Zimyanskiy Aerodrome (formerly Beketovsk, Beketowskaja, Deketovskaya, or Beketovka) is a small aerodrome located approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast, Russia.

Zimnyanskiy Aerodrome
Beketovsk
Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast in Russia
Beketovsk is located in Volgograd Oblast
Beketovsk
Beketovsk
Shown within Volgograd Oblast
Beketovsk is located in Russia
Beketovsk
Beketovsk
Beketovsk (Russia)
Coordinates48°33′03″N 44°22′40″E / 48.55083°N 44.37778°E / 48.55083; 44.37778
TypeAir Base
Site history
In use-present
Airfield information
IdentifiersICAO: URWA
Runways
Direction Length and surface
2,720 metres (8,924 ft) Natural

History

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From 1951 through 1997, the aerodrome was used by the Russian Air Force (and predecessor Soviet Air Forces) as a training base and was home to the 706th Training Aviation Regiment. This unit was stood up on 14 June 1951 with MiG-15 aircraft during the 1950s before converting to the Czechoslovakian-built L-29 Delfin dedicated trainers in 1963. More advanced L-39 Albatros aircraft were acquired in the 1980s and the unit was reported as operating 89 of them in 1990 along with 84 of the original L-29 fleet. The L-29s were withdrawn in 1992, but the L-39s continued in service until the regiment was disbanded in 1997.[1]

The airfield's existence pre-dated World War II, and while German forces briefly occupied the airfield during the German Case Blue offensive, there is no record of it being used by the Luftwaffe.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "706th Training Aviation Regiment". German Air Force, 1939–45. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Luftwaffe Airfields 1935-45: Russia" (PDF). The Luftwaffe, 1933–45. Retrieved 30 January 2023.