Wadsworth Airport runway opens with first responders honor flight

WADSWORTH — The first flight to leave a newly paved runway at the Wadsworth Municipal Airport on Friday was organized by the AeroTrek Fight Academy, which left a trail of smoke during a series of flyovers to honor first responders in Medina, Wayne and Summit counties. AeroTrek is a flight school headquartered at Wadsworth Municipal Airport with a fleet of airplanes stationed at Wadsworth, Medina and Wayne County airports. The flyover followed a short ribbon cutting of the newly paved runway 10-28, led by Wadsworth Mayor Robin Laubaugh, cofounder of AeroTrek Nick Belluardo and Secretary of State Frank LaRose. Also in attendance was AeroTrek cofounders Jason Lorenzon, Ron Palitto and Bryon Palitto as well as Richfield Mayor Michael Wheeler, Rittman Mayor Bill Robertson, Wadsworth Councilman Tom Stugmyer, Rittman Administrator Bobbie Beshara and Wadsworth Councilman David Williams. "On behalf of the Wadsworth Airport, our flying community, and all those who enjoy the airport, we are very thankful to the city of Wadsworth for their ongoing support, most recently through a grant they received to restore runway 10-28," Palitto said in a statement. "As the numbers of those sickened by the disease continue to rise, it is increasingly important to thank those who are battling the pandemic every day, and AeroTrek is proud to let them know just how much we appreciate them," added Lorenzon. The repaving of the east-west runway was done with most of the costs covered by Ohio Department of Transportation grant money. Wadsworth completed resurfacing of the main runway at the airport, 840 Airport Drive, in 2016 and has created a master plan to determine future needs.