Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Northwestern New Jersey
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 4/20/08.
Aircraft Radio Corporation Airfield (revised 4/20/08) - Budd Lake Airfield
Flanders Valley (revised 4/20/08) - Hadley Field (revised 12/14/07)
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Hadley Field, South Plainfield, NJ
40.55 North / 74.43 West (Southwest of New York, NY)
A painting of airmail operations at Hadley Field in 1925 (courtesy of Ed Drury).
As Post Office plans for inaugurating night airmail progressed,
it became apparent that New York's Hazlehurst Field, often blanketed in fog & smoke, proved sadly inadequate.
What was needed was an area allowing clear approach from all directions
and the establishment of improved terminal facilities.
Officials set out locating the ideal location;
in short order they found one, not in New York but in neighboring New Jersey.
On November 1, 1924, John R. Hadley, Sr. leased to the Post Office
seventy-seven acres of level ground five miles from New Brunswick, NJ,
for a new landing field to be called Hadley Field.
Immediately, preparations began, land was cleared, radio masts erected,
boundary lights installed, and provisions established for floodlights & revolving beacons.
So rapid was the construction that by December 15
daytime transcontinental operations shifted from Hazlehurst to Hadley.
On the night of July 1, 1925, 500,000,000-candlepower arc floodlights swept the field for nearly a mile in half a circle.
A powerful searchlight stood on top of a hangar revolving six times a minute.
All was in readiness for the inaugural night flight
for which more than 15,000 people had turned out
to watch Dean Smith & J.D. Hill lift into a moonlit sky on their way to Cleveland.
As described by Dean Smith in "By the Seat of My Pants",
after the goodbyes & handshakes trouble awaited him:
"...I climbed in the DH-4. The newsreel cameras were grinding.
I ran up the engine & roared down the field.
As I was still climbing, not yet a hundred feet high,
the engine suddenly revved down as though the throttle had been pulled back.
Praise be, I managed to make a full one-eighty turn & straighten out,
floating back in over the fence, the engine not quite dead.
Examination disclosed that a pin connection in the throttle rod had broken,
and the butterfly valve in the carburetor had consequently slipped back.
That 1st night the rod was quickly repaired, and I took off toward Bellefonte with little total delay."
Smith's problems were far from over.
Engine failure forced him down again near Kylertown, PA.
Dropping his parachute flare, he landed in a small emergency field.
Two hours later he left for Cleveland in another plane
but ran out of gas fifteen minutes short of Cleveland & crashed landed,
unhurt but upside down with crumpled wings in a farmer's vineyard.
"Hmm," the farmer said looking at the crash, "Do you always land this way?"
J.D. Hill had better luck than Smith, his mail got through,
and the 1st inaugural flight out of Hadley Field was deemed a success.
A 1927 photo of "The scene at Hadley Field, as 4 airlines & Railway Express Agency
began the 1st express & mail flights coast-to-coast" (courtesy of Karen Sindt).
An undated view of an unidentified airmail biplane, preparing to depart from Hadley Field.
A pre-1929 photo of an unidentified airmail biplane in front of a hangar at Hadley Field.
An advertisement for Hadley Airport from the 9/15/28 issue of Aviation Magazine (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
A circa early 1930s aerial view depicted Hadley Field as a square-shaped grass field,
with 2 hangars along the west side of the field.
The 1934 U.S. Navy Aviation Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Hadley Field s consisting of a roughly square-shaped field.
The Allen brothers & a friend, posing in front of an unidentified aircraft at Hadley Field, circa 1934.
Hadley Field, as depicted on the 1935 Regional Aeronautical Chart.
An aerial view looking northwest at Hadley Field,
from the Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).
The directory listed Hadley Field under the name of "New Brunswick",
without referring to the actual name of the airfield, inexplicably.
It described the field as consisting of a 1,900' sod square,
and pictured 2 hangars along the southwest corner of the field.
The 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described Hadley Field as having a 2,700' unpaved runway.
The remarks said, "Restricted to Civil Air Patrol" (most likely a temporary measure during WW2).
According to the History of South Plainfield,
"Bendix Aviation experimental planes & helicopters were tested at Hadley Airport."
An aerial view of Hadley Field from the Haire Publishing Company's 1945 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
An advertisement for Hadley Field from the Haire Publishing Company's 1945 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Ed Wolf recalled, “Hadley Airport... that's where I learned how to fly in 1955.
After getting my license, I owned 3 different airplanes which I kept there.
A PT-19 which I kept hangared, an Aeronca 7AC & a Cessna 140 which were tied down on the field.
The field was operated by 'Robbie' Robertson, who I understand was a legend in his own right.”
A circa 1958 aerial view looking south at Hadley Field's hangars, located along Stelton Road.
Mel Haynes Sr. recalled, "I grew up in Edison
and took flying lessons at Hadley as did my father.
I soloed there, got my private there & was a line boy & shop monkey there for a few years."
The 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Hadley Field as having 3 unpaved runways (with the longest being the 2,650' Runway 7/25),
as well as a ramp on the west side of the field with several buildings.
Hadley Field, as depicted on the 1967 NY Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
Hadley Field was still depicted as an active airfield
on the 1967 NY Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
It was described as having 3 turf runways, with the longest being 2,345'.
Mel Haynes Sr. recalled, "When they reenacted the airmail flight around 1967 or 1968
I propped the Jenny & made the papers but don't have a copy of the picture.
I really enjoyed working there & knew many of the locals & legends,
Tom Robertson in particular."
Two 1968 aerial views of Hadley Field by Mac Mayercik.
Mac recalled, “I learned to fly there & had a Champ in 1967-68, before moving it to Somerset Hills, also [now] gone.”
After 44 years, Hadley Field was closed in 1968.
According to Tom Beamer, "After it closed there was a big auction (unfortunately I didn't attend).
Among the items auctioned were parts from mailplanes of the 1920s."
In a 1996 report by the New Jersey General Aviation Study Commission's Subcommittee on Airport Closings,
reasons were given for the closing of 13 New Jersey general aviation airports.
According to the report, "Hadley Airport would have needed a costly upgrade in order to survive.
The community was opposed to preservation of the airport
and the land was sold to a developer, who erected a shopping center, industrial park, and hotel."
Hadley Field was no longer depicted at all on the 1972 NY Terminal Control Area Aeronautical Chart,
and a 1972 aerial view showed that it had been covered with new construction,
with not a trace remaining of the former airport.
As seen in the circa 2000 aerial photo of the site of Hadley Field,
the property has been redeveloped with an office campus & hotel,
and not a trace appears to remain of the former airport.
According to Douglas Wright, "The name lives on, at least,
immortalized in the name of the shopping mall that covers part of the site."
Peter Angelou reported in 2005, “Both of the hangers that were located at Hadley
were sold & moved to Blairstown Airport where they were both erected... only one was completed...
the other having only the framework erected.
It still is sitting there today... 'bare boned'.”
A 2007 photo by Jack McKillop of an engraved stone memorial which sits at the site of Hadley Airport.
Jack reported in 2007, “Part of the old airport is now a Holiday Inn.”
The site of Hadley Field is located at the intersection of Route 529 & Hadley Road (appropriately enough).
See also: http://www.airmailpioneers.org/history/HadleyField.htm
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In 1955, an Army Nike surface-to-air missile battery (South Plainfield Battery NY-65)
was constructed.
This 2-magazine Nike missile battery was 1st manned by Regular Army units
and later by the NJ Army National Guard.
The Integrated Fire Control Site for the Nike battery was located east of Durham Avenue
The Launch Site was located at the intersection of Hadley Road & Durham Avenue,
adjacent to the south side of Hadley Field.
The South Plainfield battery was originally equipped a complement of 20 1st-generation Nike Ajax missiles.
However, NY-65 was chosen as one of a subset of Nike batteries to be upgraded
to the significantly more capable 2nd-generation Nike Hercules missile,
the 1st of which arrived at the NY-65 Battery in 1961.
Battery NY-65 was eventually equipped with 12 Nike Hercules missiles.
The South Plainfield Nike battery remained operational until 1971.
A 1972 aerial view showed the above-ground portion of the missile launchers had been removed,
but the site otherwise remained intact.
All remains of the Nike missile site were subsequently obliterated (just like the historic Hadley Field).
A 1995 aerial view showed a shopping plaza covering the launch site.
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Budd Lake Airfield, Budd Lake, NJ
40.84 North / 74.78 West (West of New York, NY)
Budd Lake Airport, as depicted on the 1950 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
Budd Lake Airfield was apparently opened at some point between 1945-49,
as it was not depicted at all on the 1945 NY Sectional Chart.
The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located
was on the 1949 NY Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
According to Bob Zimmerman (who grew up across the road from Budd Lake Airport),
"The airport began business shortly after WW2.
The property owner's son wanted a place close to home where he could learn to fly & keep his airplane.
They dedicated about 90 acres of their farm & leased the property to Howard Bartholomew - the FBO.
He offered lessons, tie downs hangars, fuel, repairs & a snack bar.
The 'admin' building was a 2 story cinderblock building which still stands, but is obscured by overgrowth.
There was a row of tin-roofed open-front hangars that could accommodate approximately 20 planes.
A concrete fuel island is still in place in front of the building."
The earliest photo which has been located of Budd Lake Airfield was a circa 1950-54 aerial view (courtesy of Tom Beamer).
It depicted the field as having 2 grass runways,
and a row of 10 T-hangars along the southwest side, in front of which was seen one light aircraft.
A circa 1950-54 photo of the "Control Tower" at Budd Lake (courtesy of Tom Beamer).
A circa 1950-54 photo of hand-propping a Civil Air Patrol Cub at Budd Lake (courtesy of Tom Beamer).
According to J. Passannante, "I believe the man propping the cub is my father (though hard to tell)."
A circa 1950-54 photo of planes parked at Budd Lake (courtesy of Tom Beamer).
A circa 1950-54 photo of "Bart" Howard Bartholomew at Budd Lake (courtesy of Tom Beamer).
According to Tom Beamer, Budd Lake was operated by "Bart", Howard Bartholomew.
The runway at Budd Lake Airport was "1,800' long with wires at one end & trees at the other.
They operated T-6s, BT-13s, the typical assorted light planes of the era & the Stinson Reliant.
It was a different era - accidents were expected."
Tom continued, "There was a very active CAP [Civil Air Patrol] Squadron there.
In the [aerial photo above] you can see the buildings in the lower left.
Bart built a small square office & some T-hangars, rather basic.
He was a GREAT guy, learned to fly at Mitchel Field in a Hisso Jenny in 1920,
knew the business well, filled with charisma,
unfortunately he made the mistake of building his businesses on rented airports."
According to J. Passannante, "My father was based at Budd Lake.
The BT-13 mentioned at Budd Lake was my father's.
Two more planes he kept there were a 1946 85 hp Swift, an AT-6,
a Ryan PT-22, military & civilian versions."
According to Bob Zimmerman, "The airport ceased operations in 1956 or 57.
The FBO moved to Princeton & leased Princeton Airport until the mid 1960's."
[Operator Bart Bartholomew also later operated Skyport Airport in PA.]
In a 1996 report by the New Jersey General Aviation Study Commission's Subcommittee on Airport Closings,
reasons were given for the closing of 13 New Jersey general aviation airports.
According to the report, Budd Lake Airport closed because the owner (who lived about 500 feet from the runway)
did not like the noise & refused to renew the lease.
Budd Lake was definitely closed prior to 1957,
as it was not depicted at all on the 1957 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
A 1957 aerial view depicted the airfield as basically intact (including all of the T-hangars),
but there were no aircraft visible on the field.
All but 2 of the T-hangars had been removed at some point between 1857-63, as seen in a 1963 aerial view.
The runways area remained clear, though.
Only a sole T-hangar remained standing by the time of a 1970 aerial photo (and a 1971 aerial photo).
Budd Lake Airfield was still depicted on the 1971 USGS topo map,
even though the field had been closed for at least 14 years by that point.
The 1986 USGS topo map still depicted Budd Lake Airfield,
with a single 2,100' runway, oriented northwest/southeast.
As seen in the circa 2001 aerial photo,
the site of the former Budd Lake Airfield is a farming field,
and not a trace would appear to still be recognizable to an observer that is was once a vibrant little airport.
Eileen Stokes (of the Washington Township Historic Society) reported in 2003
that the former Budd Lake Airport "will soon be built upon for a new elementary school.
Several folks are looking to document the site & story for an eventual display in the school."
The site of Budd Lake Airport is located
south of the intersection of Drakestown Road & Church Road.
Thanks to James G. for pointing out this airfield.
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Flanders Valley Airport (81N), Flanders, NJ
40.84 North / 74.68 West (West of New York, NY)
A 1963 aerial view depicted Flanders Valley Airport as having a single east/west grass runway visible.
The precise date of establishment of Flanders Valley Airport has not been determined.
A 1957 aerial view appeared to depict the beginnings of Flanders Valley Airport,
with cuts having been made in 2 treelines, making a clear path for what would eventually be the runway.
A 1963 aerial view depicted a single east/west grass runway.
There were no aircraft visible on the field.
Flanders Valley was not yet depicted on the March 1966 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction of Flanders Valley which has been located
was on the 1967 NY Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
It described Flanders Valley as a private field having a single 2,500' turf runway.
Richard Krentz recalled, "I received my flight training from Frank Ragucci at that airport [in 1968]
and subsequently got my instrument rating there also.
In my minds eye I can relive my experiences & all the people there since 1968 when I first started to fly.
Those were 'good ole days'.
Flanders Valley was one of those airports where you always felt at home.
The hangar flying was the best in the country, and as I said, the pies were to die for.
I have many picture of the pilots & planes that were there
and the little restaurant there that served the best apple & berry pies in the world, a pilots dream."
The runway at Flanders Valley was evidently paved at some point between 1967-69,
as the 1969 NY Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy)
described Flanders Valley as having a single 2,200' asphalt runway.
The 1971 NY Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy) depicted "Flanders" as having a 2,200' runway.
The 1971 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy)
depicted "Valley (Flanders)" as having a single 2,224' paved Runway 10/28.
Erika Eick recalled, "I was living in Flanders, NJ, in the seventies.
I rode in my 1st airplane in 1973 at Flanders Valley Airport.
It was in a Piper Cherokee 140 & a pilot named Roy flew my sister & I around Flanders.
My sister & I rode bicycles to the airport & found the rides were priced at $3 / person for twenty minutes.
We rode home to bug our father to take us there & let us fly.
I later took my grandmother & aunt from Holland there to take a flight in a 172.
We barely got off the ground on Runway 28 as the plane was heavy & it was summertime.
I used to love going there on weekends & watching cows & airplanes do their thing.
My experiences there led me to join the Army & go into avionics.
I will never forget those days!"
J. Passannante recalled, "I was based out of Hackettstown Airport in the 1970s,
and visited Flanders every Sunday afternoon, for many years.
The man who owned Flanders at the time was Walt Hoffman."
Flanders Valley Airport, as depicted on the 1975 NY Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
Flanders Valley Airport was still depicted as an active airfield on the 1979 NY TCA chart (courtesy of Bill Suffa).
It was depicted as having a single 2,200' paved east/west runway.
As was depicted on the 1981 USGS topo map, the airfield consisted of a single 2,300' paved runway,
a perpendicular taxiway, a small ramp & at least one hangar.
The 1983 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Flanders Valley as having a single 2,224' paved Runway 10/28,
with a taxiway leading to a ramp with a single building (a hangar?) on the south side of the field.
The remarks said: "Runway 10 - closed for takeoff with less than 10 kt headwind."
Richard Krentz recalled, "My last flight from that airport… was 1984
and the airport was shut down shortly afterward."
A 1986 photo by Dick Krentz looking west at Flanders Valley Airport,
with over 40 light aircraft visible on the field.
The last photo which has been located showing the Flanders Valley Airport while it was open was a 1987 aerial view.
The airport was obviously very well-used right up to the end,
as a total of over 40 aircraft were visible on the field.
Richard Krentz recalled, "It was a sad day when I got the call that Flanders was closing forever.
We were sad to see the place go but the developer got his way as usual & that was that."
In a 1996 report by the New Jersey General Aviation Study Commission's Subcommittee on Airport Closings,
reasons were given for the closing of 13 New Jersey general aviation airports.
According to the report, Flanders Valley Airport closed when the developers encroached on the runway,
building homes very close to the approach end of one runway.
By the time of the above 1995 USGS aerial photo,
the eastern half of the airfield property had been redeveloped as a housing subdivision
(which ironically has streets named Wright Court, Lindbergh Drive & Earhart Drive).
A sad 1996 aerial view looking west at the remains of Flanders Valley by Philip Kineyko.
The hangar is at the left, while the remaining runway portion is at the right.
Flanders Valley Airport was no longer depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on the 1998 World Aeronautical Chart.
As of the above circa 2001 aerial photo,
a 1,000' portion of the western end of the runway still existed, as well as the perpendicular taxiway,
and the ramp & hangar at the southern end of the taxiway.
Unfortunately, Steve Lanieri reported in 2005 that a more recent aerial photo
showed that “the western part of the airport has now unfortunately been developed
and there in no longer any existence of the airport.
The runway, taxiway, and buildings have all been demolished & a development put in their place.”
street signs in the neighborhood bearing the names of famous pilots.
The site of Flanders Valley Airport is located on the north side of Reger Road,
across the road from the Flanders Valley Golf Course.
Thanks to James G. for pointing out this airfield.
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Aircraft Radio Corporation Airfield, Boonton, NJ
40.93 North / 74.43 West (West of New York, NY)
The Aircraft Radio Corporation Field,
as depicted on a 1929 ARC booklet entitled “Development of Aircraft Radio Receivers” (courtesy of Albert Helfrick).
According to Albert Helfrick (who “worked for ARC from 1977-84”),
a 1929 ARC booklet entitled “Development of Aircraft Radio Receivers”
stated “In the fall of 1927 the Aircraft Division of the Laboratories [Radio Frequency Laboratories Inc.]
was formed to handle the aircraft radio developments then in progress.”
Shortly after their incorporation, a "Flying Field" was established at their facility.
According to Albert Helfrick, the 1929 booklet “shows pictures of a totally complete facility:
buildings completely furnished, hangar, cleared runways etc.
It had to take more than a year to do this, especially with the North Jersey winters.
Also, the land is reasonably flat but there was a brook that ran through the property
and some of the land had to be filled in & graded. This had to take months.
Therefore, I would say the construction took place the entire year of 1928.”
Albert continued, “The booklet also shows a detailed plat of the property.
It shows the northwest/southeast runway at 2,200’ & northeast/southwest runway at 2,100’.”
In early 1929 a great engineering conference was held at the Flying Field,
and the electronic instruments industry came in full force to celebrate the opening & dedication
of the company's new facilities, which included a hangar at the Flying Field & a laboratory in the town of Boonton.
While his Consolidated trainer plane was hangared at ARC,
young Jimmy Doolittle became a familiar personality on the local scene.
It was in this plane in late 1929 that he made his famous "under-the-hood" landing at Mitchel Field, NY,
ARC personnel having installed his special ARC receiver & radio gear.
The 1930 "Rand McNally Standard Map of New Jersey With Air Trails" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described the Aircraft Radio Corporation Airport as consisting of an irregularly shaped field,
measuring 2,200' northwest/southeast x 2,100' northeast/southwest.
A circa early 1930s aerial view depicted the Aircraft Radio Corporation Field
as an irregularly-shaped grass field, with a few small hangars on the west side of the property.
Note the airport circle marking in the center of the field.
By 1933, ARC-designed equipment was installed in the 1st fighter squadrons of the Army Air Corps & Navy.
The 1934 Department of Commerce Airport Directory (according to Chris Kennedy)
described the Aircraft Radio Corporation Airport as having two 2,200' sod runways oriented at right angles.
The Aircraft Radio Corporation Airfield,
as depicted on the 1935 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Scott O'Donnell).
The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)
described the Aircraft Radio Corporation Field as having three 2,200' sod runways.
The 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described the Aircraft Radio Corporation field as having a 2,200' runway.
According to former ARC employee Albert Helfrick, “As for the purchase date of ARC by Cessna,
I was told many years ago it became a 'wholly owned subsidiary' in 1954.
Later it became a 'division' of Cessna.
I have an article from 'The Citizen of Morris County', a magazine,
which outlines 'Boonton New Jersey, and its role in the Electronic Precision Instruments Industry', by Edgar Weed.
In the article it names the officers of ARC & they are the original RFL group,
so Cessna was not the owner or major player in 1950 giving credence to the 1954 date.”
The ARC company eventually went on to become the standard-equipment supplier of avionics
in the many thousands of Cessna civil aircraft produced between the 1950s & the 1980s.
They continued to use their airfield for test flights of aircraft equipped with their avionics.
A 1956 aerial photo looking northeast from a card commissioned by ARC (courtesy of Geroge Torpey).
George noted, “The buildings at the bottom housed the production facilities.
The engineering building is above it & the administrative functions were housed in the buildings above engineering.
The hangar is on the left of the runway about half way up the picture.”
George Torpey recalled, “I worked for Aircraft Radio from 1957 through 1970
holding a number of different positions in commercial field engineering & sales, systems engineering, and military sales & marketing,
all of which included piloting company owned and/or operated aircraft into & out of the Booton, NJ airfield.
It was a great place to work with a great history in the development of products for both military & commercial aviation.
It is sad that the company is probably remembered most for the lower-quality panel-mounted radios
that Cessna forced the company to build for their general aviation aircraft after they acquired ARC.”
The Aircraft Radio Corporation airfield was described in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory
as having 3 grass runways with the longest being 3,100'.
However, former ARC employee Albert Helfrick disagreed: “The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory
suggestion that there were 3 runways can’t be right.
I have no idea where the 3rd runway would have been.
It is true that the northwest/southeast runway was extended to 3,100’.”
Forrest Smith recalled, “My mother & Uncle used to work there.
They said it employed 3,500 people at one time before its demise.
The hangar was the only one on the field; it was used to install & test radios.”
A closeup from a 1963 aerial photo depicted one single-engine aircraft in front of the hangar at Aircraft Radio.
John Biggers recalled, “I worked at ARC... from September of 1976 as an Avionics Flight Test Pilot / Engineer.”
Former ARC employee Albert Helfrick recalled, “The northeast/southwest runway apparently had not been used
for quite some time when I arrived in 1977 but it would appear on some maps.
It was a parking lot when I arrived.”
The Aircraft Radio Corporation airfield was still depicted
as an active (private) airfield on the 1979 NY TCA chart (courtesy of Bill Suffa).
It was shown as having a 3,100' unpaved runway.
The Aircraft Radio Corporation was eventually purchased by Cessna at an unknown date.
Cessna sold ARC & the airfield in the mid 1980s,
at which point the airfield became basically inactive.
The "Aircraft Radio Corp" airfield was depicted on the 1969 USGS topo map,
but was simply labeled "Airport" on subsequent USGS topo maps.
Doug Crook recalled, “I learned to fly there in the 1970s. It was a special place.
I worked maintenance & cut the lawns for 3 summers while in college,
but all employees could join the Cessna flying club,
where we had new model year airplanes each year.
I seem to recall a 172 was $15/hour wet, a 152 was $7/hour wet!”
An October 1980 photo by Doug Crook, looking northwest along the crosswind runway,
with the hangar along the right side.
A twin-engine plane & a high-wing single-engine plane are visible in front of the hangar.
A 1981 New York Sectional chart still depicted it as an active private field.
According to former ARC employee Albert Helfrick,
it was about 1982 when a large new building was constructed adjacent to the west side of the northeast/southwest runway.”
The last photo which has been located showing an aircraft on the Aircraft Radio Airfield was a 1987 aerial view,
in which one single-engine aircraft was visible next to the hangar.
As depicted on the 1990 USGS topo map,
the airfield originally consisted of 2 runways (the largest was 3,100' long) & a large hangar.
Steve Pavlisko recalled, "When I started flying in 1995, it was still pretty much an airstrip.
I remember seeing VASI lights out there on the end of the field as well.
It was on the aeronautical charts till 1995 I believe, and was indicated as a private airstrip."
The Aircraft Radio Corporation airfield apparently closed at some point between 1995-98,
as it was no longer depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on the 1998 Sectional Chart.
As seen in a circa 2001 aerial photo, although no longer used as an airfield, the main runway still survives in excellent shape.
It is still cut to active-runway standards, and seems ready for use.
There appear to be some kind of lighting fixtures along the runway,
although lighting is not mentioned in its entry in the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory.
The closed-runway "X" markings are still on each end of the runway.
A model-airplane club uses the field on occasion for their activities.
The shorter crosswind runway (southeast corner) is being used for youth athletic fields.
The hangar has been well-maintained over the years,
and still stands just east of the runway intersection.
The town government recently made arrangements
to take over the property from the previous owner to preserve as open space.
There is a historical marker along Rockaway Valley Road,
adjacent to a firehouse near the northern end of the main runway,
commemorating the use of the airfield by Billy Mitchell.
Aaron Gould reported in 2003 that "the airfield now has several obstacles in the form of soccer & lacrosse nets.
I recently flew over the field & found there to be significant radio controlled aircraft activity.
The obstacles on the field would probably preclude any emergency landing."
Aaron Gould reported in 2004 that "The Township of Boonton is stonewalling me
as to who currently owns the main runway.
They say there is some sort of dispute as to whether they own it or the former owner owns it.
I asked them why then could they put lacrosse & soccer nets up on it if they didn't know if it was their property.
I received no reply.
If it does turn out that this property is owned by the former owner
my father & I will be attempting to purchase the runway (3,100') from them
and we'll see where we can go from there.
Keep your fingers crossed."
A 2005 photo by Forrest Smith of the front of the hangar at the Aircraft Radio Corporation Field.
Forrest observed, “The hangar is still in very good condition!
There are no planes inside, only small boats.”
A 2005 photo by Forrest Smith of the top of the hangar,
along which can still be discerned the lettering, “Aircraft Radio Corporation, Boonton, New Jersey”.
A 2005 photo by Forrest Smith looking north across the former runway at the hangar.
Forrest noted “The crosswind runway still has the metal wind direction indicator on it.”
A 2005 photo by Forrest Smith of one of the former Aircraft Radio Corporation production buildings.
According to Forrest, “Only a small portion of the old production buildings are now being used.”
A 2005 photo by Forrest Smith, looking across the former runway
toward the former Aircraft Radio Corporation production buildings.
Forrest observed, “The field itself is still very neatly cut, but, has soccer nets on it.”
A 2005 photo by Forrest Smith of the historical plaque which commemorates the 1st instrument flight,
performed by Jimmy Doolittle in 1929 using radio equipment developed by the Aircraft Radio Corporation.
The Aircraft Radio Corporation field is located east of the intersection of Valley Road & Rockaway Valley Road.
Thanks to Aaron Gould for pointing out this airfield,
and to James G. for providing further historical background.
See also: http://www.boontontownship.com/about.htm
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