During World War IIGeneral Motors automobile factory across the street from the airport called Linden Assembly, produced military aircraft. When World War II started Grumman Aircraft Corporation contracted with the recently created Eastern Aircraft Corporation to take over the manufacture of the Wildcat and Avenger aircraft for the US Navy and its Allies. This would allow Grumman to focus on the development and production of Hellcat. The Wildcat was manufactured in Linden, NJ and towed across the street to the Linden Airport for test flying and delivery. Construction of Linden Airport was started in the spring of 1942 and completed by October 1942. During the war Eastern Aircraft produced about 3,600 FM-1 and FM-2 Wildcats. After the war Linden Airport was turned over to the city of Linden which still owns and operates the airport under contract. The airport served as a temporary road racing course in 1954 when Al Keller won a race in the then-NASCAR Grand National Division. The original airport with its intersecting runways and large hangar remained intact until 1998 when the City of Linden, needing more tax-ratable property decided to divide up the underutilized airport to create a shopping center called Aviation Plaza on the north side of the field. A new airport was built on the south side complete with new taxiways, hangars and parking areas. The only remaining part of the original airport is the west to east runway. The airport is the only non-towered airport in the New York Citymetro area. Its close proximity to New York City and relatively light air traffic makes it an ideal location for basing news helicopters for New York's news channels. The airport is home to many sightseeing and commuter helicopters that fill the skies over New York. In 2010 Linden Airport hosted the New York City round of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.
Facilities
Linden Airport covers 188 acres at an elevation of 22 feet. Its asphalt runway, 9/27, is 4,140 by 100 feet. In the year ending January 8, 2002 the airport had 42,925 aircraft operations, average 117 per day: 99% general aviation and 1% military. 91 aircraft were then based at this airport: 70% single-engine, 18% helicopter, 11% multi-engine, and 1% jet.
