Gedern glider airfield
| Gedern glider airfield | |
|---|---|
|
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| Characteristics | |
| Coordinates | |
| Height above MSL | 373 m (1224 ft ) |
| Transport links | |
| Distance from the city center | 1 km north of Gedern |
| Street | available |
| train | 20 km |
| Local transport | 1 km |
| Basic data | |
| opening | 1959 |
| operator | Glider pilot group Gedern "Laabhanse" eV |
| surface | 7 ha |
| Start-and runway | |
| 05/23 | 700 m × 45 m grass |
The Gedern glider airfield is located on a hill between the town of Gedern and the valley of the Gedern lake. The area is operated by the Gedern “Laabhanse” eV glider pilot group (SFG-Gedern).
history
After the ban on gliding was lifted by the Allied Commission in 1951, the gliding movement of the young Federal Republic of Germany began with the resumption of their leisure activities. The later founding fathers of the glider flying site in Gedern got to know each other during gliding activities at the Merzhausen airfield near Usingen, then went to the Mainz-Finthen airfield and then to Langenselbold near Gelnhausen and then decided to establish a common existence in the Vogelsberg . The FluTV glider pilots brought the necessary financial strength with them from the Rhein-Main area and the Gedern glider group was able to procure the necessary areas in the course of the land consolidation and the sparse settlement in the Vogelsberg area and have it relocated to today's airfield site.
A pioneer unit of the US Army , the 3rd Armored Division Spearhead , was won over as early as 1959 to bring the desert, overgrown with thick hedges, to its present state. Heavy equipment and even explosions were necessary for this. The members of the army were paid for food and accommodation.
In 1966, the two resident clubs built an aircraft hangar that is still in common use today during one flying season, which has been expanded over the years with additions.
In the further course of the 1960s to 1980s, both clubs were able to concentrate largely on expanding the aircraft park, since the infrastructure of the airfield, compared to other glider airfields, left practically nothing to be desired. Only running water and electricity did not exist yet. Electricity was produced by a power generator and water was brought in by an agricultural tanker truck . During this time, numerous glider competitions and flight camps were held on the Gedern glider airfield.
From the late 1980s to the present day, both resident associations have noticed falling membership numbers and an increasing average age of the association structures. While the Segelfliegergruppe Gedern eV has had fairly stable membership numbers for a number of years, the Flugtechnische Verein Frankfurt 1909 eV left the Gedern glider airfield for various reasons in 2011 to continue its activities at the Anspach airfield in the Taunus .
Approved aircraft
Gliders , self- launching motor gliders and aircraft, provided they are approved for towing gliders or motor gliders, may take off and land on the Gedern glider airfield . Other aircraft such as helicopters and air sports equipment are not allowed to take off and land on the site. The Hessian owner community around a Messerschmitt Bf 108 (D-EBFW) has, in consultation with the airport operator and the official bodies, a limited outdoor take-off and landing permit on the site. The rare aircraft can therefore be seen regularly in Gedern.
Today's meaning
The Gedern glider airfield is located at the foot of the Vogelsberg, in the vicinity of which there are three other glider airfields: the Nidda , Schotten (Götzen) glider airfield and the Hoherodskopf glider airfield . The clubs located there cooperate closely with one another, particularly when it comes to the theoretical training of flight students, and in winter the theory lessons alternate between the Gedern and Nidda gliding grounds.
In addition, the associations regularly organize joint air camps to promote youth training and cross-country flights.
education
The Gedern glider pilot group offers the training that entitles them to pilot a glider and is a recognized glider flying school .
Web links
literature
- Festschrift: 1959 - 2009, 50 years of the Gedern "Laabhanse" eV glider pilot group