Validation date: 01 03 2014
Updated on: Never
Views: 2570
See on the interactive map:
55°37'8.24"N 012°26'36"E
Runway: 17/35 - ...x...m - grass
Avedøre airfield (Danish: Avedøre lufthavn or Avedøre flyveplads) is an airfield in Copenhagen.
The airfield was built in 1917 by the Danish War Department on an Army exercise area. In the southwest corner 3 hangars were built. The southernmost hangar was demolished in 1932 to make room for a road.
1917 situation plan (redrawn in 1987) of the airfield, which at the time was still called an exercise area. The three hangars are clearly visible however (
Dines Bogø)
Initially, the airfield was left alone by the German occupation forces during World War 2. However, in August 1943 the Wehrmacht took over control over the airfield, the 2 hangars and the Danish aircraft and spare parts. At the site the Germans built 10 engine test beds for use by A/S Nordværk.
The military left the airfield after the war. Its hangars and the test stands were leased to various private companies. In the mid-eighties it was decided by the Copenhagen Skov district that one of the two wooden sheds was to be demolished and burned as it was suffering from dry rot fungus. A group of veteran flying enthousiasts immediately began an effort to stop the demolition of this valuable old hangar, which was part of the last remnants of the early flight years in Denmark.
The group succeeded in taking possession of the hangar, under the conditions that the fungus would be removed. The decay was
stopped. The people behind the rescue plan were all in some form related to local vintage aircraft clubs, so the decision was made to establish a local association to handle the club's interests in the Copenhagen. This association was established in the saved hangars and a lease of 10 years was agreed upon with the Copenhagen Forest District . In the following year, the members made an invaluable effort in restoring the building, while funding was obtained for the purchase of materials. Also at the the association's request all the other buildings in the area were protected.
In the late nineties, the Forest and Nature Agency decided that the Copenhagen Forest District should sell off all buildings that had no direct relationship with the forest activities, including all buildings on the old Avedøre airfield. Another rescue operation began, to avoid that the whole area would be acquired by parties without any interest in the history of aviation. On 19 May 1999 a group was founded to negotiate the acquisistion of the area and the buildings. The positive outcome was that the area which is now officially called Avedøre airfield can only be used for leisure activities in relationship with the history of aviation. Similarly, the purchase of Hangar 2 was completed on 1 December 2000. On 29 April 2001 the old Avedøre airfield was officially reopened with an open house event. At the same time the newly established dedicated landing area was in augurated. The event showed an unexpectedly strong interest from the area,
On a 500x250m airfield two original wooden hangars (1917) and 10 engine test stands dating to World War II can be found.
The Avedøre Flyveplads viewed from the south in 2007. Its two hangars and ten engine test stands are easily recognisable. Note that -unusually- the runway is not in a straight line, but curved.
Avedøre 
Avedøre