Pardubice Airport
Encyclopedia
Pardubice Airport is a military airport
permitted to handle international civil air traffic. It is located next to city of Pardubice
, Czech Republic
.
, an engineer and aviation enthusiast, and his cousin Eugen Čihák bought an airplane Bleriot XI
and started with flight experiments on the local military exercise ground in Pardubice. On April 16, 1910 Kašpar flew for the first time and as the first person in Czech lands
, about 2 km. In later years he arranged flight exhibitions over the country, most famous being his flight from Pardubice to Prague
(120 km) on May 13, 1911.
The first flying club in Czech lands was founded in Pardubice on April 26, 1911. The club, named Aviation society in Pardubice (Aviatické družstvo Pardubice) had five hangars but the war
had stopped its activities. After the war the place held occasional flight exhibitions. Since the end of 1929 the airport was used as a training place for aviation enthusiast; expanded to 25 hectare
s it was one of the largest in the country. Since 1933 the airport was also used for glider
training. During 1936 - 1937 new modern airport facilities were built.
During World War II
the airport served for training of Luftwaffe
pilots, toward the end of the war for combat operations and was destroyed by bombing.
Since 1950 the airport the airport was used only for the military. 2,500 m long concrete runway was built and pilot training centre established. The airport hosted 4th and 18th Fighter Air Wing
s (4. stíhaci a 18. stíhací letecký pluk) equipped with S-199
, MiG-15, C-2, C-5, C-11, MiG-19S, MiG-19PM, MiG-21F and Mi-1
helicopters, 47th Reconnaissance Wing (47. průzkumný letecký pluk) with MiG-21R, Il-28L
, Il-14
and later with Su-22 and since 1986 30th Strafer Wing (30. bitevní letecký pluk) with Su-25K. Large support military units were located next to the airport and in the city.
During the 1990s the military role of the airport was gradually reduced. Since 1994 the airport was used as a training base (34. základna školního letectva) but in 2003 the army
reduced role of the airport to provide maintenance and logistics.
rules.
The airport is used for charter flights to the Southern Europe during summer season, to transport Russia
n tourists into the Czech Republic and for cargo flight
s (including flights by An-124).
In 2007 traffic peak the airport handled 93,659 of passengers (about 85% from Russia) and 888 tonnes of cargo, in 2009 hardly influenced by financial crisis 49,032 of passengers, 343 tonnes of cargo and 994 movements.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
permitted to handle international civil air traffic. It is located next to city of Pardubice
Pardubice
Pardubice is the capital city of the Pardubice Region and lies on the river Elbe, 65 miles east of Prague. Pardubice has an antique centre square and old town, with many restaurants that stay open until late in the evening. There is an old Tower and a recently renovated Castle...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
.
History
In 1910 Jan KašparJan Kašpar
Jan Kašpar was a Czech aviator, aircraft constructor, designer and engineer. He is considered as a pioneer of aviation in the Czech lands.-Biography:...
, an engineer and aviation enthusiast, and his cousin Eugen Čihák bought an airplane Bleriot XI
Blériot XI
The Blériot XI is the aircraft in which, on 25 July 1909, Louis Blériot made the first flight across the English Channel made in a heavier-than-air aircraft . This achievement is one of the most famous accomplishments of the early years of aviation, and not only won Blériot a lasting place in...
and started with flight experiments on the local military exercise ground in Pardubice. On April 16, 1910 Kašpar flew for the first time and as the first person in Czech lands
Czech lands
Czech lands is an auxiliary term used mainly to describe the combination of Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia. Today, those three historic provinces compose the Czech Republic. The Czech lands had been settled by the Celts , then later by various Germanic tribes until the beginning of 7th...
, about 2 km. In later years he arranged flight exhibitions over the country, most famous being his flight from Pardubice to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
(120 km) on May 13, 1911.
The first flying club in Czech lands was founded in Pardubice on April 26, 1911. The club, named Aviation society in Pardubice (Aviatické družstvo Pardubice) had five hangars but the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
had stopped its activities. After the war the place held occasional flight exhibitions. Since the end of 1929 the airport was used as a training place for aviation enthusiast; expanded to 25 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s it was one of the largest in the country. Since 1933 the airport was also used for glider
Glider aircraft
Glider aircraft are heavier-than-air craft that are supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against their lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Mostly these types of aircraft are intended for routine operation without engines, though engine failure can...
training. During 1936 - 1937 new modern airport facilities were built.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the airport served for training of Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
pilots, toward the end of the war for combat operations and was destroyed by bombing.
Since 1950 the airport the airport was used only for the military. 2,500 m long concrete runway was built and pilot training centre established. The airport hosted 4th and 18th Fighter Air Wing
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
s (4. stíhaci a 18. stíhací letecký pluk) equipped with S-199
Avia S-199
|-See also:-External links: *** with more pictures and further information...
, MiG-15, C-2, C-5, C-11, MiG-19S, MiG-19PM, MiG-21F and Mi-1
Mil Mi-1
The Mil Mi-1 The Mil Mi-1 The Mil Mi-1 ( (USAF/DoD reporting name "Type 32", NATO reporting name "Hare") was a Soviet three- or four-seat light utility helicopter. It was the first Soviet helicopter to enter serial production. It is powered by one 575 hp Ivchenko AI-26V radial. It entered...
helicopters, 47th Reconnaissance Wing (47. průzkumný letecký pluk) with MiG-21R, Il-28L
Ilyushin Il-28
The Ilyushin Il-28 is a jet bomber aircraft of the immediate postwar period that was originally manufactured for the Soviet Air Force. It was the USSR's first such aircraft to enter large-scale production. It was also licence-built in China as the Harbin H-5. Total production in the USSR was 6,316...
, Il-14
Il-14
IL-14 can refer to:*Ilyushin Il-14, a Soviet twin-engine aircraft*Interleukin 14, a protein important in immunology*Illinois's 14th congressional district*Illinois Route 14...
and later with Su-22 and since 1986 30th Strafer Wing (30. bitevní letecký pluk) with Su-25K. Large support military units were located next to the airport and in the city.
During the 1990s the military role of the airport was gradually reduced. Since 1994 the airport was used as a training base (34. základna školního letectva) but in 2003 the army
Czech Air Force
The Czech Air Force is the air force branch of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. The Air Force, with the Land Forces, comprises the Joint Forces, the main combat power of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic...
reduced role of the airport to provide maintenance and logistics.
Current civil operation
In 1993 a company East Bohemian Airport a.s. aiming to open the airport for civil use was formed. Officially, the airport was opened for civil operation on May 18, 1995. Since November 1, 1996 the airport is authorized for operation under the IFRInstrument flight rules
Instrument flight rules are one of two sets of regulations governing all aspects of civil aviation aircraft operations; the other are visual flight rules ....
rules.
The airport is used for charter flights to the Southern Europe during summer season, to transport Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n tourists into the Czech Republic and for cargo flight
Cargo airline
Cargo airlines are airlines dedicated to the transport of cargo. Some cargo airlines are divisions or subsidiaries of larger passenger airlines.-Logistics:...
s (including flights by An-124).
In 2007 traffic peak the airport handled 93,659 of passengers (about 85% from Russia) and 888 tonnes of cargo, in 2009 hardly influenced by financial crisis 49,032 of passengers, 343 tonnes of cargo and 994 movements.
Airlines and destinations
Literature
- Journal ZPRÁVY Klubu přátel Pardubicka (Club of Pardubice Patriots News) http://www.kpp.iipardubice.cz/. Articles written by Pavel Sviták and several other authors since 1980s cover history of aviation in Pardubice.
- Pavel Sviták: První český letec inženýr Jan Kašpar a začátky českého letectví : příběh našeho prvního letce, jeho předchůdců, spolupracovníků a současníků s přihlédnutím k vývoji letectví ve světě (The first Czech pilot Jan Kašpar and the beginning of Czech aviation), 2003, East Bohemian Museum in Pardubice, ISBN 80-86046-65-6.
External links
- Airport website (en, cz, ru)
- Pardubice Airport spotters website by Petr Huňáček (cz)
- History of aviation in Pardubice (in Czech, SWF format, short overview by Pavel Sviták)