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General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: MiloMorai on February 25, 2005, 05:05:07 AM

Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: MiloMorai on February 25, 2005, 05:05:07 AM: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?

Break it down to civilian and military if you want.
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: FTJR on February 25, 2005, 05:17:57 AM: Point Cook, Military, 1914 Victoria Australia.

Still a military base but downgraded.
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: Schutt on February 25, 2005, 05:20:49 AM: Germany, Munic

Since 1912 the bavarian kings flying corps was training in Oberschleissheim bei Muenchen, wich is right next to his castle.

Now the same field and hangars are still used by a civilian club and the museeum, but not open for public landing. Parts of the historic hangars and tower still exist, but not all.

Also german police is using it (Bundesgrenzschutz).

http://www.deutsches-museum.de/zweig/werft/e_fws.htm

ciao schutt
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: straffo on February 25, 2005, 05:38:50 AM: I think it's Vélizy-Villacoublay created in 1884.
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: Angus on February 25, 2005, 07:01:33 AM: Was that one for airships or ballons in the start?
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: straffo on February 25, 2005, 07:34:42 AM: yes
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: Baine on February 25, 2005, 05:03:48 PM: Don't know about airfield, but Bader Field, Atlantic City, NJ is the world's oldest airport. The reason: the folks who built it were the ones who coined the term airport (back then it was Atlantic City Airport). They were going for something with a nautical sound.
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: HoHun on February 25, 2005, 08:43:15 PM: Hi Schutt,

>Since 1912 the bavarian kings flying corps was training in Oberschleissheim bei Muenchen, wich is right next to his castle.

Think Prussia:

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

That's the Fliegeberg mound in Berlin that was utilized by Otto Lilienthal, the world's first successful aviator :-)

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: hawker238 on February 25, 2005, 09:20:58 PM: Quote
Originally posted by Angus
Was that one for airships or ballons in the start?

Or did they go forward and time and get airplanes......
Title: Re: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: Guppy35 on February 25, 2005, 11:34:09 PM: Quote
Originally posted by MiloMorai
What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?

Break it down to civilian and military if you want.

Been hanging out on the Flypast and WIX boards Milo? :)

Saw the same question being debated there too

Dan/Slack
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: bunch on February 26, 2005, 12:06:52 AM: For airplanes it is College Park, MD (presently an airport that is barely accessable by air) - great museum there...I'm in the middle of Orville Wright's book right now & there are some very early photos of Orville Wright flying at Templehoff in 1909 which may prece the Wrights' move from Ft. Meyer's, VA to College Park, MD. Photos of Wright flying at Pau, France are definitely before College Park, MD - anyone know if that airport is still active.
Title: Re: Re: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: MiloMorai on February 26, 2005, 01:47:04 AM: Quote
Originally posted by Guppy35
Been hanging out on the Flypast and WIX boards Milo? :)

Saw the same question being debated there too

Dan/Slack

Yup, was taking a look there.;)

Thought it might be a good topic here.
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: bunch on February 26, 2005, 05:25:38 AM: What are they saying on other boards.
Any mention of Pearson Field in Vancouver. WA
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: Holden McGroin on February 26, 2005, 07:17:04 AM: There is one in Crete that dates to the 5th century BC, although it is an unimproved STOL facility.
(http://www.tla1.com/Talent/Matthew_Fernandes/MF%20Icarus.JPG)
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: bockko on February 26, 2005, 10:38:19 AM: In the book chariots of the gods I believe it is recorded that the aztec's had the first airports....or was it space ports....
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: Waffle on February 27, 2005, 03:13:36 PM: Kittyhawk Nc - Kill devils hills area? outer banks?
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: Rasker 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?
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: HoHun 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)
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: john9001 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
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: Arty 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 :)
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: hawker238 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!
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: SELECTOR on March 02, 2005, 05:13:09 PM: 1722 london:rofl
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: FUNKED1 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.
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: bunch on March 04, 2005, 03:49:45 PM: It that answer correct until someone flies from Kill Devils Hills again?
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: FUNKED1 on March 04, 2005, 06:27:22 PM: I think somebody would have to go back in time and turn it into an airbase. :)
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: bunch 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)
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: HoHun 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)
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: HoHun 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)
Title: What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?
Post by: bunch 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