Author Topic: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world? (Read 1257 times)

Waffle · « **Reply #15 on:** February 27, 2005, 03:13:36 PM »

Kittyhawk Nc - Kill devils hills area? outer banks?

Rasker · « **Reply #16 on:** February 28, 2005, 06:28:29 AM »

Some Austrian fellow built a steam powered seaplane that was actually flyable. Unfortunately he was killed on the first takeoff around 1885. So that lake would be the first airport.

BTW, I wonder if the cow pasture the Wrights used in Dayton is contained by the present Wright Patterson AFB. If so, that might be a candidate also?

HoHun · « **Reply #17 on:** February 28, 2005, 01:34:52 PM »

Hi Rasker,

>Unfortunately he was killed on the first takeoff around 1885.

Some might argue he was killed on the first landing.

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)

john9001 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 28, 2005, 03:02:10 PM »

some might argue that you should define what is a"airfield"

What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?

"oldest surviving airfield"....surviving

Arty · « **Reply #19 on:** March 01, 2005, 12:09:28 AM »

How about "Huffman Prairie"? Part of the Wright Patterson Air Force base (Patterson is still active) The Wright Brothers continued their flying there after they realized that N. Caralina was to far to go

hawker238 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 02, 2005, 04:35:26 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by HoHun
Hi Rasker,

>Unfortunately he was killed on the first takeoff around 1885.

Some might argue he was killed on the first landing.

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)

Dude... too soon!

SELECTOR · « **Reply #21 on:** March 02, 2005, 05:13:09 PM »

1722 london:rofl

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 04, 2005, 01:45:56 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Arty
How about "Huffman Prairie"? Part of the Wright Patterson Air Force base (Patterson is still active) The Wright Brothers continued their flying there after they realized that N. Caralina was to far to go

That's the correct answer. 1904 to present.

bunch · « **Reply #23 on:** March 04, 2005, 03:49:45 PM »

It that answer correct until someone flies from Kill Devils Hills again?

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 04, 2005, 06:27:22 PM »

I think somebody would have to go back in time and turn it into an airbase.

bunch · « **Reply #25 on:** March 04, 2005, 11:29:34 PM »

Odd coincidence, I just found a copy of Orville Wright's book for sale. I didnt think he wrote one. Lindberg, in his journals, writes of meeting Orville in the early 1940s & urging him to write an autobiographical book, but it sounded like Orville wasn't too hot on the idea. Anyway probably something aplicable in the book to the thread, but 1st i have to finish "The Corsair Years" by Andrew Jones, VMF-113 (very highly suggested by me, a two time "name this" winner)

HoHun · « **Reply #26 on:** March 05, 2005, 06:09:54 AM »

Hi again,

I feel it might be a good idea to add some details to the link I posted above:

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bild:LilienthalDenkmal.JPG

Though named "memorial", this mound actually was Lilienthal's launching site in Berlin. Unlike today, it was perfectly conical so that he could launch into the wind regardless of wind direction. He had a circular hangar half-buried in the peak of the mound and launched from the conical roof of that hangar (that fit the contours of the mound perfectly).

It was not his first airbase, though, he had previously built a polygonal hangar right at the edge of a cliff in the Rhinow Downs, launching from its roof, too.

I'm pretty sure that one didn't survive, though.

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)

HoHun · « **Reply #27 on:** March 05, 2005, 06:14:06 AM »

Hi Bunch,

>Odd coincidence, I just found a copy of Orville Wright's book for sale. I didnt think he wrote one.

Is it "How We Invented the Airplane - An Illustrated History"? I bought this from Amazon recently and thought it was an excellent read. Highly recommended, and I believe the price was low, too :-)

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)

bunch · « **Reply #28 on:** March 05, 2005, 01:57:48 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by HoHun
Hi Bunch,

>Odd coincidence, I just found a copy of Orville Wright's book for sale. I didnt think he wrote one.

Is it "How We Invented the Airplane - An Illustrated History"? I bought this from Amazon recently and thought it was an excellent read. Highly recommended, and I believe the price was low, too :-)

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)

Thats the one