gaffney in an Aeronca Chief. Great memories, was sad to see it close and move to Tamiami.. PS got my instrument rating at Bob Minter Embry Riddle school in Fort Lauderdale.

BOB MINTER		16-Dec-2017 16:30
I spent some great days at Aero Country Club in thr early 60’s. Got my multi-engine rating in the Apache. I remember Jack Ryan & Phil Guptil. I was a student at Embry-Riddle during that time as well. Now retired after great 55 year career in aviation. BOB MINTER

Don Boyd		02-Feb-2017 07:35
Wow Steven, what a great post because I never knew that the military used this airfield during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I didn't know a lot of stuff back then due to my age but I've learned a lot since and you are the first one to mention the military presence at Brown's Airport. Does anyone else remember what Steven has mentioned in his post? Thank you for posting, Steven. Don .

Steven Griffin		02-Feb-2017 00:36
As a young 8 yr old in 1960, we lived 3 houses away on 73 court. We would ride our bikes to school , by crossing the runway after looking both ways. During the missile crisis, large military cargo plans would be covered during the day. At 11 pm the roar of the engines would wake you from a deep sleep as they took off for their missions over Cuba. About 2 am, again you would be waken from deep sleep by the roar of the engines as the cargo planes returned to the small in-lit runway and the aircraft would be covered again by huge nets to hide the aircraft from view. We often saw planes turn off their engine to practice dead engine glide flight, only to see them dive into the near by tomato fields. When we pedaled as fast as possible to the crash site, we were met by dazed but unhurt pilots. Great adventure for youth of that time.

Albert Solares		19-Jan-2017 15:49
I live on the exact property that used to be the main airport building at Brown's Airport. My pool is where the main hangar was and my kitchen and kid's rooms are the lobby. The columns for the white, concrete fence are still in my backyard. Being an aviation buff, I'm ecstatic, I thought my house was built on boring palmetto fields, now I know there was some great history there. I loved reading all the comments and stories below. I would love to see pics of the airport bldg.

Joe Shikany		17-Aug-2015 17:08
I believe Jack was an instructor at Aero Country Club when I worked there in 1960-61. I worked the counter and got my private license in 1960. My instructor was Sonny Goodnight and the Chief Pilot was Joe Nerwich, Earl Smalley owned Aero Country Club.

Don Boyd		02-Jul-2015 21:54
I received these comments via e-mail from Mr. Jack Ryan back in June 2014 and failed to post them then due to too many e-mails on four different accounts and Facebook plus this site and another site. I received his permission to post them on here and here they are: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Enjoyed pictures of Browns Airport. My name is Jack Ryan and I ran Ryan Aircraft Service there in the 196o's era. I had a FAA approved school and had the Mooney Aircraft Distributorship for South Florida. I have no photo's of the old field and would like to purchase some if you would be willing to do that. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don .

Guest		30-Jun-2015 18:58
My brother and I took flight lessons at browns at the time we went to dade junior college around 1965 i seem to remember a friends dad was the instructor. Mr carter many times late on a Friday or Saturday night we would sneak out on the runway in our 1965 Chevy impala and go wide open in reverse, seemed like about 75 mph , then turn the steering wheel and spin 180 degrees shifting into drive and come out straight ahead still going about 70... We would rat race thru the trails and all was well until we sideswiped an old washing machine and caused some big damage to moms car We did have fun in those days. Joel

Mark Lincoln		21-Apr-2015 16:36
I flew with "Mac" McLendon a few times in 1968. He and a couple of othe guys had a Sterman at Homested General. A year or two later they moved it to New Tamiami. I remember visiting Browns just before it closed.

phil		15-Jun-2014 14:45
I took lessons from Mary here also. I heard that she ferried air force bombers from u.s. to Europe during WW II. I also did demo flights for Aero Country Club here when Earl Smalley owned it. Got my multi-engine rating here in the Apache.Thanks for the photos. Phil Crandon

Craig Harnden		22-May-2013 13:42
If you look closely at image #2, you will see the narrow canal paralleling the runway. My first flight ever was from that canal in a Luscombe 8F in 1962 with Jim Scanlon of PAA. Boy those were the days. CRAIG HARNDEN

Les Clements		24-Nov-2012 18:22
Uncle Clark Smith of Pan Am Surveys kept his Bonanza N714B there. My second ride in a small plane, first was father's SeaBee but I have no memory of that. Dan Brock, My brother Charles Clements (Southern, National, Pan Am Delta) and I rode our bikes down there from the Gables. First official flying lesson was with Robert Hoffman CFI 1579842C, in C150 5768 then 'CAG' ? CFI # 1264928. Then Thomas Teasley, CFI 1483112, while checking the mags I let the checklist blow out of theh 150, bad start. Mr Teasley later disappeared on a trans Atlantic flight in a C-46. Thanks for teh memories LBClements@aol.com

Joe Shikany		02-Aug-2011 01:29
Was just looking at these great photos. I took some lessons from Mary in the late 50's in the J-3. I worked there in 1960 when it was the Aero Country Club as it is in these photos. Was owned by Earl Smalley, chief pilot was Joe Nerwich. I worked the counter in dispatch. These photos are for a spot landing contest, there was also a bombing contest flight. The pilot flew right seat and the "bombadier" was in the left seat. The pilot had to fly at 100 feet and 100 MPH. The bomb was a paper bag with one pound of while flour. Really brings back memories.

Guest		27-Apr-2011 04:25
Hey regarding the strip behind BMW, it was owned by a National pilot whose last name was Weeks, (I think his first name was Mike) Frank Weiss

Guest		03-Jan-2011 18:28
These are some great photos. I used to stand on-top of my parents car to watch the planes land at Browns when I was 6-7. My Mom still lives close by. Does anyone remember the grass stip behind BMW south at 160st? My parents used to take me there so see the acft parked close up. I think it belonged to a National Airlines pilot.

Brandan Lail		22-Oct-2010 05:10
Does anyone remember Cleon "Mac" McLendon? He had a fleet of Stearman's down there. My dad and I just finished rebuilding one of Uncle Mac's Stearman's and would like to find out more about him... Blail

George Gross		19-Sep-2010 16:20
Took my first airplane in 1948, out of Browns. The pilots name was Helen Gilmore. Later in the fifties, I flew with Jack Purrington. In the 70's and 80's I flew with Jim Cothran at Chalk's. He gave me my multi-eng sea.

Chuck		08-Jul-2010 17:00
Wow, what a pleasure reading all of Brown`s airport stories and remember it well. I too, grew up in South Florida, Homestead (Leisure City) to be exact, 2 miles west of Homestead Airforce Base, west gate. With the invention of the bicycle and at 13 year`s of age, I too discovered how easy it was to ride the 12 or 14 mile distance to Homestead General Aviation Airport to get up close and personal with the small planes. I did this for year`s, weekend`s Summer vacation`s you name it, and as a kid, I ate, slept, and drank airplanes I was in 7th heaven and my goal simple, one way or another I was going to learn how to fly-em and I did. Hanging around the airport as a young kid didn`t really set well with a lot of the old-timer pilot`s as I was always wondering around the field asking some sort silly questions and just dying to have some pilot talk to me all about it and hoping one of em would take me for a ride. After numerous attempts and ways to get rid of me didn`t work, one old pilot decided to take the time with me and put me to work washing his crop-duster`s, the pilots name was I. A.CASH, he was pretty much the only crop duster in the Homestead area and he was larger then life to me. Mr. Cash was 72 or 73 years old at the time still flying every morning 7 days a week, he owned 2 Stearmans and 2 Thrush Commanders and he kept me busy for years. I loved it. Mr. Cash once showed me his pilots license, it was signed by Orville Wright when Orville was the CAA`s chief Check pilot, it was the real thing. Mr. Cash survived several crashes in fields through out his flying career only to be run over and killed by a drunk driver as he walked across the street in 1982. Still flying he had flown earlier that morning. I loved him and miss him. He was quite a guy. I was also fortunate to have known and later to have worked for Curtis Pitt`s boxing and shipping his Pitt`s special`s kits from his air strip near Homestead general. Also worked for Mary Gaffney at Tamiami airport and a friend of Jim Bede of the Bede 5 aircraft, these folks are mostly responsible for my flying career and all were larger then life and the real pioneers of aviation....

Don Iorio		02-Jun-2010 12:34
I was there also. Soloed at that airport in 1958. J3 N26746, owned by a great guy named Joe Prew. PS lost the spot landing contest. Don Iorio

Burr Rubey		24-Apr-2010 13:12
I was also there when Bruce was (1958). I rode my red Cushman Eagle scooter 17 miles to Brown's and happily pushed and gassed and spun props and did about everything and anything I was told to do, all for a little flying time and a lot of time "up close and personal" with all the flying machines. It all worked out well. Fifty-two years later and I am retired from a wonderful career as a pilot of everything from J-3s to Boeings and Airbusses. No regrets and would happily do it all again as long as I did not have to do it in TODAY'S business and regulatory environment. I do wish I could find some photos on the flight line at Brown's though. Something behind the snack bar, along the low stone wall that separated the safe area from the flight line. Anyone got any?

Larry Stephens Jr		30-Mar-2010 04:20
My father, Larry Stephens was a National Air Lines pilot and we moved to the corner of Kendall Dr and SW 65th Ave in 1957, just a few blocks east of Browns. I was 8 at the time. His brother used to fly into Brown's from Ohio in his Cessna 140 to visit us and we took many rides out of the strip. I remember the fatal accident that helped accelerate the demise of the facility, we rode our bikes to the site when we saw the smoke. I remember the wreckage was still there a few days later and we could walk right up to it. Later, I took my flight lessons from Cal Tinsley at Kendall Flying School at the old Tamiami long after Mary Gaffney moved out there from Browns. Earl Howe was Mary's heli instructor after the move. Dad is 94 now and is still with us. Like many, we wish NAL, Pan Am, EAL and Browns were still around. Simpler times.

Charlie Larus		08-Mar-2010 01:36
I took my first lessons at Brown's Airport, beginning April 9, 1952. My instructor was Mary Tracy Gaffaney in J3's N6288H, 52844, 6288H and 70372. I was a student at the U of Miami. Still have Howe Flying Service business card. Enjoy your great photos. See an Aero Commander in some. Used to fly them in late fifties and early sixties. Thanks so much.

Lee Martines MEHS '57		03-Feb-2010 05:59
In the late 50's one of the popular DJ's used to invite folks to come down to this field on Sunday and take a flight with him. I finally decided to get up the courage and headed for the field. When I inquired at flight ops I was told that he hadn't shown up that day, but another pilot said he was just going up to get some flight time and would be glad to let me go with him. My only other time in a plane had been in a DC3, and this was a far departure from that. Most of the flight was very enjoyable, but when the plane took a steep bank for a turn it almost felt as though it was going to fall wing first. Unfortunately, this was my last experience in a small plane.

Bruce Leary		04-Sep-2009 20:28
Don, I just found this page. Thanks for adding it. I was the "airport kid" from 1953 to when Howe Aviation moved to Tamiami Airport in about 1958-1959. They used to call me "O'Leary" although there is no "O" in my name. I learned to fly mostly because they sort of adopted me since they couldn't run me off. There was a canal on the south side of the airport and when I soloed on my 16th birthday I was tossed into the canal. I should have suspected imminent foul play because my mother was there and she said "give me your wallet" and of course I did. I didn't even know she knew I was going to solo because I never told her. I remember Mary Gaffaney very well and I worked for her for a while when she was at Tamiami Airport. The 4 plane registrations still on the FAA database are a puzzle to me. I don't recognize the N numbers of the 3 J3 Cubs but I remember the PA-18 because I flew that some. I wonder what happened to those airplanes since they still show expired registrations to Al Howe. Al is most likely deceased by now but I don't know for sure. This page brings back a lot of fond memories. I really loved the airport and flying. Bruce Leary

John Hopkins		16-Jul-2009 14:06
I just came across this site via a google search. Thanks for creating this site! Mary Gaffney gave me my private license ride in 1957. I took my flying lessons at the old Tamiami Airport, but always enjoyed landing at Brown's......and also entered a spot landing contest there. Those were the "good old days" for sure.

Charlie Wolff		26-May-2009 13:20
My very first flight was right after WWII out of Browns airport. I was 4 or 5 years old. My very first logged time was December 26, 1953. As a Christmas present I got a 1/2 hour with Mary Gaffney doing spins! Some years later Mary became the Womens World Aerobatic Champion!

Don Boyd		19-Mar-2009 06:38
Thanks Dick and Steve for your comments. I'm really glad to get these photos up on the site for others to see and appreciate. Don

Dick Vinal		18-Mar-2009 01:28
Let's see what my memory can stir up. I took my first flying lesson in a A. Champ from Bill Turso, of Tursair Flying School, think that was the name? He used to fly for my dad at PanAm. I think it was 1959. I fueled planes for Bill long enough to solo and get my private liscense. I fueled for awhile the next summer, sophomore year at Ga Tech, with Bill Bails at Webco; run by Wally Weber, another PanAm drop out. These are great pictures of Brown's Field; what we used to call it. I agree with Steve as I don't remember it covering such a large area.

Steve McDonald		15-Mar-2009 12:25
These photos of Browns in 1960 were illuminating as I don't recall that much open space around the field in 1960. My first Stearman ride was out of Browns in the late 1940's. The outline of Browns can still be seen today as one flies south in the Kendall area. The houses & roads are all north-south, east-west until you get to Browns. there is a kidney shaped area of roads and homes running SE to NW south of SW104th, east of 72Ave & west of Ludlam (67th Ave). Earl Smalley was the land developer that bought Browns and built the houses. He later was Chairman of Hertz RAC. Earl's daughter Sanci was the first Junior Orange Bowl Queen.

Don Boyd		13-Mar-2009 20:12
In a search for more information on Brown's Airport, I found these aircraft still in the FAA database as being registered at Brown's: FAA Registered Aircrafts: 4 Aircraft: PIPER PA-12 (Fixed wing single engine, Category: Land, Seats: 3, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 82 mph), Engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 HP) (Reciprocating) N-Number: 2838M , Serial Number: 12-1411, Year manufactured: 1946 Registrant (Individual): Albert J Howe, Browns Arpt, Kendall, FL 33156 Aircraft: PIPER J3C-65 (Fixed wing single engine, Category: Land, Seats: 2, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 67 mph), Engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES (65 HP) (Reciprocating) N-Number: 42268 , Serial Number: 14518, Year manufactured: 1945 Registrant (Individual): Albert J Howe, Browns Arpt, Kendall, FL 33156 Aircraft: PIPER PA-18A 150 (Fixed wing single engine, Category: Land, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 97 mph), Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 HP) (Reciprocating) N-Number: 6975D , Serial Number: 18-5502, Year manufactured: 1957 Registrant (Corporation): Howe Aviation, Browns Airport, Kendall, FL 33156 Aircraft: PIPER J3C-65 (Fixed wing single engine, Category: Land, Seats: 2, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 67 mph), Engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES (65 HP) (Reciprocating) N-Number: 70837 , Serial Number: 17854, Year manufactured: 1946 Registrant (Individual): Albert J Howe, Browns Airport, Kendall, FL 33156 Don

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