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Legislature Should Approve The Airport Rent Credit Change

The Luscombe Aircraft Corp. is asking the Chautauqua County Legislature for a break on its rent for Hangar A at the Chautauqua County Airport in Jamestown.

The legislature should approve that request.

Luscombe’s existing lease with the county is $1,850 rent with a monthly rent credit of up to $500 a month for capital improvements, which means the company would be paying $1,350 a month. That credit is not to exceed $48,000. The company hasn’t been able to secure enough loan funding, though, to pay for the utility and building improvements necessary to renovate the county’s airport hangar into the type of space Luscombe needs. The company is asking the county to receive rent credits of up to $1,000 a month to help pay the capital improvement costs, taking the monthly rent payment to $850 a month. The maximum credit amount is still $48,000.

Luscombe isn’t just asking the county for help. The company, according to its website, is offering its first four new planes at a discount price to help keep afloat during the pandemic.

The legislature isn’t just helping a fledgling local company. It could help keep a historic aviation name in business. Luscombe made two-seat, all-metal, tailwheel airplanes starting in the 1930s before stopping production in 1950. The revived Luscombe Aircraft Corp. wants to use the Jamestown airport to build two types of planes and parts for the remaining 1,600 older Luscombe planes. In aviation circles, it’s akin to reviving the old Studebaker brand of cars.

Legislative committees approved the request during meetings last week. The full legislature should also approve the rent credit change.

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