What is the oldest surviving airfield in the world?

Gatchina in Russia – in use since 1909.

Also, even though Köln-Butzweilerhof is no longer an airfield (it was in use by Belgian Army helos until 1995 or so), i remember reading on a handout at the closing ceremony that this very same field was used in the very late 1700s for a balloon demonstration by the Montgolfier brothers.

Kitty Hawk?

Kitty Hawk, where the Wright Brothers flew…?

They flew a replica there for the anniversary, so it is still “active” I guess…
😉

Oldest airfield of the UK still in use is Farnborough. It started in 1906 as the Royal Engineers’ School of Ballooning.
Oldest airfield in the US still in use is Pearson Field, WA, it was first used in 1905, also for airships.
The first officially opened airfield for conventional heavier-than-air aircraft in the world was Reims, France in 1908.

Randolph was only opened in 1930.

Don’t forget about Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas it was being operated around 1912. 🙂

Military aviation began in Ireland in 1913.
Eight aerodromes were established in 1917 including Baldonnel, which is still home to the Irish Air Corps.

Fascinating thread.

As ever, one has to set the definitions tightly.

Choose your definition, and you can have whichever you want. 😉

Well, Kjeller airfield was officially established 21. september 1912 and has seen military presence ever since.
Kjeller has over the years seen use as base for operational flying, flying school, aircraft factory, and aircraft maintenance depot.
Today Kjeller is still used as the base for RNoAF maintenance depot for depot level maintenance and modifications of F-16, Sea Kings and Bell 412.
Although Kjeller no longer see any operational flying, there is still military presence on the field and it is still owned and operated by the military forces and can be classed as a military airfield from 1912 up until today.
-So any airfield that has had continuous flying (military) for such a long period is interesting.

E

Soesterberg (Air Force Base – Royal Netherlands Air Force) has been in continuous use for powered flights since 1910.

Fascinating.

Farnborough would seem to be the world’s oldest (current) airfield – Cody moved in in 1904 with his Army Balloon Factory and made his first powered flight from Farnborough in October 1908, which just predates College Field.

Old Sarum is the oldest airfield in the UK that still retains the original form – opened 1915.

The oldest airflield still in use might not actually be a tract of land, but a body of water. Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance in Germany, home of the Zeppelins. 😉

Kitty Hawk in North Carolina !!!!!!..well its sort of an airfield !

Fascinating thread.

As ever, one has to set the definitions tightly.

Would Sir like:

a) The oldest continiously operating airfield in the world?

b) The oldest continiously operating airfield in the world with the original civil operators still using it?

c) The above, but, like, military?

d) Oldest with lighter than air activity originally? What’s your definition of ‘aircraft’ using the airfield eh?

etc…

Choose your definition, and you can have whichever you want. 😉

I’m surprised you didn’t know…

It’s College Park airport in Maryland (just outside D.C.) . Here’s a bit of its history…
“Founded in 1909 for the Wright Brothers’ instruction of the first military aviators, College Park Airport is one of the most significant airfields in aviation history. In 1909 Wilbur Wright taught Lieutenants Frederic Humphreys, Frank Lahm, and Benjamin Foulois to fly here. Humphreys became the first military pilot to solo in a government aeroplane.

Civilian aviation began at College Park with Rex Smith, an inventor and patent attorney, who operated the Rex Smith Aeroplane Company. Paul Peck and Tony Jannus were associates of his.

In 1911, the U.S.A.’s first military aviation school was opened at College Park, with newly trained pilots Lt. Hap Arnold and Lt. Tommy Milling as Wright pilot instructors and Capt. Paul Beck as the Curtiss instructor. The military aviation school saw numerous aviation firsts.

In 1918, after a three-month trial with the War Department, the Post Office Department inaugurated the first Postal Airmail Service from College Park, serving Philadelphia and New York (Belmont Park). Flights from College Park continued until 1921. The compass rose and original airmail hangar remain at the modern airport as a witness to this history.

In 1920, Emile and Henry Berliner (father and son) brought their theories of vertical flight to the field and in 1924 made the first controlled helicopter flight.”

And if that’s not old enough…remember that Huffman Prairie, where the Wright’s did developmemntal work in 1904-5, is at the South end of the runway at Wright Patterson AFB. While not an airfield itself, it’s on airport property and was saved by development because of its use as an overrun/safety area.

I was thinking RAAF William’s Point Cook might be in the race

http://www.nationaltrust.org.au/pdfs/0316.pdf
This document states that Point Cook was established in 1913, so Kjeller beats that…
🙂

Its a bit difficult to pin down farnboroughs start date, but around November/december 1904 the site first came into permanant use. The buildings were mainly transported from their previous site in Aldershot and the move was completed in 1906. But the airfield had allready beeen used in the late 1890’s for balloon launches.

I think Farnborough must surely rank as the oldest continuously operating airfield. The site of the present airfield was being used for tethered balloon and kite flying before the end of the 19th century and heavier than air flying began in 1908 – and hasn’t stopped since.

They spent the first 225 years waiting for the first aircraft which made the first flight there in 1910.

“Hi. Any planes yet?”

“Nope.”

“Ah, well. See you next year then.”

😀

Around 1685, Ljungbyhed was established as a military training ground. They spent the first 225 years waiting for the first aircraft which made the first flight there in 1910.

In 1911, Enoch Thulin started a civil flying school and in 1926, the Royal Swedish Airforce established Ljungbyhed as its central flying school. In 1997 (IIRC) it was relocated to Ängelholm but a branch named TFHS (training civil commercial pilots) is still in operation today.

Christer

Not too precise, as it’s from memory, but for continuous military operation two must be:
Point Cook RAAF, Vic Aus, 1910 (IIRC)
Shearwater, Dartmouth Nova Scotia, Can – W.W.I, US operation.

RAF Northolt has had continuous military operation since opening, and dates back to early 1914, just before WW1 started.
Must be one of, if not the oldest current active RAF base.
Not quite as old as Point Cook but pretty close.

And as far as I Know she is going to stay open(for now)

I was thinking RAAF William’s Point Cook might be in the race Jame’s 😉 .

Cheer’s all far and wide 😀 , Tally :dev2: Ho! :dev2: Ho! Phil :diablo: .

Not too precise, as it’s from memory, but for continuous military operation two must be:
Point Cook RAAF, Vic Aus, 1910 (IIRC)
Shearwater, Dartmouth Nova Scotia, Can – W.W.I, US operation.
Both with museums.
Cheers!