East Hanover Airport is located in Hanover NJ close to Route 280. It is located in what was the Glacial Lake Passaic. This was an area that was carved out by the last glaciers of the ice age that ended roughly 15,000 years ago. The area of Lincoln Park, Hanover, Chatham and the surrounding area floods frequently because of the low lying swamp land and the convergance of the Passaic and Pompton Rivers. The areas flooded badly several weeks and ago and 3 times in the last 4 years. the airport operated here from the mid 40’s until August 1985. The airport had been losing 10-15K a year and when a proposed office park fell thru, the airport closed for good. Thruout the 2000’s there were discussions of selling the 53 acres of land to the town or county and turning it into a park of some sort, perhaps funded thru the Green Acres fund. I came across a newspaper article in 2005 stating that this was the plan, but on a recent visit in 2011 it was clear that nothing has happened to date.
The airport originally had a 2,000 foot unpaved runway which eventually became a gravel runway and later a paved runway that ran northeast/southwest. At the southeast corner (where the nearby road bends sharply now) sat a hangar and some other office buildings. Despite the short runway, DC-3’s made an occasional landing there. The airport’s FAA license was not renewed in 1984 which sealed the fate of the little airport. The land is apparently still owned by the owner from 25 years ago, but there is no evidence that the property will be converted to a parkland any time soon. there is, in fact, evidence that there is some sort of contamination at the site. I don’t know anything more then what this sign says, so if anyone has a clue, please let me know.
All my flickr pictures can be found here.
Most of the information about the history of the hanover airport was found here a website which focuses on abandoned airports nationwide.
I have known about this place forever and had visited here in 2005. Not much has changed since then. Here is a picture of the office building from when the airport ewas open. Note the name of thew airport on the roof.
Today it looks a lot worse for wear.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5171/5572719580_cdf8af65a6_z.jpg
When I was inside the building snooping around the tin metal sheets of the roof were shaking and flapping, making for am very unnerving experience. When iI emerged I realized why it sounded so loud. A turkey vulture had been perched on the roof and flew off before I could take a picture. Inside the building I found the weirest grafitti, apparently outing a local resident who had been cheating his his spouse. Odd.
This compass was painted on the ground so it was visible from the air. This would help pilots orient themselves. In the second picture you can see the compass from the air.
The name of the airport was also painted in giant letters on the runway and are still legible after 3 decades.
The Lostinjersey Blog 
Posted by Sandee Weiner on May 4, 2021 at 6:07 PM
This name may ring a bell with some of you! Eric Lorentzen!
I finally tracked him down and had a nice chat with him … he had some great stories about Hanover Airport. He’s not big on email or the internet, so I said I’d print out a few messages from this discussion group, as well as print a few old pix.
Sadly, he’s no longer flying, but certainly talks a good game, as he was super involved back in the day!
Be well folks!
Here’s a pix of Eric and one of his old planes …
http://m.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=38829&fbclid=IwAR2Rg4sQFs-IB8OczVXwIMVOVrmP4MTJ_OiMDh7fQqTCPvhT8swC-EmVciU
Posted by Sandee Weiner on March 22, 2019 at 3:14 PM
<>
Skip: Tom’s daughter’s name was Jill – I remember she was real cute … does anyone know where she is?
Posted by Sandee Weiner on March 22, 2019 at 2:30 PM
Adding this to my collection of “all things Hanover Airport” – this was a GREAT find!
I’m hoping you can see the photo by clicking this link to my Facebook post …
Looks like spring is almost here – enjoy the nice weather if you’re out flying! š
Posted by gotoell on June 27, 2020 at 12:32 PM
I was 12 in 1963 when my dad George Jeranek and I ‘happened ‘ to pass Hanover Airport and Dad pulled in. We got out of the car and were looking at the different planes tied down, and soon we headed to the snack bar for a soda. There.was a man coming towards us from the fuel pump who had a limp. As we got closer, the man was staring at Dad, and Dad was doing the same. Finally the man said “George?” and my dad said “Bill?” and they had huge grins and hugged. I was speechless.
My dad began flying when he was 19 in 1924 with a Curtiss Jenny from WWI and had met Bill Rhode barnstorming. There was a Sandoz building on Rt10 and the property was a dirt strip back in the 20s. I don’t know all the details, but they became good friends.
They were so pleased to see each other after so many years.
Needless to say, dad caught the bug again and got his license, then instruments, with Bill as his instructor. Bill would say “Whose teaching who?” and he and dad would laugh. I also had the privilege of being a student of Bill’s, and thought the world of him.
One weekend Teterboro was having an Old Timers airshow, and Tom Oram (I adored his wife Helen) offered the Waco to Bill and Dad to go. They got out their leather helmets and triangular goggles and old jackets and had a blast! After they took off they followed the pattern and dive bombed the hanger, of course. Couple of wiseguys..
So many wonderful, treasured memories of those days. Trips to Harrisburg for butterscotch pie, jaunts to Bader field in AC, and a thrilling ride in Tom’s chopper minus the doors. Such a special place and such great people to know and spend time with.
If anyone remembers my dad I would love to hear from you. He died in 1984 and I’m so grateful for all that he shared with me. Just the two of us around 6000 ft flying through clouds of diamonds (snow) that I will always see in my mind’s eye. Thanks everyone at Hanover airport for making a teenage girl feel like one of the gang.
Posted by viasandee on June 27, 2020 at 1:40 PM
So nice to hear this story! We all have such wonderful memories of the airport! I was a little kid too back in the early 60s … youāll enjoy this video!
Posted by gotoell on June 27, 2020 at 8:58 PM
Great video, thanks! Your mom must have been quite a unique woman, especially for the 60s! Hanover was such a special place to me and I’m thankful for the memories. Dad flew my friend and I over Shea Stadium when the Beatles were performing in 64 and we were thrilled. Poor dad with two screaming Beatles fans! Those really were the days!
Posted by viasandee on June 27, 2020 at 9:47 PM
There are some really nice shots of Tom Oram on the Hanover Airport Facebook page! Do you remember Jill, the girl who worked in the snackbar – that was Tommy’s daughter, she’s chimed in on a few topics. Check it out … https://www.facebook.com/HanoverAirport/
Posted by viasandee on June 27, 2020 at 9:48 PM
And yes! My mom was quite a character! My father, who just turned 89 years old, still tells me great stories about when she flew cross-country over an Air Force base in south Jersey! LOL
Posted by gotoell on July 11, 2020 at 2:13 AM
My kind of gal!
I also remember sitting in front of the hanger on the weekends, just hanging out. after a hop somewhere. A Cessna or Piper would fly over, bank around, fly over again, do it a third time and everyone would chuckle. Another Chatham Avation student out of Morristown being introduced to Hanover. We could almost hear the student say “You want me to land on THAT!?” And try they would. The good ones would land on the second or third attempt, the others would just fly off. Great memories.
Posted by George Hedinger on March 20, 2022 at 10:04 AM
LOL!! I remember seeing some guy in a Grumman Yankee from Morristown try to land there. He made NINE passes and still couldn’t put it down! By the ninth pass, we were all lined up by the taxiway. He looked over at us and headed back to Morristown! He must have been embarrassed as all heck.
Posted by Lisa DeBari Malave on March 20, 2022 at 9:23 AM
LOVE seeing this video. My dad, Arnold DeBari had his tiedown at Hanover and I have the BEST memories of going there with him and flying out to Sky Manor and a Blairstown for air shows. So many wonderful people at Hanover – was truly a family. My dad passed just b4 his 90th birthday in 2018 and still talked of all the great friends from Hanover.
Posted by David Bjorkman on December 3, 2020 at 6:47 PM
Interesting video so I decided to look at it. Much to my surprise I see an Ercoupe owned by George Forster, who gave me my first ride ever in a plane. I saw it taxi and takeoff.. It was the only Ercoupe on the field that I remember and he hangered it in the overhang of the big hanger.
Posted by Sandee Weiner on December 3, 2020 at 7:45 PM
He David, thanks for watching my video! There were actually TWO Ercoupes at Hanover – my parents had one, and I guess George Forster (I didn’t know him, I’ll ask my father). The one landing in the video was my father …
FYI, more old photos and old movies posted here … https://www.facebook.com/HanoverAirport
Posted by bob on March 9, 2019 at 3:58 PM
Anyone remember when a Citabria crashed into the road. The pilot, Steve Kiraly, was doing stunts. He flew in a 90 deg. bank along the row of planes across from the hanger. When he attempted to pull up he hit the power lines and crashed into the road. He and the plane burned. At one time he was an FBO at Caldwell. Also was a AI. That day he had taken off from Lincoln Park.
Posted by John Tremper on March 9, 2019 at 4:22 PM
I was good friends with Steve, was there that day, witnessed the flight and the crash and virtually none of what you said is true. All hearsay. He overflew the runway perpendicular at about 300 ft, wings level, they are playing rolled to the right, dishing out of the roll going through the wires on the way down, the wires did not cause the accident. Why the airplane rolled was never investigated but anybody doing low-level aerobatic in a citabria wouldn’t be doing a roll to the right and even if he did initiate it I doubt he would have dished out, he was an excellent pilot. he did used to be at Caldwell and did take off from Lincoln Park that day though.
Posted by John Tremper on March 9, 2019 at 4:24 PM
*the plane rolled right
Posted by Bob on March 9, 2019 at 4:51 PM
I also was a good friend of Steve. I was planning on meeting him that day at Lincoln Park. I was at a friend’s house and stayed too long. Lucky for me. I stopped for a pizza on the way home. I had a dozen messages on my answering machne. I beleive it was Udo who told me. Ted Hebert had his business there at that time. I understand he drove away shortly after the crash. What I was told was incorrect. I always wondered what happened. Could have been a mechanical failure. I know that one fuel tank had been leaking and it was emptied and blocked off. The plane was flown many times like that.
Posted by Bob on March 9, 2019 at 5:35 PM
John. Were you a young man at that time? Did you work at Steves FBO at Caldwell?
Posted by george schaefer on March 9, 2019 at 9:20 PM
so that is the actual story since you were there. i had been at the airport earlier in the day as i was taking Ted down to look over a cherokee 140 in somerville i had put a deposit on. we saw the burned spot on hanover ave on the way back. heard the “story” of what happened then. version i heard was his plane had massive fuel leaks and he set em off with a cigarette then hit the wires. someone on here disputed this and other versions with me for quite some time in emails a while back. i didnt know steve very well at all, would say hi to him and remember Udo called him “tooth fairy”.
Posted by bob on March 10, 2019 at 8:19 AM
NTSB report concurs with John’s version. They added that Steve performed a roll”immediately after taking off on the same FLT.” Happened on Sunday 3/25/84.
Posted by george schaefer on March 10, 2019 at 3:48 PM
i knew john quite well back then and of all the “versions of the story” i heard, none ever came from him. i did not even know he was there that day to see the event occur until he posted this! possibly my wording made it sound a little like i was challenging his side of it, but rather i accepted it as “the facts” of how that event went down. funny how after all these years, your post was the first i heard of that particular version. on that day i did see steve and said hello to him as i was looking around for ted. about all i knew of steve was if someone asked me who he is, i could point him out and say “thats him.”
Posted by John Tremper on March 10, 2019 at 10:43 AM
It’s amazing how a story changes and how it’s twisted to fit certain facts. My story of it is fairly long so I apologize in advance. I showed up that day in the morning and Steve was working on a red banner towing plane by the road I stopped to talk to him and told him we were having a barbecue that day and asked if he would be there. He said he had to go to Lincoln Park but would be back by then so I went on my way. Yes, Steve was known for some antics but was a excellent aerobatic pilot, me being a kid at the time was still a little shy flying with him because I didn’t want him to scare me and was still working up the nerve. That day I decided I would go with him to Lincoln Park if he invited me and fly with him so after I went into the office and saw who was there I was going to go back and hang out with him and hopefully be invited. on the way to the office I met a student with a radio-controlled model, I have never seen one before and he asked if I wanted to go help fly it with him. What I didn’t know was the flying field was almost a half-hour drive away so when we went we were gone for quite a while. Well, not that long, he crashed it instantly so maybe an hour and a half. By the time we got back Steve was gone, left for Linkoln Park. The airport was busy that day, a Sunday, with students in the pattern and banner towers. as people gathered for the barbecue I was in and out of the office getting the grill ready. I was in the office talking to Udo behind the desk and heard an airplane, not sounding exactly like something in the pattern. I looked out the window next to the air conditioner and here came Steve in the citabria, about 200 feet high, perpendicular the runway, almost right over the office but slightly favoring Ethel’s house side. I ran out of the office to watch what he was going to do. This was not an uncommon type of arrival for Steve, most anyone else yes but Steve likes to put his flare on things. As I got outside he passed over and very slowly began rolling right. I am an aerobatic pilot, many hours in the citabria and I will tell you, no one in their right mind would intentionally roll one to the right at low level, the roll rate is slower because of torque and this roll especially wasn’t being performed correctly because there was no pitch up prior to the roll. yes, I was aware of the condition of the airplane having watched him fly through a tree dropping a banner months earlier, I knew the belly was ripped open and seen with a baseball stitch, I knew about the one fuel tank that was in op and not being used and I knew about the engine that would backfire and blow black smoke if you push the throttle too fast. As the plane passed through inverted, as I told the NTSB who ignored me I believe I saw a flame about a fuselage length and a half with black smoke starting the trail but honestly it was only visible for a second or so before the plane dished out of the roll and all I saw at that point was the top of the wing as the plane arced to the ground. Yes, it hit the power lines but it did so going vertical, not flying horizontal. it wouldn’t have mattered if the lines were there or not it’s just coincidental that he passed through them on the way to the ground. obviously the plane exploded at that point in a black mushroom cloud as it hit the center of the road. As the plane hit I turned back to the office and yelled to Udo to call fire and ambulance because Steve went in. We all ran to the scene and still their disbelief, looking at pieces of the airplane scattered in the parking lot, the skylight, the propeller, Steve iconic hat. That’s pretty much the end of my story. Being a kid, the NTSB reporter didn’t take anything I said seriously and took Udo’s statement, who never saw any part of the actual accident sequence. There was one other witness, a kid in town riding a bike who saw it as well riding on Ridgedale, also discounted for the same reason the only difference was I had pretty extensive aviation knowledge at that point. I personally don’t believe it was pilot error and from the way that the plane rolled I don’t believe it was mechanical. If it was fire and that distracted him in the cockpit to the point where he did have the stick over and not paying attention to the flight path I would go with that or a medical episode which was highly likely given his health. it was not flight into the wires and because of the way the airplane rolled I really don’t think it was intentional since I knew the caliber of pilot he was and how poorly it was executed if intentional. The only other possible theory that was brought up may have been suicide, he did hit only about 100 ft away from that airplane he was working on in the morning, if he was aiming for it he got pretty close considering.
Posted by Bob on March 10, 2019 at 10:52 AM
John I sent you a PM on Facebook. Kindly reply with your e-mail address. Bob
Posted by george schaefer on March 10, 2019 at 3:59 PM
hey john, thanks for finally putting all those other versions to rest on this. even the one that you responded to is new to me almost 40 years later. do you still run into anyone from Hanover back in the day like steve freid, kimberly, russel(the CFI who wanted to go into the air force and got busted on a DUI), bob manalio, stuart, hell, even Udo?
Posted by John Tremper on March 10, 2019 at 7:44 PM
Hi George, Udo passed away a few years ago in FL, Bob Manalio passed away as well, he had a plane at Trinca where my shop was at the time, I still talk to Stu who moved to FL, just sold his 182 for him a few years ago. Steve Fried lives in panther valley and occasionally wanders to the airport to hang out but very rarely and then I won’t see him again for years. I had heard Kim was married, lives in PA somewhere and has a disabled kid. Igor with the orange citabria passed away a few years ago from cancer, I own that plane now, had restored it for him in the early 90’s but he still never flew it much. Barry Palmer with the orange citabria is in poor health in VA, he had built and flown an RV-8 but sold it about a year ago. I used to be friends with Russ and flew with him till the late 90’s in various regards but we had a falling out and don’t talk to him anymore, believe he flys corporate for someone. I don’t know the whereabouts of anyone else though. I run a shop and teach at Aeroflex Andover now for about 17 years, shop started at Trinca in 98.
Posted by george schaefer on March 11, 2019 at 2:21 AM
thanks for the updates john. sad to hear we lost some of those guys. aside from a few being real characters, they for the most part were a really great group and i do miss all the fun we had hanging out there (sshhh,i liked bob manalios wife). i lost track of everyone once the place closed and i went to Aeroflex. whole bunch of different people there. only ones i was rather close to was Skip Degan and his son who had a “skate shop” of some sort in Trenton, i believe. Skip helped me get my instrument rating while at Aeroflex. he had an old flight simulator in back of one of the hangers that he bought from a friend of mine who owned the fireplace shop on rt183 in Stanhope. is Skip still around there maybe or do you even know of him? at the time he had a green luscombe. cant remember the name of the airport attendant there but he had an absolutely gorgeous daughter who sold white castle burgers and asian food sometimes in the little lunch room. business went to hell in a handbasket after i bought out my remaining partner, gave up and went to south carolina. for the couple years i flew down there (mostly to keep moving the plane so the tax man would not catch it, damn property tax on everything) i was kinda the novelty, one being a “god damned yankee” and the other for having a “license”! i dont hang out at any of the ports here in Ohio even with Kent State Univ and Portage County just a few miles away. i guess my big thrill is watching the C130’s practicing touch and go at Youngstown ANG base as they fly almost directly over the house quite low. listening to my bro in law, things in the sir have changed drastically, filing flight plans on computer, flying IFR with GPS, glass cockpits, etc. sounds like i would have to start all over again! nice hearing from ya, good luck with the business, dude!
Posted by Bill Rabolli on April 16, 2018 at 7:48 PM
The compass rose depicted on the taxiway is used for calibrating wet compass in aircraft as electrical equipment is added or removed it affects the aircraft Compass. You can we calibrate the compass in the aircraft on that compass rose depicted on the ground by aligning the aircraft magnetically north and south and then tweaking the Compass in the aircraft appropriate
Posted by viasandee on January 12, 2018 at 4:40 PM
Anyone recognize this young man in the photo?
Posted by rhhardin on February 21, 2018 at 7:16 AM
I think that’s Dougie. He had a very clean J-3. Rode with Eric as rear gunner in the T-6 sometimes.
Posted by viasandee on February 21, 2018 at 8:18 AM
Is Dougie still around? My father didnāt remember his name, said he was a nice kid, possibly from Madison. Thatās my mom …
Posted by douglas mehring on May 18, 2020 at 11:06 PM
Hi to all the old pilots at Hanover Airport. Dougie is still around thats me Douglas Mehring currently live in Hillsborough NJ. Wish I still owned the 70745 J3 was a great airplane. Now retired from flying but alot of great Hanover flying memories including the T-6, Waco UPF-7, bamboo bomber and many others.
Posted by viasandee on May 18, 2020 at 11:54 PM
Wow! Youāre pictured with my parents, Stan and Ellie Maciejewski! Do you remember them? Red / white Ercoupe! Thanks so much for replying!
Posted by douglas mehring on May 19, 2020 at 10:32 AM
Hi, I remember them well. Stan and Ellie had brought the Ercoupe home to do some renovation work and had asked me to help. Visited many times. Tommy was my instructor starting in 1963 he signed me off for both private pilot and commercial pilot license. Bill Rhode was my check instructor in the Waco, flew many hours in that airplane. I knew most of the pilots quite well in those days wish I could turn the clock back! I lived in Summit at that time. Went to college in Florida and received my instrument and multiengine rating at Embry Riddle.
Now I build antique racing boats and have a US Coast Guard Masters captains license keeping my feet on the ground.
Be well
Doug
Posted by viasandee on May 19, 2020 at 10:40 AM
I can’t wait to tell my father! My mom was prego with ME when that photo was taken! Hey, I’m actually looking for a 10′ mini speed boat, there are some nice old ones out there … email me if you have an info, looking to buy something to zip around in this summer! I have a little Glastron now … sandee@sandeeland.com
Posted by douglas mehring on May 21, 2020 at 10:43 AM
Hi Sandy, Enjoyed your video never realised your mom took flying lessons at Hanover good for her!! Say hello to your father for me, your parents are great people and always welcomed me to visit and help with the Ercoupe restoration.
What happened to the Ercoupe? My J3 piper cub is flying out in Ohio by a man
that has owned my old airplane for many years. Should call him and ask if he interested in selling. This was my first airplane I was saving up for a car working part time but bought this plane instead ($1350). My mother liked the idea my father was not too happy. Guess who won. Ha Ha.
Planes,cars and boats are all fun.
Be well
Doug
Posted by John Tremper on May 19, 2020 at 11:12 AM
Hi Doug,. I never knew you but my good friend Stu Endres talked about you often, he’s living down in FL now, I’m sure he’d love hearing from you again!
John Tremper
Posted by douglas mehring on May 20, 2020 at 9:05 PM
Hi John, I would be very glad to talk to Stu. Never knew anyone still talked or remembered all these wonderful details about flying at Hanover airport.
My home phone is 908-359-5467 or email dhn08844@hotmail.com.
Regards Doug Mehring
Posted by viasandee on May 20, 2020 at 10:01 PM
Doug, I was only a “little kid” at the time – but STILL remember the great times I had with my parents at the airport! I’m kicking myself now for not getting my “wings” … I got bit by the car bug instead!
BTW, if you haven’t seen this video yet – I’m sure you’ll enjoy it! My mom doing touch n goes …
Posted by Tom Gilbertson on June 7, 2018 at 11:36 AM
I remember that young man. His name was Doug. He and his Dad had a J3 Cub N70745 tied down next to my Dad’s T-Craft on the second tie down row about two or three aircraft in from the runway. Don’t ask me how i remember the N# as for some reason i just remember numbers. Anyway I remember that they both were very nice people and somehow on the panel of the cub they had an emblem probably off of the control yoke of a Boeing 707. A play on the N# for sure. Great memories.
Posted by viasandee on June 7, 2018 at 11:55 AM
Looks like the plane is still in the air! N70745
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000092808.html
Posted by Tom Gilbertson on June 10, 2018 at 9:29 AM
its interesting seeing how many airplanes live on. I’m sure that a lot of the airplanes based at Hanover back then are still flying. I still have my dad’s T-Craft and am still flying it. N95716. I’m based at Alexandria field N85.
Posted by Sandee Weiner on August 25, 2017 at 10:11 AM
Thanks for keeping this thread active (sorta) … love the old hanger talk …
Posted by rhhardin on August 24, 2017 at 5:34 PM
I was based and flew out of there from the mid 60s to early 70s, always flying an Aeronca 7AC.
I wonder if anybody remembers the name of the airport dog? The question came up the other day. Somebody there remarked in 1970 that ___ seemed to be unaffected by the solar eclipse, contrary to what was said about the behavior or animals. I had flown down to Virginia to see the eclipse and had just gotten back. I wanted to fill in the blank with the dog’s name.
Posted by James Loveless on August 24, 2017 at 9:01 PM
The airport dog’s name was Missy. We were lucky enough to get one of her puppies when I was about 4 years old. She was a great dog.
Posted by Sandee Weiner on August 25, 2017 at 10:04 AM
I remember the dog … Missy, wow. Thanks so much for the great memory! BTW, I was about 2 or 3 when my parents flew out of Hanover … such a great place to run around. They would “tie” me to the hanger so I wouldn’t wonder out to the runway! You might enjoy this old 8mm of my mom doing touch n goes …
Posted by James Loveless on August 25, 2017 at 12:36 PM
Awesome 8mm!!! Brings back tons of memories!!! My father was a flight instructor there until about 1978. I still remember trying to clear the power lines after taking off. I think it was runway 27? I also recall holding my Father’s hand and being scared as hell looking up that DC3 with those two loud radial engines!!!!
Posted by Sandee Weiner on August 25, 2017 at 1:53 PM
Nice! My mom took lessons from Tommy, I don’t remember a Mr Loveless …
I find it hard to share photos on this discussion group … I started this Facebook page for videos and lot of old memorabilia I’ve collected … https://www.facebook.com/HanoverAirport/
Posted by James Loveless on August 25, 2017 at 7:17 PM
I’ll try to dig up some photos from my father. He retired about a year ago.
Posted by George Hedinger on January 2, 2022 at 1:57 PM
Warren Loveless was my flight instructor at Hanover in ’71 and ’72!
Hope he’s still doing well.
My first flight EVER was with Tom Oram in his beautiful orange and white Bell 47G!! A couple of years later, I started taking lessons in one of his Cessna 150s with Warren. Hanover was a great place with some interesting planes. I remember the SeaBee that was there, and there was little fellow named Jim who had a Mooney Mite. Any time he returned from a flight, he would buzz the runway in that tiny plane at over 100 mph! Cool stuff!
Posted by George Hedinger on January 2, 2022 at 2:04 PM
P.S. Good old Waren…”Alright mate, let’s aviate!”
Posted by James Loveless on January 2, 2022 at 4:22 PM
Hi George, my father passed away about 3 years ago. He kept flying up until about 3 years before he passed. After he stopped flying, we noticed him starting to go down hill. He lived to fly.
Posted by George Hedinger on January 2, 2022 at 4:34 PM
I’m so sorry to hear that, James.
Glad to know that he flew almost up to the end.
He was a very nice man and a good instructor.
Posted by rhhardin on September 3, 2017 at 7:53 AM
Huh. Missy doesn’t ring a bell. White with black spot, was all over the airport avoiding propellors, medium sized. But then I couldn’t remember it and was wondering if it was something like Spot, so maybe it was Missy.
I have one photo of a random Cherokee probably from 1963 or before
landing west. Surely taken before I was based at Hanover.
I think the largeish twin in the video was a (Cessna) bamboo bomber that suffered from a refurbishing gone bad when they cut out a section of the main spar to make it easier to walk over, so it couldn’t get recertified.
Its spot was taken over by Eric somebody’s AT6 which was eventually done up in camouflage. Somebody called Roman was an expert painter and repainted a lot of airplanes there.
One of the planes tied down was a SeaBee.
I remember a guy (George Fox?) with an experimental fast plane on which he was always trying to rework the propellor to get more than 180mph out of it.
I flew a lot with somebody Olde and his cousin in another 7AC, and a guy Tom Robinson in a Taylorcraft, when we decided on a joint expedition somewhere, but mostly it was standing around.
Ernie somebody was an iron worker with (jointly with others) an AT6 and an Apache later that might have been his own.
Some fellow with an experimental biplane did nice work and sold me some Bendix magnetoes for my 7AC when one of the Eisman’s stopped working (you have two so you can fly home when one stops working). The Eismans would never start on dewey summer early mornings anyway.
Posted by rhhardin on September 3, 2017 at 8:03 AM
Incidentally fuel was run on the honor system. Refuel your plane, fill out the slip on the box that was left there, and they add it up and send you the total at the end of the month with the $25 tiedown fee,
Posted by rhhardin on September 3, 2017 at 8:12 AM
Oh, don’t forget Herbie in the blue step-in van selling hot dogs at the east end of the runway, responsible for a pretty good crowd on nice weekends.
Posted by rhhardin on September 3, 2017 at 8:19 AM
The biplane was a Waco. They started renting it out. I saw the last renter take off, losing directional control and clipping the bushes but got off okay. He wound up at Kupper airport in a wreck of some kind that involved spilled fuel and somebody with a cigarette accidnetly set it ablaze later.
I’m remembering some story about the trim being set wrong starting the confusion.
Anyway that plane towed the gliders.
One day he towed with too little fuel, the engine sputtered and he cut the glider loose and returned to the field; the glider went down by a house to the north in the swamp. We all drove out and retrieved it. Always land where you can retrieve the airplane.
Posted by Tom Gilbertson on October 27, 2017 at 8:30 PM
Ron i remember him well and that truck on Ridgedale Avenue. You are right the crowds on the weekend were amazing. I was brand new at flying the Tcraft then and i remember thinking if those people knew how new i was at it they wouldnt stand so close! I remember people lining the runway. He must have sold a log of hot dogs! There is a website called Abandoned & Little Known Airfields that lists airports across the country that are no longer with us. Hanover is one of them. I sent in a number of pictures from the sixties and they are posted along with pictures from other people. One of them shows the blue hot dog truck by the approach end of 27.
Posted by Tom Gilbertson on October 23, 2017 at 11:17 PM
Ron: Had to answer you on your last post here where you mentioned several people. It was Eric Lorentzen that had a T6 tied down along the runway. Bob Auld had a Champ and always flew with his cousin. Bob was a super nice guy and always reminded me of a history teacher. Tom Robinson had the red Tcraft tied down near us his name was actually Dudley B. Robinson. I remember flying with him once and we flew over a nudist colony. Ernie White had a T6 as well. I remember he was friends with my brother. I remember you had two champs. The first one had a real fancy paint job and was a little worn but the second one you got was really nice. I remember so much from those days. I was between 13 and 19 years old while we were there. People and their airplanes made a big impression on me. Bill Rhode and Tom Weidlich were the instructors. Bill soloed me in the Tcraft. Tom eventually went with Allegheny Airlines as did my brother. My dad was with TWA.
Posted by Sandee Weiner on October 24, 2017 at 2:46 PM
Eric Lorentzen (Levolor Blinds, his father founded the business)! I haven’t heard that name in a long time! My sister went out with him once or twice … geez, I was only about 8 years old, but I remember the day like it was yesterday! I have an photo of his plane somewhere, I’ll look for it! š
Posted by Tom Gilbertson on October 24, 2017 at 4:01 PM
This blog is great. Its so good to hear from people who remember Hanover so well. My dad bought the TCraft from Jack Lenahan in Dec of 1964. Jack then bought a Fairchild 24 that was tied down close to the parking lot. My Dad rebuilt the Tcraft in 1966 and we were gone from Hanover between March and July of that year but came back with the rebuilt airplane that had been blue and white and was now green and yellow. In 1970 we moved to Blairstown but I brought the Tcraft back to Hanover around 1979 and was there until the airport closed. I remember Udo who was running it at the time. I used to see Tom Oram as well then. He had a 150 tied down next to me. I will never forget flying with Bill Rhode. Talk about a pilot! He soloed me at 16 in the Tcraft and i always remember how comfortable i was with him in the plane. I knew if i screwed up there was nothing that he could not make right. I have a signed copy of his book “The Flying Devils” all about his barnstorming and parachuting days. You might remember he walked with a limp from an old parachuting injury.
Posted by Tom Gilbertson on October 27, 2017 at 8:21 PM
Sandee: i remember Eric’s plane was repainted at some point in camouflage colors with a big chrome prop spinner. His was the only one on the field for a while and then Ernie White got one and they were parked next to each other. I seem to recall that Eric loaned the airplane to someone who was flying it in an airshow up in Canada where it was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Posted by Sandee Weiner on October 29, 2017 at 10:17 PM
Geez, I didn’t know that …
Hey, if anyone is interested in checking out the Hanover Airport Facebook group – here you go https://www.facebook.com/HanoverAirport/
Posted by Tom Gilbertson on October 23, 2017 at 10:54 PM
My Name is Tom Gilbertson and with my Dad John Gilbertson and my brother Jack had a Taylorcraft at Hanover from 1964 to 1970. It was a great place and I miss it. I occasionally take a ride up there and see whats left. Its sad. I made my first solo in our TCraft at 16 years old on June 23, 1967. Bill Rhode was my instructor. I still have that TCraft today based at Alexandria field in Pittstown. I did see a comment here from Ron Hardin. Ron I remember you and your Champ. You wheel landed it every time and in the exact same spot on the runway. I’d love to communicate with some of the folks that remember Hanover!
Posted by Jim Booth on August 2, 2015 at 1:07 PM
My father in law Marinus “Mike” Glerum lived on a farm that backed up onto the airport. He would jump the fence and learned to fly there. His first license was signed by one of the Wright brothers. He was the youngest to ever get a commercial license and became
an American Airline pilot. He flew the mail and flew in a circus.
Posted by viasandee on October 19, 2014 at 8:37 PM
Wow! I just happen to stumble upon this blog, nice to hear other great stories about the Hanover Airport! My mom parents had the cute red and white Ercoupe back in the late 60s / 70s … you might find this short video fun, my mom doing touch n go’s … http://youtu.be/_s3Y67o46kM
Posted by tim on March 18, 2014 at 1:38 PM
the compass on the ground is to do a compass swing which corrects the compass for any deviations
Posted by Sandee Weiner on August 25, 2017 at 10:08 AM
You can see the compass on this old 8mm movie! So great!
Posted by Richard Kenyon on May 30, 2013 at 8:25 PM
I flew in and out of Hanover many times in the mid sixties. They had glider operations there using a biplane for the tug. One Sunday, the tug nosed over, spilling fuel on the ground, where a careless smoker threw a lit cigarette, thus destroying the tug and ending soaring there. Tom Oram, the operator, was descended from the Oram family who kept the Port Oram lock on the Morris Canal.
Posted by Skip on March 28, 2014 at 8:49 PM
I was in the Icarus Flying Club with Bill Rhode as my instructor in the Luscombe. Tom was a great guy, as was his very attractive daughter.
Posted by george schaefer on February 27, 2015 at 8:54 PM
Are you Skip Degan by chance?
Posted by bruce g. roberts on April 10, 2016 at 3:21 PM
I remember Bill Rhode too great “quiet” guy. He wrote a book about his “Barn Storming” days…I wish I knew where it was. He taught me well…on the 150 and 172 Cessna’s. I remember the many “touch and Go’s” I did there…and the aweful power lines at the end of the run-way. lol. (funny) I never will forget the day Bill let me solo…..in January…over cast day…and a light mist of snow…lol. We did several touch and go’s….then he said “OK..bruce its yours…it may float a bit cause im not in it” I thought he was joking about soloing. I did not tell him this lol…but I talked to the empty seat during the whole solo flight…..lol
Posted by Greg Herrick -- AFA on November 20, 2016 at 4:09 PM
It may be his great book “Baling Wire, Chewing Gum and Guts”. Is Bill Rhode still alive?
Posted by John Tremper on November 20, 2016 at 5:09 PM
No, he died of cancer in the mid 90”s.
Posted by Jim on August 3, 2012 at 12:10 AM
I remember flying out of Hanover Airport with my dad when I was 5. He was a flight instructor there and after all those years still is, now flying out of Caldwell. I grew up around aircraft and have many fond memories of Hanover Airport.
Posted by David Gibler on November 21, 2011 at 11:11 PM
My dad was a hobby pilot and flew a Piper Cub out of there in the late 60’s and early 70’s. His friend Tom and his partner Bea managed the place. My dad, my sister and I would hang there on Saturdays and Tom wouldn’t mind me running around the hangar. He had a biplane and a helicopter like Wild Kingdom, you know, the bubble one? In the very early 70’s, we lived in Livingston, and our property bordered Richie “The Boot” Biardo’s estate. Life magazine chartered Tom and his chopper to fly over the estate so the guy from Life magazine could take some snaps. When they returned to Hanover airport, which could have only been a 5 minute flight, there were 2 black Fleetwoods waiting with 6 no necks in each. They made it clear to the photographer why he shouldn’t do that again and they relieved him of his camera. The photographer immediately got another camera and went 50 miles west and did the same thing from another airport. Those pictures made it into Life. One of many interesting stories from there I’m sure.
Posted by Sandee Weiner on August 25, 2017 at 10:09 AM
GREAT story!
Posted by My Memorial Day: Searching For A Crashed Jet in the NJ Woods « Scouting NY on May 31, 2011 at 1:15 AM
[…] PS – Be sure to check out the Lost In Jersey blog for more awesome NJ finds, including a very cool abandoned airfield. […]
Posted by Chris on March 30, 2011 at 9:13 AM
The old airport was one of our regular stops back in the late 70’s until the mid 80’s. We would love to watch planes come and go and once witnessed my mothers friends son fly an ultralight there. Once the airport shut down we would love to race our bicycles up and down the runway until the police would scare us off. Good times!
We would also head out in the swamp a bit further up Ridgedale Ave and collect bottles and whatnot that were dumped while being cautious for snakes. Way back in the early 70’s I vaguely remember going to that region to dump an old washer and dyer with my grandfather. On the other side of 280 you can see the remnants of an old road and bridge that now leads to the sewage plant or Parsippany town dump (If memory serves). This may have been Route 12?
Posted by lostinjersey on March 30, 2011 at 6:25 PM
so the road is abandoned? or it’s active. where is that in relation to the airport? I’d love to go hiking and scout that out.
Posted by Chris on April 4, 2011 at 9:16 AM
If I remember correctly, you would continue down Ridgedale, cross over 280 and make the first right onto Edwards (?) Rd. It was down that way, past town dump. I think the road is abandoned at some point.
There was also another road..if you followed Ridgedale towards 280 but instead of curving right to cross 280, you could go straight and follow a road that ran parallel to 280 East for quite a ways..I think it went up to the 80/280 split.
I am curious if you have ever been to the East Orange Water Reserve in Livingston/Short Hills area..? Many abandoned buildings and oddities out there including a very small suspension bridge that led to an island in a river/swamp and a neat fire tower. If you search for Kennedy Parkway in Livingston, you will see loads of forest surrounding it. This is the EOWR.
Posted by John Tremper on January 13, 2014 at 4:07 AM
I grew up here and flew ultralights and everything else I could there as a kid, what’s your last name, did you live in East Hanover?
Posted by Chris on January 13, 2014 at 4:43 PM
Hi John,
My last name is Kynor. If I remember correctly, our mothers worked together at Burrells in Livingston, which is where I am from.
Small world, huh?
Chris
Posted by John Tremper on January 14, 2014 at 7:01 PM
Yep, that was me! I remember your name well because my mom always was talking about your mom / you. Sortof ironic that was the connection, just as I got your response I was just getting my mother into the hospital, she’s 85 now and not doing so great anymore. I think I sold you or a friend a beat up VW back then too? I still fly, run a maintenance shop and teach in Andover, NJ.
Posted by george schaefer on February 12, 2014 at 11:20 PM
john, im certain we know each other. i was at Hanover airport in the 80’s until it closed. bill rhode, udo, mike dybus, herbie, Dr. fried freid with his tri pacer then the robin. you used to wash planes for flight time. then you had that 2 seat ultralight and used to water bomb us until you took that dive into the swamp along rt280. you flew my cherokee 140 N9743W a few times. once we were at lincoln park and we had vapor lock on takeoff. i moved up to Andover Aeroflex and hooked up with skip degan who helped me get my instrument rating. when i closed my business i went to south carolina for some years, sold the cherokee down there and i see now that its still flying out in st louis MS. food to her you are still flying and hope you are doing well at your shop. i am out in ohio now, havent flown in years but my brother in law recently got his PP ticket and once he gets some hours under him i will start flying with him for his inst. rating.
Posted by John Tremper on February 13, 2014 at 10:52 PM
Hi George, yes, I remember you! I have a picture with a group of us on a bookshelf in front of Bob Manalio’s Aztec on the grass, you’re in that. Bruce (the English guy), Stu Endres (green 182) and a few others are in that as well. After the airport closed I rented for a while out of Lincoln Park, then gradually stopped flying, getting back involved in the early 90’s getting all of my raftings up thru CFI. I teach at Aeroflex and may soon be running the shop out of there, at Trinca right now. I have a Cherokee 140 too, as well as a flying J3 Cub and a project one.
Posted by george schaefer on February 17, 2014 at 9:48 PM
way to go John, really great to hear from ya! i never got a copy of that pic you have as place closed b4 the girl who took it gave me a copy. please, if u can email me a copy, please?? i love telling people the story if the time Stu landed and dropped his wheel in a bathtub some kids (probably u) left at the runway and how he skidded down to a stop. how bout the time Bob Manolio took off from the entrance road when the runway was underwater!! congratulations on your CFI, i was a few hours short of my commercial when funds ran out and i kinda “retired.” now i am having fun with the wife modding our 2008 Hyundai Tiburon and going to shows with it. hoping to get back in the cockpit when my brother in law gets over his shyness and will fly without his instructor. is Skip Degan still working out of Aeroflex? if he is, pass my Email along to him as id like t o hear from him again, had a great relationship until i headed to South Carolina and off to college in pursuit of a law degree. how do u like your 140? let me know if you want to sell your J3, my brother in law loves them and wants one!! hope you have a great time with both planes. FYI, N9743W is still flying, based in St, Louis, MO.
oni888@sbcglobal.net
Posted by Bill Treloar on March 30, 2011 at 9:05 AM
I have an inquiry in with the Construction Department to find out what the planned fate of the airport is.
Posted by NewYork Gal on March 29, 2011 at 8:07 PM
wow its amazing to see most of the structure in place after all these years and that graffiti is something else