Istra

55°49'39"N 024°21'23"E

runway: 12L/20R - 600x20m - asphalt
runway: 12R/20L - 800x40m - grass

Air field Istra (Lithuanian: Aerodromas Istra, also known as Panevežys Istra airport, ICAO: EYPI) is a small airfield 150 kilometers north of Vilnius, along the E67 highway in Lithuania.
It is not known when the airfield was built, possibly it was an agricultural airfield built during Soviet times in the 1975-1985 timeframe.
It has some remarkable feaures though: Most obvious when you approach the airfield on the E67 highway are its jet fighters and helicopters. The owner of the field has a small museum collection of former Soviet Air Force jet aircraft: an L-29 Delphin, a rare Su-15 Flagon, a MiG-21 Fishbed and a MiG-23 Flogger. Additionally he owns a Mi-2 Hoplite and a Mi-8 Hip.


View from the E67/A10 highway.


Su-15TM 'Flagon' in faded Ukranian markings and a Mi-2 'Hoplite' in front of the airfield motel (© 2010 Han de Ridder)

The airfield itself is fairly modest. It has a 600m asphalt and a 800m parallel grass runway and a decent platform. Additionally it runs a fair sized and reasonably modern motel. Both the small museum and the motel stand out in the area, which is considered very poor by western standards.


Low quality 2003 imagery of the airfield and the E67 highway (Google Earth)

Thanks to Han de Ridder for pointing out this airfield!