Walldorf Airfield
| Walldorf Airfield | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Characteristics | |
| ICAO code | EDGX |
| Coordinates | |
| Height above MSL | 106 m (348 ft ) |
| Transport links | |
| Distance from the city center | 1.3 km east of Walldorf |
| Basic data | |
| opening | 1970 |
| operator | Aeroclub-Walldorf eV |
| Start-and runway | |
| 18/36 | 505 m × 30 m grass |
The airfield Walldorf is an airfield east of the northern Baden town of Walldorf . It is classified as a special landing site . The resident Aeroclub-Walldorf carries out gliding and motorized flights as well as parachute jumping.
location
The airfield is located 1.3 km east of the city center of Walldorf. Due to the expansion of the residential development, it is now directly adjacent to the airfield. The place is therefore well developed - the next bus stop is within walking distance. Nusslocher Strasse ( K 4256 ), which runs along the northern edge of the airport, acts as a feeder to the B3 , via which nearby cities such as Wiesloch or Heidelberg can be reached in a relatively short time. To the west of Walldorf is the Wiesloch-Walldorf junction of the A5 , so that a more far-reaching connection is guaranteed. Wiesloch-Walldorf train station is around ten minutes away by bike.
investment
The heart of the airfield is the 505 meter long grass runway. Two aprons - also made of grass - are connected to this in the north: on the west side the large main apron, where practically all aircraft are parked and the gliders are assembled and dismantled. Opposite is the smaller apron on which the parachutists operate. At the southern end of the track there is a turning hammer, which can also be used as a small makeshift apron. There is no parallel taxiway. The runway is crossed in the middle by a hiking trail, which is secured by a barrier system during flight operations.
To the west - on the main apron - is the "old" aircraft hangar, built in 1960, in which the gliding department has its premises and houses most of its aircraft. The flight control office and the airport restaurant are also located here. To the northeast of the airfield is the so-called "new" hall, which is the domicile of the parachutist and in which all of the club's powered aircraft are housed. The airfield vehicles are stored in an annex completed in early 2016.
business
As a special airfield, Walldorf Airfield is not subject to any fixed opening times; Flight operations are therefore usually carried out on weekends and public holidays, when the members of the Aeroclub-Walldorf meet and by prior agreement / request ( PPR ). Depending on the weather, there is brisk glider flying and parachute jumping, combined with flights by motor gliders and motor planes. There is no winter break in Walldorf, however, due to the weather conditions, there are significantly fewer flights in winter than at other times of the year.
The association does not operate a winch, so the gliders are towed into the air. Lately, the presence of self-launching gliders has also increased - for example, the Aeroclub-Walldorf has put its own Arcus M into operation at the beginning of 2017 .
The parachutists are currently (as of 2017) with a Cessna 182 . At times, other drop-off aircraft are also used from outside, often including a Pilatus Porter .
The hiking trail, which crosses the runway in the middle, represents an operational hurdle. Here, the flight controller must coordinate air traffic and passers-by by means of a barrier system. For this reason, flight operations without a flight controller are not permitted (PPR).
history
The history of the airfield goes hand in hand with the history of its operator, the Aeroclub-Walldorf.
Beginnings
After gliding was approved in Germany again, the club was founded in 1951. The conditions for the club were initially very complicated. To fly, they had to find a farmer every time who made his field available and at the same time obtained permission from the regional council to be allowed to fly from there. Most of the time, the flight took place on the "Walldorfer Wiesen", which is the location where today's airfield is located. During this time, the aircraft were looked after in individual members' sheds and backyards.
First hall
In 1960 the construction of an aircraft hangar began, with workshops, training rooms and a restaurant being housed in the side extensions. It was completed in 1964 and thus formed a permanent location for the club. It is still in use today as the "old" hall and is home to glider pilots.
Opening of the airfield
Over time, the Aeroclub-Walldorf was able to lease enough contiguous land from the neighboring farmers, which made it possible to create a permanent runway. In 1970, the airfield was finally able to go into operation as a class 3 special airfield . Flight operations in Walldorf were thus possible all year round, regardless of special permits or agreements with farmers.
Further developments
From 1982 to 1983 a second hangar, the so-called "new" hangar, was built in the northeastern airfield area, in the extension of which the parachutists moved into their own premises. In 2016, this was expanded to include a further extension to accommodate the airport vehicles.
See also
List of traffic and special landing sites in Germany
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, airfield map, July 12, 2012.
- ^ Aeroclub Walldorf: New hall was urgently needed - Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung, April 1, 2016.
- ↑ New dimensions in flight Aeroclub Walldorf names high-performance glider - Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung, March 20, 2017.
- ^ Association history - website of the Aeroclub-Walldorf, accessed on September 6, 2017.
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