I’m very interested in aviation archeaology. Does anyone know whether there is anything left of the old airport in Munich – Riem? Would it be worthwile to go there, is the terminal building intact and open, etc?
Is anyone else fascinated by abandoned aviation grounds? I get very excited when I discover old sites, almost got a heart attack when I by accident went right into the abandoned Soviet air base at Templin north of Berlin in April! Anyone interested in photos (albeit of a military base)?
Have a nice weekend, greetings from a summery Sweden
By: Arm Waver - 13th May 2004 at 05:23
Sonnenflieger
Trying to imagine what these places were like when alive can be quite a challenge with some of our local old fields…
A few of them stll have aviation activity on them but the new occupants are nowhere near the size of the original occupants and trying to imagine Wellingtons, Blenheims, Mitchells and the like all lined up or circuit bashing or partating in a mass launch is very difficult.
Trying to work out what some of the buildings or remains left were used for is also quite challenging. When we’ve been to a few of these “operational” sites we’ll often have a walk around and see what is left and despite our ages we still have the youthful urge to explore although not always the same youthful physique!
OAW
By: Sonnenflieger - 12th May 2004 at 06:46
Sonnenflieger
I too like these silent remains…
I’m fortunate to live near several old airfields… (15 or so in a similar milage radius)
Ok so they are all ex-military and nearly all were training grounds but the “ghosts” are still there in the form of buildings and the road infrastructure…
I also love the architecture of the aerodromes and airports of the 20’s & 30’s… The likes of Gatwick’s bee-hive (still there), the hangars at Heston (now long gone) and Sywell motel (still used as such).
OAW
I agree, when I am at an abandoned airfield I try to imagine how it looked when there was activity around. One of my favourite pastimes!
By: greekdude1 - 12th May 2004 at 01:51
The moved to march around 85, 86. Something like that. I wish I had something like those big Old Air Guard Hangers! Going to the Bahammas this week. Were taking Chalks over to the Island. Can’t wait! I wish I were a Pan AM Clipper pilot. I’ll post some pictures and I’ll have to do some of Chino also.
We have the annual Chino airshow the weekend, Wrenchbender. Given my close proximity to the airport, they are already starting to buzz around in preparation, as we speak.
By: Arm Waver - 11th May 2004 at 22:06
Sonnenflieger
I too like these silent remains…
I’m fortunate to live near several old airfields… (15 or so in a similar milage radius)
Ok so they are all ex-military and nearly all were training grounds but the “ghosts” are still there in the form of buildings and the road infrastructure…
I also love the architecture of the aerodromes and airports of the 20’s & 30’s… The likes of Gatwick’s bee-hive (still there), the hangars at Heston (now long gone) and Sywell motel (still used as such).
OAW
By: robbelc - 11th May 2004 at 21:53
Is anyone else fascinated by abandoned aviation grounds?
Absolutely!
My web site: http://www.ghostbase.org
One day I will get off my a– and get it all completed 😉
Would love to get into Eastern Europe and see some of the old bases there.
Michael Baldock
I see you are trying to get into Dunsfold? Went there a few years ago for the ‘last ever fly in’ and its pretty much what you can see on ‘top Gear’. They have a flying concert there this year if you want to take a look.
Im a bit obsessed by old fields myself espically Woodley(Miles aircraft, Heralds, closed 1962) where almost all the hangars and offices remain, the airfield being a housing estate. And recently have been visiting Croydon a lot for work. Also the disued part of Blackbushe imagineing what it must have been like with Comets,C-124s,Connies DC-6’s etc!
By: Wrenchbender - 11th May 2004 at 21:31
The moved to march around 85, 86. Something like that. I wish I had something like those big Old Air Guard Hangers! Going to the Bahammas this week. Were taking Chalks over to the Island. Can’t wait! I wish I were a Pan AM Clipper pilot. I’ll post some pictures and I’ll have to do some of Chino also.
By: greekdude1 - 11th May 2004 at 00:50
Sorry been gone a while digging drainage ditches for the wifes new castle.
Sounds like fun! Also, when were the F-4’s based at ONT, Wrenchbender?
By: Mike1087 - 10th May 2004 at 23:44
You Are Not Alone!
Is anyone else fascinated by abandoned aviation grounds?
Absolutely!
My web site: http://www.ghostbase.org
One day I will get off my a– and get it all completed 😉
Would love to get into Eastern Europe and see some of the old bases there.
Michael Baldock
By: Wrenchbender - 10th May 2004 at 22:51
The were F-4s at ONT at that time. When I flew at reid’s Helicopters we flew into Ont for Jet A for the Jet ranger. Sorry been gone a while digging drainage ditches for the wifes new castle.
By: greekdude1 - 10th May 2004 at 16:55
Do you remember when the air guard flew out of ont?
No I don’t. Either I didn’t notice or it was before my time. I’ve been living in Chino since ’85. I do remember countless C-141’s based at Norton always doing sorties in the early 80’s when I was living in San Bernardino. My church was under the approach path to Norton.
By: Wrenchbender - 10th May 2004 at 14:02
Do you remember when the air guard flew out of ont?
By: greekdude1 - 9th May 2004 at 21:27
Interesting reading. What has become of Denver’s closed airport, is it still intact or torn down?
I flew over Stapleton a few years back and it seemed to be intact then. Not quite sure what condition it’s in now.
By: Sonnenflieger - 9th May 2004 at 20:53
They used the existing site and runways for the ‘new’ airport.
Exactly what happened to Oslo Gardermoen in 1998, a second runway was added and a new terminal. The old one is used for GA and bizjets.
Interesting reading. What has become of Denver’s closed airport, is it still intact or torn down?
By: greekdude1 - 9th May 2004 at 20:08
Since we’re talking about old airports, my home airport, ONT, had a new terminal built in 1998. The ‘old’ terminal was a dump, and had no jetways except for 1 that DL used. Southwest, who is the biggest player at ONT, had mobile portables for their ‘terminal.’ The new airport is really nice, and has lots of room for expansion. They used the existing site and runways for the ‘new’ airport. The old terminal still remains as offices, and is also used for movies. If any of you saw the movie “Catch Me If You Can” with Leo DiCaprio, ONT’s old terminal building is the one they use in the movie for “Miami International Airport.” They have also used it in the HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm” as LAX. It’s convenient to use it for movies because you just fill the empty terminal with extras and you have an ‘airport.’
By: Sonnenflieger - 9th May 2004 at 20:03
I see, just like they are doing with the former airport (1923-1977) in Torslanda, Gothenburg right now then…
By: Kenneth - 9th May 2004 at 19:43
Yes, it has. The exhibition centre comprises two rows of halls which have been arranged about an axis more or less coincident with the old runway. This was one of the first things to be demolished actually, but only after careful study of WW2 aerial photographs to identify possible unexploded bombs. Four or five years ago I visited a fair there (I live in Munich) and had to park on a very remote temporary parking place, and happened to walk on short remaining strip of taxiway on my way to the fair grounds, but this part has also been splattered with buidings now.
By: Sonnenflieger - 8th May 2004 at 22:22
Has the runway been torn up too?
By: Kenneth - 8th May 2004 at 22:04
A part of the terminal building and the old tower is all that is left and they are not accesible to the public . A new trade fair was built on the site and there is nothing else left anymore…. 🙁 Munich is a beautiful town but I wouldn’t go there just for the old airport…
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May 8, 2004 at 11:42 am