The Garden State has a deep-rooted history of looking to the skies for more than just the next rainstorm. Aviation has a rich history in New Jersey, as prolific leaders such as Charles Lindburg and Patrick Riley called New Jersey home.
These men were also instrumental in creating the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey, and next year, 2022, will mark the museum’s 50th anniversary.
A Brief History of the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey
Fifty years ago, a gentleman named Patrick Riley founded the museum and later penned the book From the Balloon to the Moon: New Jersey’s Amazing Aviation History. Riley and many of his associates were also directly involved in flying in some way. When they began to think about or research some of New Jersey’s rich history, it occurred to them that there should be some form of a museum to honor the remarkable achievements of those who either lived or worked in the state. That is how the museum was born.
The museum has always been on airport property in Teterboro. The airport itself is noteworthy in aviation history in New Jersey because it was built in 1910 and is still operational today. Therefore, it made sense for the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey to build its legacy on this property.
Throughout the first four years, the museum was in one of the historic towers on the other side of the industrial avenue. Then, in 1976, they moved to their current location.
In 1976 the original building was constructed. While there have been additions since then, the museum has been at its current location for 46 years.
The Roots
The Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey have maintained three main goals since its inception:
- Provide all visitors with an educational experience about New Jersey’s involvement in attaining groundbreaking aviation and space achievements.
- Seniors and children alike can appreciate the immense contribution that New Jersey’s people and establishments have made.
- As numerous schools make this a valuable learning opportunity for their students, the museum introduces youngsters to careers in aerospace, engineering, research, aviation, management, production, and other ancillary businesses in the aerospace industry.
They are proud to be carrying on the legacy that their forefathers started in 1972.
The Museum’s Early YearsThe early plaques of some of the early founders, such as Charles Lindbergh, were the first ever-present exhibits. As a result, the inaugural exhibits consisted heavily of Hall of Fame plaques. Of course, now the museum honors over 180 people in the Hall of Fame room.
At Present
Now, so many exhibits consist of images, old manuals, and documentation from certain companies.
However, there are plenty of aviation exhibits that fill a room and the yard surrounding the building. Some of these exhibits include:
- M*A*S*H Bell 47 helicopter
- Lockheed Bushmaster plane
- U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter
- And more!
“Exhibits are continually changing, and we must keep up,” Ralph Villecca, the museum’s Executive Director said, “As everyone knows, you must keep the museum fresh for your visitors. So, the museum tries to rearrange things or add to current exhibits.”
For example, in the Great Room, the museum features a general aviation trainer, a flight simulator developed by Finger Care, a New Jersey-based company. Then, there is Jersey Soaring, a glider manufacturer based in Blairstown Airport. They donated a fully functional glider, which the museum is now restoring.
Plus, the museum is also in the process of restoring a Korean War vehicle with a communication shack on top, slated to open as an exhibit in the spring. There were also radios inside that were used to communicate with enemy locations during the Korean War.
Unique Aspects of the MuseumIt is difficult to tell because each exhibit is so distinctive in its own right and in terms of what it adds. So, it all boils down to an individual’s interests:
Some of the exhibits are engines designed to help visitors learn more about B-29 bombers, including the X-1 and the X-15, which had engines produced by different companies.
Concerning aircraft: The Aviation Museum of New Jersey has flight simulators that get utilized in pilot training.
Only four of these remain in the world, one of which is an inertial reference unit. These guidance systems directed the Apollo manned missions to ensure that they got placed in the correct lunar trajectory on their way to the moon. Two are at the Smithsonian one resides at Honeywell Aerospace, and the other one has found a home at the Museum.
Many engineers are fascinated with engines when they come in.
However, many visitors are intrigued that a glider, or a proficient glider pilot, can stay aloft for six or eight hours flying a glider with no engine in the plane.
People are astounded by the depth and breadth of New Jersey’s contributions to aviation. Whether your interest resides in engineering with some of the world’s most prestigious engineering firms or the famous pilots, this Museum has something for everybody.
Of all the prolific faces from the thirteen astronauts from New Jersey that have visited the Museum, the most renowned is Buzz Aldrin of Montclair, the second man to walk on the moon.
On the architectural side, Newark Airport in Newark, New Jersey, was the busiest airport in the world throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Plus, Newark Airport was the first airport in the world to have a paved runway. In 1935, Amelia Earhart dedicated the Newark Airport passenger terminal to the first passenger terminal at a major airport.
Why Should You Visit the Museum?You must come to visit if you are looking for a place to spend an intriguing afternoon, even if you only have a passing interest in space, engineering, or aviation, whether commercial or military.
It is truly a one-of-a-kind, rich learning experience in New Jersey.
The Museum is also really interested in learning and teaching. Villecca says one of the best parts of working at the museum is seeing the expressions on children’s faces when they come to visit. And because children are both motivated and ambitious, they enjoy teaching a new generation of young men and women, boys and girls, who aspire to be engineers, pilots, or astronauts.
Everyone at the museum understands the importance of cultivating young minds, and one great way to do that is to expose them to the real world and its history. That is why everyone associated with the museum is keen on keeping the information, exhibits, and possibilities fresh and relevant; both honoring aviation history and encouraging future innovators.
Schedule a time to come check it out for yourself!
