You’ve probably driven past it a hundred times if you live in Hunterdon County. That low-slung, unassuming stretch of green and asphalt sitting right in the middle of Readington. To most people, Solberg Airport (N51) is just "the place where the balloon festival used to be." But honestly, if you think this is just a quiet rural airstrip for hobbyists, you’re missing the actual drama.
This place has been at the center of a decades-long war.
It’s a story involving trans-Atlantic pioneers, FDR, Nazi Germany, and a current legal fistfight between the Solberg family and the Readington Township Committee that’s getting pretty ugly here in early 2026.
The Norwegian Pioneer Who Started It All
The airport wasn't just built by some random developer. It was founded by Thor Solberg Sr. in 1939. This guy was basically the Norwegian version of the Wright brothers. In 1935, he was the first person to fly from the United States to Norway. He did it in a single-engine plane with a New Jersey-built engine.
Think about that for a second.
He flew over the Atlantic in a machine that looks like a kite compared to a modern Boeing 737. When he landed, he told President Franklin D. Roosevelt that the Germans were likely building secret bases in Greenland. Roosevelt actually listened, sent the Army to check it out, and Thor was later cited at the White House as a "Great American."
Solberg bought about 800 acres of farmland in Readington to build his dream of a regional hub. He opened the doors in July 1941, just months before Pearl Harbor. During the war, he trained over 5,000 military pilots. No accidents. Zero. The man was a legend in the cockpit, and his family still runs the place today—which is where things get complicated.
Why Everyone Is Suing Everyone Right Now
If you follow local news, you know the vibe is tense. Readington Township and the Solberg family have been in and out of court for over 30 years.
Basically, the town is terrified that Solberg will turn into a massive "jetport" like Teterboro. They’ve tried to use eminent domain to seize the land multiple times. They even offered millions to buy it, but the Solbergs won't budge. It’s their legacy.
The 2025/2026 Legal Mess:
Right now, the big fight is over Ordinance 19-2025. The town passed this new law that creates a special zoning district for the airport. On paper, it sounds like standard bureaucratic stuff. In reality, it’s a strategic strike.
- The 3,000-foot setback: The town is demanding that any new structures be at least 3,000 feet away from Readington Road.
- Runway Math: There’s a heated argument about how long the runway actually is. The Solbergs say it’s 5,598 feet (including the turf extensions). The town says those extensions are "unusable" and wants to classify it as 3,735 feet.
- The "Jetport" Fear: The ordinance specifically bans things like eVTOL (electric vertical take-off) aircraft and certain "advanced air mobility" tech.
The Solberg family filed a lawsuit against the township in late 2025, claiming the town is "zoning inward" to slowly strangle the airport’s ability to operate. AOPA (the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) has jumped in to support the airport, saying that if Readington wins this, it could set a precedent that lets any town in New Jersey shut down a private airport by just changing the zoning rules.
The Balloon Festival: What’s the Deal in 2026?
Okay, let’s address the elephant in the room—or the giant rubber duck in the sky. For decades, the NJ Festival of Ballooning was the highlight of the summer. Seeing a hundred balloons lift off over the Hunterdon hills was magic.
But as of 2026, the festival is still on a "hiatus" that feels more like a permanent exit.
It was canceled in 2024 and 2025. Costs were just too high. Insurance, security, and the logistics of moving 100,000 people through Readington’s narrow backroads became a nightmare. While other smaller festivals are popping up in places like Warren County, the big one at Solberg remains a ghost.
Honestly, it’s a bummer. That event was the one time the community and the airport really felt like they were on the same team.
It’s Actually a Massive Flight School
Despite the lawsuits and the lack of balloons, Solberg is a busy place. It’s a Cessna Pilot Center, and they do a ton of flight training.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn to fly, this is one of the best places in the tri-state area to do it. Why? Because it’s outside the "congested" NYC airspace. If you train at an airport closer to the city, you spend half your lesson (and your money) just waiting on the taxiway for clearance. At Solberg, you’re in the air in five minutes.
They use a fleet of Cessna 152s and 172s. They even have a full-motion simulator (the DCX Max) for when the Jersey weather gets too sketchy to fly.
The "Secret" Convenience of N51
Business travelers use Solberg way more than you’d think. It’s less than an hour from the Lincoln Tunnel. If you’re a CEO living in Bedminster or working at one of the big pharma companies nearby, Solberg is way faster than dealing with Newark or Morristown.
The airport has a weirdly long runway for such a rural spot. That 5,598-foot length (depending on who you ask in court) can handle most mid-sized business jets.
What You Should Actually Do There
You don't have to be a pilot to visit.
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- Introductory Lessons: You can buy a "Discovery Flight" for a couple hundred bucks. They actually let you take the controls. It’s a great gift, mostly because the views of the rolling hills and the distant NYC skyline are incredible.
- Plane Spotting: There’s a small observation area. On a nice Saturday, you’ll see everything from 1940s taildraggers to sleek modern turboprops.
- The History: Walk into the FBO (Fixed Base Operator) building. It’s managed by Suzanne Solberg Nagle and the rest of the family. You can feel the history in the walls.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re interested in the future of the airport or just want to see it for yourself, here’s how to engage:
- Check the Court Status: If you live in Readington, keep an eye on the Ordinance 19-2025 lawsuit. The ruling will likely come down later this year and will decide if the airport can modernize its taxiways or if it stays frozen in time.
- Book a Discovery Flight: Call the flight school at 908-534-4000. It’s the best way to see the "disputed" runway for yourself from 2,000 feet up.
- Support Local Aviation: If you want the airport to stay an airport (and not a warehouse or a housing development), you can write to the NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT) in support of the Airport Master Plan.
Solberg Airport is a rare piece of "Old New Jersey" that’s fighting to stay relevant in 2026. Whether it becomes a high-tech hub for electric planes or stays a quiet flight school depends entirely on the outcome of the current legal drama in Readington.