Twin Pine Airport
Encyclopedia
Twin Pine Airport was a privately-owned public-use airport located two miles (3 km) southeast of the central business district
of Pennington
, in Mercer County
, New Jersey
, United States
.
Twin Pine Airport was owned by William Weisner since 1956. The property was valued at $500,000 in 2005, but after the county ordered revaluations it was assessed at nearly $2,000,000. This caused a property tax increase from $17,000 to more than $36,000 per year, which in turn caused the owner to sell the airport. In 2006, the towns of Hopewell Township
, Lawrence Township
, Hopewell
and Pennington applied for $2 million in grants from Mercer County to turn the airport into athletic fields.
The airport's official closing ceremony was held on April 6, 2008. EAA
Chapter 176 was based at Twin Pine and is planning a fly-by celebration for the airfield. After the last aircraft has left, soccer field stripes will be painted on the runway.
The airport was considered historic and was home to many aircraft in its years, such as the famed Boeing 450 Stearman, nicknamed the "Red Baron", which regularly gave rides in and out of the grass strip. In more recent years, some aircraft were left at the airport after its closure. These include 2 Cessna 150s, a Varga Kachina, a Mooney M20C, and a Cessna 310.
designated 12/30 with a 2,200 x 100 ft (671 x 30 m) turf
surface. For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2006, the airport had 12,000 general aviation
aircraft operations, an average of 32 per day. At that time there were 15 aircraft based at this airport: 73% single-engine
, 7% multi-engine and 20% ultralight.
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Pennington
Pennington, New Jersey
Pennington is a Borough in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 2,585.Pennington was established as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 31, 1890, from portions of Hopewell Township, based on the results of...
, in Mercer County
Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Twin Pine Airport was owned by William Weisner since 1956. The property was valued at $500,000 in 2005, but after the county ordered revaluations it was assessed at nearly $2,000,000. This caused a property tax increase from $17,000 to more than $36,000 per year, which in turn caused the owner to sell the airport. In 2006, the towns of Hopewell Township
Hopewell Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 17,304. The racial makeup of the township was 86.7% White, 2.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 8.9% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races...
, Lawrence Township
Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
Area residents often refer to all of Lawrence Township as Lawrenceville. Lawrenceville is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Lawrence Township...
, Hopewell
Hopewell, New Jersey
Hopewell is a Borough in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,922.Hopewell was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 14, 1891, from portions of Hopewell Township, based on the results of a...
and Pennington applied for $2 million in grants from Mercer County to turn the airport into athletic fields.
The airport's official closing ceremony was held on April 6, 2008. EAA
EAA
EAA can refer to:*Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, an international organization of churches*Educational Assessment Australia, an educational assessment organisation*Electric Auto Association, a group advocating use of electric automobiles...
Chapter 176 was based at Twin Pine and is planning a fly-by celebration for the airfield. After the last aircraft has left, soccer field stripes will be painted on the runway.
The airport was considered historic and was home to many aircraft in its years, such as the famed Boeing 450 Stearman, nicknamed the "Red Baron", which regularly gave rides in and out of the grass strip. In more recent years, some aircraft were left at the airport after its closure. These include 2 Cessna 150s, a Varga Kachina, a Mooney M20C, and a Cessna 310.
Facilities and aircraft
Twin Pine Airport covered an area of 52 acres (21 ha) and contained one runwayRunway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
designated 12/30 with a 2,200 x 100 ft (671 x 30 m) turf
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
surface. For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2006, the airport had 12,000 general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
aircraft operations, an average of 32 per day. At that time there were 15 aircraft based at this airport: 73% single-engine
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
, 7% multi-engine and 20% ultralight.