History
Heritage Field started as an airfield in 1928, it was then known as Pottstown-Limerick airport. It received airport licensing from the state in 1931. In 1968 PECO acquired the airport due to its proximity to the planned Limerick nuclear generation plant. PECO contracted with PennAirways to manage the airport. In 2009 Pottstown-Limerick airport and PennAirways were acquired by local business man, avid pilot and vintage aircraft collector John K Desmond Jr and the airport name was changed to Heritage Field. After Mr Desmond’s passing in 2014 the future of the airport was in limbo until new ownership could be found.
After 8 long years searching for a buyer, in 2022, Heritage Field was acquired by David & Rachael Pitcairn. The Pitcairn’s are aviation enthusiasts and David’s family has historical connection to aviation in the Philadelphia region and beyond. David’s great uncle was Harold F. Pitcairn, the founder of Pitcairn Aircraft Co which manufactured the famed Pitcairn Mailwing used by the US Postal Service coining the term “Air Mail”. Harold Pitcairn was also the founder of the Pitcairn Flying School and Passenger Service which later became Eastern Airlines. David’s passion for flying was inspired by Harold but it was fostered by his late father and fellow aviator Laren Pitcairn who would take him to Airshows, build model airplanes and eventually take him flying. David’s love of aviation is shared by his wife Rachael. Together they have shared a dream to develop an airport where they could help grow aviation and create a future for themselves and their two sons Theodore and Augustus.
Today, Pitcairn Aviation LLC has replaced PennAirways as the FBO and each year Heritage Field hosts a number of events including the annual Fly-in Pancake Breakfast welcoming visitors to the airport for pancakes, airplane rides, vintage aircraft and airplane tours for well over 50 years.