In an era when GA airports are continually under attack, New Jersey’s Princeton Airport (39N) is celebrating something spectacular this month: Its 100th anniversary.
Founded in 1911 with a few flights by early aviators, the airport is now an anchor for the surrounding community, according to officials. The airport, which offers everything from maintenance to avionics to aircraft sales, also boasts the Raritan Valley Flying School, which has trained pilots from the Air Force ROTC at Rutgers and Princeton universities, Marine Platoon Leaders Program; veteran training; students from foreign countries, and Mercer County Community College. However the school’s primary function is to train students from the region. Students come from as far away as Staten Island, Long Island, and eastern Pennsylvania to seek training at the school, officials say.
“Quite a few pilots started their careers at this facility and later on became successful military pilots, airline pilots and — let the record show — also astronauts,” said Hank Gerwers, an airport spokesman.
The 100th anniversary celebrations will kick off May 15 with an open house/pancake breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon at the airport. “Everybody is invited to fly in or drive in to this not yet very common event,” Gerwers said. “Let us all join in saying: “Wow, how time flies!”
For more information: PrincetonAirport.com
