5 ms·

Here's a reference for the same in Europe: https://www.forgottenairfields.com/ https://www.forgottenairfields.com/

FreshFries 5y ago
Well thank you! I never knew I needed this but I seem to have a hidden desire to read & view all these abandoned / retired airfields in the country surrounding me. I will even try to visit some.
paganel 5y ago
I was about to ask for that in the comments section, thanks! Unfortunately my country (Romania) seems not to be on the list but maybe one will find a way to contribute to that list. Talking about Romania and airfields, I think that information (the location of the airfields) was some State secret for a long time. There are some military topographical maps (mostly from the 1970s) where not one airfield or airport is shown [1]. Otherwise those maps are full of other very interesting details (like the location of mineral resources). For example if one zooms in to the Northern area of Bucharest where its two airports are located there's nothing on those maps. [1] https://portal.geomil.ro/portal/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=f4ff7adb4477470ea525061079ec972d https://portal.geomil.ro/portal/home/webmap/viewer.html?webm...
RegW 5y ago
A little disappointed not to find Llandow, the WWII airfield I grew up near in South Wales. After the war its great open streaches of runway became the focus of much unofficial (then later offical) motorsport. Traders and scrap merchants took over the hangers and it grew into a trading estate. It turned from a patch of open farmland into a shabby, noisy but interesting place. https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffsb&q=llandow+&ia=images&iax=images https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffsb&q=llandow+&ia=images&iax=imag...
- phillc73 5y ago
  It's definitely not a complete listing, but possibly the best I know in terms of compiling many locations into one site. For example, Greenham Common is not listed[1], and I guess it's up to the users to submit it! [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Greenham_Common https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Greenham_Common
- 7952 5y ago
  A lot of postwar development in the UK has been clustered around disused WWII bases. There are several government research/nuclear establishments, and numerous industrial and commercial sites. Several airfields have also been converted to solar farms now. I think this has been positive as a way of unlocking land for things that need space. So much of England is "precious" both in terms of value and how it is protected. Having a place to build and rebuild grotty factory units is very helpful. I live near a site that started as an arm's depot. About twenty years ago it started to be leased as small units to startups. Many biotech spin-off companies that needed adaptable space moved in. Now it is full of large biotech labs and distribution centers. Soon there will be large data centres. There are a couple of nuclear research sites on old airfields close by which also host a space cluster.
bryanrasmussen 5y ago
for an airfield in Denmark - https://www.forgottenairfields.com/airfield-vandel-267.html https://www.forgottenairfields.com/airfield-vandel-267.html "In 2017 a flight over the former airbase showed it had suffered the same faith as many other European air bases: it had become a solar powerplant" made me laugh.
- endymi0n 5y ago
  Note that both can happen at the same time... I always get a super strange vibe landing in EDON / Neuhardenberg: https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fimgcdn.airliners.de%2F2014%2F11%2F148AF600ACBB10F8_471edb4148f46e82ba2337c544e600a9_rb_597.jpg&f=1&nofb=1 https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fi...

Well thank you! I never knew I needed this but I seem to have a hidden desire to read & view all these abandoned / retired airfields in the country surrounding me. I will even try to visit some.

paganel 5y ago

I was about to ask for that in the comments section, thanks! Unfortunately my country (Romania) seems not to be on the list but maybe one will find a way to contribute to that list. Talking about Romania and airfields, I think that information (the location of the airfields) was some State secret for a long time. There are some military topographical maps (mostly from the 1970s) where not one airfield or airport is shown [1]. Otherwise those maps are full of other very interesting details (like the location of mineral resources). For example if one zooms in to the Northern area of Bucharest where its two airports are located there's nothing on those maps. [1] https://portal.geomil.ro/portal/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=f4ff7adb4477470ea525061079ec972d https://portal.geomil.ro/portal/home/webmap/viewer.html?webm...

RegW 5y ago

A little disappointed not to find Llandow, the WWII airfield I grew up near in South Wales. After the war its great open streaches of runway became the focus of much unofficial (then later offical) motorsport. Traders and scrap merchants took over the hangers and it grew into a trading estate. It turned from a patch of open farmland into a shabby, noisy but interesting place. https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffsb&q=llandow+&ia=images&iax=images https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffsb&q=llandow+&ia=images&iax=imag...

phillc73 5y ago
It's definitely not a complete listing, but possibly the best I know in terms of compiling many locations into one site. For example, Greenham Common is not listed[1], and I guess it's up to the users to submit it! [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Greenham_Common https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Greenham_Common
7952 5y ago
A lot of postwar development in the UK has been clustered around disused WWII bases. There are several government research/nuclear establishments, and numerous industrial and commercial sites. Several airfields have also been converted to solar farms now. I think this has been positive as a way of unlocking land for things that need space. So much of England is "precious" both in terms of value and how it is protected. Having a place to build and rebuild grotty factory units is very helpful. I live near a site that started as an arm's depot. About twenty years ago it started to be leased as small units to startups. Many biotech spin-off companies that needed adaptable space moved in. Now it is full of large biotech labs and distribution centers. Soon there will be large data centres. There are a couple of nuclear research sites on old airfields close by which also host a space cluster.

bryanrasmussen 5y ago

for an airfield in Denmark - https://www.forgottenairfields.com/airfield-vandel-267.html https://www.forgottenairfields.com/airfield-vandel-267.html "In 2017 a flight over the former airbase showed it had suffered the same faith as many other European air bases: it had become a solar powerplant" made me laugh.

endymi0n 5y ago
Note that both can happen at the same time... I always get a super strange vibe landing in EDON / Neuhardenberg: https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fimgcdn.airliners.de%2F2014%2F11%2F148AF600ACBB10F8_471edb4148f46e82ba2337c544e600a9_rb_597.jpg&f=1&nofb=1 https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fi...