Rumbula Air Base

Rumbula (ICAO: EVRC) is an air base located 11 kilometres (7 mi) southeast of Riga city centre in Latvia. The airfield had military use in the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1960s it was used as temporary passenger airport for bigger planes until the new Riga International Airport was opened in 1973. At least since 2001 there has been no military or commercial aviation based in Rumbula. Now it is mainly used as the biggest auto market in Latvia, and only about five small general aviation planes are based here. The runway is in very poor condition, with holes and concrete blocks often used to learn how to drive a car or for "test drives" of cars to be sold at the market. It is difficult to find a continuous whole and obstacle-free piece of the runway which is more than 3000m long. There are also a few "bomb-proof" camouflaged military hangars (one example is located at 56°53'08.39" N / 24°13'33.93" E). The hangars are mainly used as storage or general purpose facilities; they are not obvious on satellite images and are not freely accessible on the ground.

Rumbula Air Base
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
LocationRiga, Latvia
Elevation AMSL26 ft / 8 m
Coordinates56°53′00″N 024°13′36″E
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
2,000 6,562 Concrete

However, lately mainly on weekends motorized paragliders and ultra-light planes are using the runway. Airsport enthusiasts are taking control over the runway to stop car driving students from interfering with gliders and planes.

The air traffic from Rumbula can be observed mainly southbound over Rumbula and along the Daugava river in heights up to 300m (approx. 1000 ft).

History

The airfield was used by the USSR Air Force before the war and during the war. On June 22, 1941, the 46th dive bomber aviation regiment was based at the airfield.

During the period from 1945 to 1953, the 265th Fighter Aviation Regiment 336th Fighter Aviation Division was based on the Yak-9U and MiG-15 aircraft (from 1950 of the year). The regiment in 1953 relocated to the airfield Poduzheme Kemsky district Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

In the period from December 14, 1944 to February 1946, the 33rd Fighter Aviation Regiment 106th Fighter Aviation Division of the Air Defense was based at the aerodrome. The regiment covered the city of Riga from enemy air raids. In February 1946, the regiment relocated to the airfield in the city Kaunas Lithuanian SSR.[1]

From March 2, 1946, the from the Romania 164th Fighter Aviation Galatsky Red Banner Order of Suvorov Regiment was included in the 336th Fighter Aviation Division on airplanes Yak-9U, which was based at the aerodrome until April 1, 1947, after which it was here and disbanded .[2][3]

In the period from September 1953 to 1980, the airport was based on the 899th Orshansky Red Banner Order of Suvorov. E. Dzerzhinsky Fighter Aviation Regiment,[4] subsequently relocated to the airfield Lielvārde Air Base.

In November 1975, the regiment took part in the suppression insurrection at the Watchtower.

Airplanes MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-19, MiG-21 PFM, MiG-21 BIS.

In the 60s of the last century, it was used as a temporary passenger airport for large aircraft until the construction of the new international Riga airport, which was opened in 1973, was completed.

Currently, the airfield is used as a car market, which is the largest in Latvia, as well as for the home base of small aircraft.

References
  1. M. Holm (2019-01-17). "33rd Fighter Aviation Regiment of Air Defense". Archived from the original on 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
  2. All Stalin 437.
  3. M. Holm (2016-10-09). "164th fighter Galatsky Red Banner of the Order of Suvorov Aviation Regiment". Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  4. All Stalin's Iap 319.
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