Interlaken Airport[a] (ICAO: LSMI) is a former military airbase in Interlaken, Switzerland.[1] The airbase is now closed to scheduled commercial flights.
Interlaken Airport Flugplatz Interlaken | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Former military airbase | ||||||||||
| Serves | Interlaken | ||||||||||
| Location | Interlaken, Switzerland | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 1,893 ft / 577 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 46°40′35″N 007°52′44″E / 46.67639°N 7.87889°E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  LSMI Location of the airport in Switzerland | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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History
editFrom 1919, there was a civilian airfield at the site, which was closed during the economic crisis in 1930. The second airfield was built in 1940 during the Second World War as a Swiss Reduit airfield and opened in 1941. The Swiss Air Force operated all aircraft types up to the Northrop F-5 there and from 1947 operated the specialist department for the de Havilland Vampire aircraft.[2] From 1964 to 1967, Globe Air operated charter flights from London to Interlaken during the high season.[3] During the Cold War, Interlaken was used as operation base for Squadron 7 (Hunter) and as a maintenance facility for the aircraft until 1990.[4]
In 1971, Swiss Air Rescue formed a base at the airfield named Wilderswil. Initially based in the military buildings, in 1982 the air rescue moved to a new heliport in Gsteigwiler. However, in 2008 they returned to Interlaken airfield retaining the Wilderswil base name.[5]
In 2003, military use ceased and the airfield was sold.[6]
Post closure use
editIn 2003, Mystery Park was opened on the site as a theme park based around the author Erich von Däniken. The park closed in 2006, before being purchased by Jakob Dietiker for $13million and renamed Jungfrau Park.[7][8]
In 2004, the site was considered a potential venue for a permanent motor racing circuit, however this did not materialise, notably as the Swiss government only lifted the ban on motorsport in the country in 2018 ahead of the Zurich ePrix.[9][10] Motor racing has since taken place on the airfield, notably in 2019, the opening round of the Swiss Slalom motor racing series was held at Interlaken.[11] In summer 2023, an Alfa Romeo owners club meeting at the facility broke a national record for the most vehicles of the brand in one place.[12][13]
Since 2005, the annual Greenfield music festival takes place at Interlaken.[14]
In 2007, Interlaken Airbase was used for the sixth round of the Red Bull Air Race.[15] It was also used for the 2024 Paragliding World Cup.[16]
In 2023, Matten bei Interlaken railway station opened on the site.[17][18]
In popular culture
edit- The airfield was used as a filming location in Band of Brothers.[19]
- A mission in the video game Microsoft Flight Simulator X challenged the player to land an aircraft at Interlaken with a failed engine.
Photos
edit-
Venom aircraft taxiing at Interlaken air base in October 1983 -
A competitor in the 2007 Red Bull Air race -
Band Mindcollision performing at Greenfield Festival in 2016
References
edit- ^ "(LSMI) Interlaken Mil". FlightStats. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
- ^ "Geschichte des Betriebs Interlaken (PDF)" (PDF). glique.ch (in German).
- ^ "Interlaken". forgottenairfields.com.
- ^ "Interlaken". mil-airfields.de.
- ^ "Wilderswil base – in the Bernese Oberland". rega.ch.
- ^ "Flugplatz Interlaken". festung-oberland.ch (in German).
- ^ "Closure of Mystery Park is no enigma". swissinfo.ch.
- ^ "White knight rides to rescue of Mystery Park". swissinfo.ch.
- ^ "Racing's remarkable Swiss return". motorsportmagazine.com.
- ^ "Formula One fans want race ban lifted". swissinfo.ch.
- ^ "Slalom: Opener with several title favorites". autosprint.ch.
- ^ "Im Zeichen des Biscione: Alfa Romeo Passion Meeting 2023". spirit-magazin.ch (in German).
- ^ "Passion Meeting 5th Anniversary". 4cpassionmeeting.com (in German).
- ^ "Greenfield Festival".
- ^ "History". Red Bull Air Race. Archived from the original on 25 June 2012.
- ^ "Paragliding World Cup Switzerland, Grindelwald – Interlaken, 2024". pwca.events.
- ^ "Train stop Park+Ride Matten bei Interlaken open and Wengen Shuttle operational". jungfrau.ch.
- ^ "Factsheet BOB-Haltestelle Matten bei Interlaken / Park+Ride" (PDF). jungfrau.ch (in German).
- ^ "Band of Brothers: Where Was 2001 War Miniseries Filmed?". thecinemaholic.com.
Notes
edit
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