Which Aerodrome Mk IV

[chevvron]

Soil looks the wrong colour for Germany; maybe Spain or France?
Very flat countryside.
4 sets of 'touchdown zone' markings (presumably the fixed distance marking with a further set of TDZ are out of shot at the bottom of the photo) mean a runway of 10,000ft or more.
Buildings left of shot appear to be in a line parallel to the runway so maybe there was a parallel taxyway.
Course if it's in the former USSR I could be talking b0ll0cks!

Having said the above, my posting crossed with Mac's response so I'll have to modify my guess about soil type to former East Germany.

[MAC 40612]

Soil looks the wrong colour for Germany; maybe Spain or France?
Very flat countryside.
4 sets of 'touchdown zone' markings (presumably the fixed distance marking with a further set of TDZ are out of shot at the bottom of the photo) mean a runway of 10,000ft or more.
Buildings left of shot appear to be in a line parallel to the runway so maybe there was a parallel taxyway.
Course if it's in the former USSR I could be talking b0ll0cks!

Having said the above, my posting crossed with Mac's response so I'll have to modify my guess about soil type to former East Germany.

You guys are just too good :)....yes it is in the former East Germany.

[ea200]

Sperenberg?

[MAC 40612]

Sperenberg?
Correct.........Sperenberg just to the South of Berlin and was the main transport base for all of the Soviet forces in the former East Germany, which is why it was a very busy place up until the mid 1990s, as it was one of the last bases to shut following the withdrawal of the Russian/Soviet forces in East Germany

ea200...you have control

[Asturias56]

wasn't that the place they thought was going to be the new Berlin Airport??

Lots of parking space from the looks of it

[ea200]

Thanks Mac. There are some very good sites with pictures of old cold war airfields.

Now for this:


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/525x275/airfield24_0f799e511c84bc0731fa4244e58ae6f691f3ed94.png
Complete with sheds, trees, light poles and a fence.

[MAC 40612]

wasn't that the place they thought was going to be the new Berlin Airport??

Lots of parking space from the looks of it

Yes, it would have made a good new Berlin airport, as it was a massive base, had a railway link and was not located in any major areas of population meaning that the flightpaths would not be anywhere near any major population areas. Also a reasonably good road link, that could have been improved easily. Instead the Germans chose to build on/extend the site of the old East Berlin airport at Schönefeld which might have been seen as the easier option but didn't go too well...

Getting back to the old Soviet bases in East Germany, I couldn't resist, back in the early 1990s, making a few trips out to the bases to take some photos [I really must get around to digitising my old 35mm slides] but to give you an idea of how everything had literally fallen apart in East Germany, this page gives an idea of what we were met with...https://robdebie.home.xs4all.nl/vvs-ddr/airbases.htm
The base mentioned with the MiG-23 landing very low over the road had a Russian soldier in a control box manning a set of traffic control lights to stop cars when an aircraft was landing. Shortly after our arrival he came out waving his arms to say 'no photos' which he promptly forgot about after we gave him a six-pack of German lager and he happily went back to his box. It was only at the end of the day we noticed the lights weren't changing on landing that someone noticed he was fast asleep in the box surrounded by the empty beer cans :O

[chevvron]

Thanks Mac. There are some very good sites with pictures of old cold war airfields.

Now for this:


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/525x275/airfield24_0f799e511c84bc0731fa4244e58ae6f691f3ed94.png
Complete with sheds, trees, light poles and a fence.
Cancun, Mexico?

[ea200]

Not Cancun and not in Mexico I'm afraid.

[Asturias56]

Lots of poles holding up wires

N America?

[ea200]

North America it is.

[chevvron]

Miami Int?

[Asturias56]

Impossible to tell from that photo - could be anywhere without another clue

there's a street sign in front of the building on the left but no chance of reading it - and both Canada and the USA have similar street furniture - don't think it's St Pierre & Miquelon either

[ea200]

Not any of those places. For those looking for white control towers, that thing in the background is something else. Although this airfield does have a white control tower. If you can work out what it is, it maybe a useful clue. It dates back to an earlier time.

[ea200]

A better picture of the white tower.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/862x360/airfield24c_38e91a1cfd8630f11771f4efac3308dad8870ffe.jpg

[Asturias56]

Looks like a very large hangar

[dixi188]

Somewhere hot and dusty, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico?

[ea200]

Not in any of those States.

[ea200]

The control tower


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/312x211/airfield_24g_7f218e0e15cac0c30a9e7b8c8bbbc79e4c92e466.png

[India Four Two]

Is the other tower for drying fire hoses?

[ea200]

You are on the right lines but it's not fire hoses.

[India Four Two]

The other use for a tower like that, that I've seen, is training for submarine escapes.

[Asturias56]

hoses - not fire hoses but air refuelling hoses?

So we're talking SAC here I'd guess??

Are the military still operating from it?? That Tower picture looks a bit old..................

[Self loading bear]

Parachute drying tower

[ea200]

Bear is correct. Military airfield but civil now.

[Asturias56]

looks like the southern USA but not Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico

Texas perhaps?

[ea200]

Not Texas.


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/900x606/airfield25h_723bf0f3544d2606c931cf431b0132a68c7ab878.jpg

[chevvron]

Braking parachutes.

[ea200]

Yes, braking chutes. The aircraft above is landing at the challenge and if you could identify it, it would lead to the answer. Good luck with that though. It is a specific event,

[Asturias56]

AHHH that x287xx on the trail is a giveaway - it's 52-8711 - the first B-52 delivered to the USAF I think

so that's 29th June 1955 at Castle Airbase California just outside Atwater near Merced in the Central Valley

Retired FAR too early in 1965 - they could have got another 58 years service out of her.....................

[ea200]

Asturias is correct on all counts. Now Merced-Castle regional. No scheduled services though. Active GA and used for a variety of other puposes including NASA stratospheric balloon launches and Google self driving car testing. Quite a bit of tech stuff based there. Also the Castle AFB museum is worth a visit with plenty of WW2 and cold war exibits including some a/c I had never seen before. They have a Vulcan and and other British stuff as well as US kit. Nearly all flown in apparently.

Asturias has control.

[Asturias56]

Good challenge - I'd forgotten how flat the area around Merced is! The aircraft was clearly a very early model and pristine - the clue of a "significant event" took me to first flight (s) and then to first delivery..............

OH I'm afraid - I'm on the road this coming week with intermittent coms

[Asturias56]

well I'm back - so here's one that may have passed you by - the trees have grown up in the last 50 years or so

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/134x285/2023_11_18_102015_31fb33f58d06b58cac8c66db32da3217f4711769.j pg

[ea200]

Are we back in European disused cold war locations? As I wild punt I'll suggest Löpten as that has similar trees and is regularly used for public recreation.

[Asturias56]

yes - this was never used as far as I know but was quite an important location............................

[Asturias56]

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/215x324/2023_11_18_101853_4e2c489830796027e6cb423afd0c97d1b85706a7.j pg

It was designed around a specific aircraft IIRC - other aircraft would use it but it wasn't planned that way

[Asturias56]

very much used by the public these days - about 940m of tarmac

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/245x671/2023_11_18_102249_835b9d9e12632bb75eb297c85059ceeafcb4c2b8.j pg

[Asturias56]

Lots of trees but no sheds nor , oddly , can I find any lamp posts........................

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

I know this sounds quite ludicrous but its not Rotten Row is it ?

[Shackman]

Brooklands?

[chevvron]

I know this sounds quite ludicrous but its not Rotten Row is it ?
Near there.
'Broad Walk' runs straight past Kensington Palace; I think that's the place suggested in 'Beneath the City Streets'.

[Asturias56]

well done that man - yes - the Broad Walk - part of Project Python - they decided about 1963 that they probably wouldn't be able to ship 4000 civil servants to the big hole near Bath in time and that anyway the accuracy of Russian missiles made it a sitting duck . The plan was to disperse decision taking (and of course decision takers) across the UK. This involved using an Andover to collect said decision takers plus the Royal Family from C London in a rush. They would be flown to the W isles where they would use the "Britannia" and 3 Cal-Mac Ferries (specifically built to have anti radiation features) to disperse up the W Coast. The trees were cut down under some specious story about "disease"

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/464x826/2023_11_18_101951_b037ea2fd5f11719859eaab7b040dd9943b1299f.j pg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/435x342/2023_11_18_101619_adcb7fa78f3440636bac43f597a95e85454cea9f.j pg


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/401x273/2023_11_22_150402_0ef4f3a7f4f5097a65cddf7efafe0dc4dc2cb0b7.j pg

[chevvron]

OH although OAUQ gave me the idea.
I was at Rudloe for ATC camp in 1988 and on a visit to Colerne, there was a crash map outside the tower showing a printed (not handwritten) note saying 'Entrance to Nuclear Bunker' just south of the runway 25 threshold.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Well done Chevvron.. I knew I had it wrong when A56 quoted 940 metres. Rotten Row is a few hundred metres longer.... indeed they wouldn't want to frighten the horses would they..........? Presently I don't have anything to offer.

[Noyade]

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x563/img_20231111_wa0001_3c6766916e79fb4fa80f811974df9eedd73dd983 .jpg

[Asturias56]

O K - Sea side, somewhere warm

traffic drives on the right so not India or Pakistan

probably Africa - Nigeria maybe?

[Self loading bear]

Not so many countries with 3 or mor Il-76 in gray colors.
Could be Indian Airforce.
Why do you conclude seaside Asturias?

[Self loading bear]

The IAF participated with 3x Il-76 and a An-32 in Exercise Bright star 2023 in Egypt.
Airbase Cairo West?
Edit:
Seems I might have mixed up something but cannot find back the article.

[Noyade]

Taken in India.

[India Four Two]

Wild guess, based upon the pollution levels - New Delhi?

[Asturias56]

"Why do you conclude seaside Asturias?"
:ouch::ooh::(:uhoh:
​​​​​​​Stupidity - viewing the picture on a small mobile phone screen the hangar on the extreme left looked like water................

[Noyade]

Wild guess, based upon the pollution levels - New Delhi?

Sad when you can identify an airport by the surrounding pollution - but New Delhi it is. :ok:
By brother took the photo from the Lemon Tree Hotel window and he said the pollution was amazingly thick.

Over to you "India"

[Asturias56]

I42 is traveling I believe and is somewhere in NZ

I'll try and get him to respond

[India Four Two]

Apologies chaps and thanks for the reminder Asturias.

I've been busy and neglecting AH&N. :)
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x480/t_28_img_0825_0ba738a5e114caaeb39456697542dded617c03ef.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/556x954/t_28_track_img_0835_20e9b6bd7904c5f17a432913242736662e328f5c .png




Sad when you can identify an airport by the surrounding pollution - but New Delhi it is.

When I departed there at the end of the dry-season, there was a distinct reduction in visibility, INSIDE the terminal building!

​​​​​​​Open house.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Keeping the thread rolling...............


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/683x458/rtg1rh_cool_a823bae5c8c36ab5b1cc1d0de7a9870d6c8445ab.jpg

[Asturias56]

Asia I guess? Pamirs/Himalayas??

Had a mate who travelled up beyond Ladakh and his pictures looked like that

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Good Guess from Ast56

[Asturias56]

rather like Oman but with snow............................

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Oman with Snow - well these days who knows ?

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/770x454/quiz_a29d570c3368396f1a3cb6751565ec4a7f0743bd.png

[Asturias56]

Hmm USAF................

and there's a UTube video of a n Indian C-17 at Leh........... maybe Leh?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Sorry it's not Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport or more simply Leh for the uninitiated...........

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/705x350/screenshot_2023_12_03_at_18_07_02_snow_scene_d33fa7ef8773d37 c4a8ec52c2cb101e8468563dd.png

[Self loading bear]

Tribhuvan Nepal has handled multiple USAF C-17.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Hullo bear it is not Tribhuvan. It is a domestic airport with a few international scheduled flights.

[Asturias56]

" it's not Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport or more simply Leh for the uninitiated....."

Or those who have run out of printer paper

Is it India (including Indian controled areas claimed by others)?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

It is not in India nor in an area controlled by India.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/176x213/tower_final_b2c27d1520b06a5bb833ab5f23833e87c4fbad92.png

[Asturias56]

Is it Pakistan (including Pakistan controled areas claimed by others)?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

It Is. I'm off to Sainsburys - happy hunting !

[Self loading bear]

Skardu International
Far away from your usual challenges.
Any particular reason for that?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Well we were already on The Subcontinent and Skardu has as far as I know never featured on the thread. So well done bear it is Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x750/the_tower_untouched_f6de861b6929bb365911678a307c594e9c613707 .png
Airport Elevation 7316 Feet.



https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/833x477/skardu_e77c17112044a5567e09bbccca5a15acb3cb2acc.png
New Twin Runways - 11,944 Feet in length.




https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/450x227/ap_aaf_1954_copy_d13f4e8441977ab39f1f5d85418aae4a854b3710.pn g
Force-landed after takeoff from Skardu for Rawalpindi. 13 October 1954. Subsequently a Chaikhana in the grounds of a hotel near Skardu - still there as far as I know.

Over to bear...........

[Self loading bear]

Thanks OUAQ!
Nothing wrong with an outlying challenge once in a while!
I thought for a moment that you were the black bear rolling a snowman in the Shangrilla hotel garden.

Now this:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1170x890/img_9103_9aaa87ed98223a73a3a1087f49c31221d4e05af0.jpeg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Mention of Bears - South America ?

[Self loading bear]

Of that far south.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/877x410/img_9096_b96f5bb6c7b630c9509dfa09eeb56aaa274e9a78.jpeg

[MAC 40612]

Arrecife Airport, Lanzarote? Looks like the old terminal building which is now a museum?
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1063x653/image_2023_12_05_155818272_ceb7a116545dda5d738fa21f56f9d00c8 f90b12a.png

[Self loading bear]

Arrecife Airport, Lanzarote? Looks like the old terminal building which is now a museum?
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1063x653/image_2023_12_05_155818272_ceb7a116545dda5d738fa21f56f9d00c8 f90b12a.png
Definitely that one Mac!
Please take the helm.

[MAC 40612]

Here we go then, a domestic airport..
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/825x293/image_2023_12_06_002127101_2939620e2709a30656b225d890efab748 c33f2e4.png

[descol]

I think that is Mestia - Georgia !

[MAC 40612]

I think that is Mestia - Georgia !

Well that didn't last long :) You are indeed correct, Mestia in Georgia with a pretty unique Tower/terminal building! Over to you descol!

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1356x902/image_2023_12_06_094339950_e3aa9ed25547398733bdaa2ed78b53a26 eb32b87.png

[descol]

thanks MAC - I recall seeing that terminal on a thread some years back
something
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/541x335/copy_3410da3222163c095b7b063b54a975ed89a30553.jpg
to keep it going - apologies if posted previously

[Asturias56]

USA? looking at the taxis

[descol]

Asturias not the US - taxi may be a Mercedes

[Asturias56]

so can we guess at Europe then? Looks a bit 1960's to me

[Self loading bear]

Carefull
keep 24-hour rule in mind.

[ea200]

Best guess, Chrysler Valiant, Mercedes, another Chrysler? Extreme right a Ford Falcon. The Falcon was made in South America and Australia so maybe one of those?

[descol]

yes to Europe and I guess yes to 60s

[Asturias56]

NATO member in 1965?

[descol]

Not a NATO member in 1965

[Asturias56]

So we can take the following out of the loop

Belgium Canada Denmark
France Germany Greece
Iceland Italy Luxembourg
Netherlands Norway Portugal
Turkey UK USA

Since it doesn't look like a Warsaw pact terminal - that sort of leaves us -

Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, Sweden & Finland

Doesn't look like Ireland

[MAC 40612]

I think it may be Sweden, an airport that is no longer is existence? Malmo-Bulltofta? The big American cars make me think Sweden as having been there a number of times, the Swedes have long had a passion for old American cars.

[chevvron]

Re Sweden; in the era in which the photo was taken it must have been round about the time they switched from drivng on the ieft to driving on the right so would there have been large american LHD cars in such numbers?

[Self loading bear]

Descol Will have to confirm but i think Mac is right on Bulltofta.

[descol]

MAC 40612 has it - Malmo - Bulltofta operated 1923-72 - now major park and commercial development in Kirseberg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1142/airport_malm_16__83e1f3f506ca0a9f518f205e134a2f25fdf03e7c.jp g

[Asturias56]

one I'd never heard of! Good challenge!!

[MAC 40612]

Not a lamp post in sight for this one ;)

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1257x751/image_2023_12_09_111653590_75579af5ad0796b28fd9bf8c6e469a3fd 6c327e0.png

[Asturias56]

No sheds, no trees either.............. :(

OK B-17 somewhere in the western USA - high sun angle so maybe to the south.

Lets guess New Mexico?

[chevvron]

My usual bid - Wendover.

[MAC 40612]

No sheds, no trees either.............. :(

OK B-17 somewhere in the western USA - high sun angle so maybe to the south.

Lets guess New Mexico?

You've got the correct aircraft type in your guess, other points are not correct. I think a second image may give more of a clue. The airport in question had a very modern looking tower built in 2017.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1265x551/image_2023_12_10_112135200_5b7c7da1b4a31fbf5a8c6f440177fe420 713f5d9.png

[Asturias56]

Biggs El Paso?

[descol]

The tower - indicates Tamanrasset - Algeria ?

[Asturias56]

looks good.........................

[MAC 40612]

Descol is correct, Tamanrasset, Algeria is correct. A joint domestic/military airport with long runways, which was also one of NASAs alternate airports for the space shuttle when it was operating. The first image was a bit of 'curve ball' as the B-17 was actually one of the French civil IGN B-17s like this one: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1206539 the image dating from 1970.

Descol has control....

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1398x614/image_2023_12_11_104201194_c2e6ebbdd4cf1b35cefef145c907b6913 637b294.png

[descol]

Thanks MAC - without the tower - I would not have guessed
Apologies nothing available at present - so open house

[Asturias56]

That was a great challenge - the B-17 had my completely barking up the wrong tree (or shed or lampost) :D

Try this one for size

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/782x416/2023_12_05_094849_99a1d24723c9651fd6c0cfe031f8e0c41c1c6b10.j pg

[Self loading bear]

American by the look of the road sign gantry structure?

[Asturias56]

No it's not American.............. well they might have bought it from the USA I guess but it's not the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave I'm afraid

[Asturias56]

The runway was longer once................

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/701x372/2023_12_05_094525_a789610fda5bc3a9bffd28ba537ed959b9298b62.j pg

[Asturias56]

Domestic flights only

[descol]

how about another clue ?

[dixi188]

Canada?

[Asturias56]

No its not Canada either - it has quite variable climate - warm in summer cool-ish in winter

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/367x369/2023_12_05_094953_dc9b850cdaeb3bb00e96e54db2398979d4f1384c.j pg

[descol]

Maybe Scandinavia

[Asturias56]

I can see why you think that but it's not in Scandinavia

Largely dependent on fishing and similar trades

[Asturias56]

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/257x179/2023_12_05_095548_17e9e9f908e5f55292898b4dda43dfc6275b29d1.j pg

[Self loading bear]

Perhaps around the Black Sea?
But searched and no succes.
South America?

[Asturias56]

Many miles from both Bear - I may have to post a picture of lamposts if this continues...................


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/439x258/2023_12_05_094513_612fbaad2d7eafb44666102709289ca8087ae768.j pg

[descol]

The café might be Asia !

[Asturias56]

It might indeed!!!! :ok:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/422x324/2023_12_05_094933_266b6b4d16e6d2e7d9423e14cc7cc2326851bcab.j pg

[Self loading bear]

Wakkanai airport Northern point of Sapporo, Japan

[Asturias56]

Bear has it...... Japans furthest north airport.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/232x158/2023_12_05_095127_f96159a856b4da6fbc70a6cbaa0d00a0faed5016.j pg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/272x164/2023_12_05_095148_30c480010a9856d7c86cbbcdfc1de63754e2463a.j pg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/785x420/2023_12_05_094346_d135674ab213336d633731109be11a8a6a64dd6f.j pg

[Self loading bear]

Thanks Asturias!
It took me quite a while.
It made me think of that TV program for sleepless people which was broadcasted at night, where they had mounted a camera on a car roof while driving almost erratically through the whole country and played the recording at 10x.

Now this purely chosen for its name.
There is an Italian connection.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1170x1558/img_9182_bacc4f7ee22a6118edd17a0ac39ca26d7703ce27.jpeg

[thnarg]

There is an Italian connection.

Family friendly?

[Self loading bear]

I think Thnarg already has the grasp of it.

[Gne]

Are we in the Pacific?

Gne

[India Four Two]

Miniature whale shark on the grass.

[Self loading bear]

Not Pacific

[Asturias56]

Are we in Africa?

[Asturias56]

I'm getting slow...

Shark, Name, Family, Italian....


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/261x193/untitled_d74a14e2c71e241db372f5201ab56e2eea6a50ba.jpg

must be Mafia Island off Tanzania!!

Actually it was Whale Shark Statues that got me there................... :ok:

[Self loading bear]

Edit: please do not read till 22:41 tonight

Mafia island indeed.
All yours!

[Asturias56]

Open House - I don't have a challenge to hand - well not until I remove all trees, lampposts, statues, cars etc etc that might help!

[descol]

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/614x222/pprune_0ed5deee9fa7a314425152a0107d24259b302729.jpg
Something to keep it going

[Asturias56]

very smart!

Looks like traffic on the left side of the road?

and how flat are those roofs? I hope its a low rain country.......................

[descol]

Asturias- left correct and yes - surprisingly flat roofs for the location

[Asturias56]

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1585x793/left_hand_drive_countries_fb5bd058051f0eaeb9f8c441d5c89a4254 a2f408.jpg

[Asturias56]

Ok lets start the elimination game - Africa?

[chevvron]

I wuz gonna say - covered walkways so hot and sunny.

[Asturias56]

or warm and wet

india has sent a lot on new airport terminals recently

[descol]

not Africa - covered walkways - tropical

[Asturias56]

Indonesia?

[descol]

not Indonesia
The international airport is in the top ten airports of the country

[Asturias56]

Asia?

[descol]

not Asia
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/576x1024/recent_4e263765e3f010f641a17da7b8eaa411fd338f5d.jpg

[Asturias56]

Cairns? That picture has been running in the Oz thread I think.

[descol]

large flat roofs - don't like heavy rain storms

[Asturias56]

If only they'd installed water butts.............................

[descol]

Cairns it is - all yours Asturias
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1318x822/png_xmas_042f520a48f53b9760529a9b57a9d08fba8702c3.jpeg

[Asturias56]

Many thanks - and a Happy Christmas to everyone. Lets see how long this one lasts............................

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/294x224/2023_12_22_091503_6a66e511085d47a84d32e37fee37e31ee78334c2.j pg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

United Kingdom or South Atlantic ?

[Asturias56]

Neither

some trees - and a hut!!

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/510x426/2023_12_22_091750_0869742983834425cae67d1f02d74b5af4f31d7f.j pg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Scandinavia ?

[Asturias56]

possible........ possible....................

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Is it Lulea Airport - Sweden ?

[thnarg]

Reminds me of every airport in Finland. Oulu maybe?

Happy Christmas everyone.

[Asturias56]

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/665x343/2023_12_22_091927_26922ea623a178ef986977b54cb8e16e55dac9e0.j pg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Jyvaskyla Airport Finland ?

[Asturias56]

No its Oulu and thnarg has control - i was waiting a while to confirm., not wishing to repeat my Christmas Day ban of a few years back.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/210x311/2023_12_22_091419_b346aa682eb7c9acba6bc1570931101462c192d3.j pg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x562/2023_12_22_091048_e30f75df8b510a4af1a58f4d07c9b923c6a975c8.j pg

[thnarg]

Blimey that was a bit of a guess really!

Finnish passengers are lovely. Bars emptied by top of climb, waste tank alarmingly full by top of descent and a perfect if slurred English “thank you” as they disembark and wobble off into the terminal. Never any trouble.

I ought to start my christmas shopping this afternoon so feel free to open the house, otherwise I’ll be back tomorrow.

[Asturias56]

Blimey that was a bit of a guess really!

Finnish passengers are lovely. Bars emptied by top of climb, waste tank alarmingly full by top of descent and a perfect if slurred English “thank you” as they disembark and wobble off into the terminal. Never any trouble.

I ought to start my christmas shopping this afternoon so feel free to open the house, otherwise I’ll be back tomorrow.

I was once booked on the early morning Business class only flight Helsinki - Oslo. At 0600 bars full of smart business people of both sexes all flinging them down. Breakfast on board came with an offer of brandy which almost everyone but us took up. On arrival at the office of a major financial institution downtown Oslo we were asked where we'd stayed in town - when we said we'd come in from Helsinki everyone laughed "Oh - The Cognac Express?". And that's Norwegians - who get regularly slaughtered at the drop of a hat........................ :}

[thnarg]

Well, were you naughty or nice?

I admit I haven’t checked The Spreadsheet so may have been featured before:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1091x866/img_3891_8c69910196debfa00368a03d91adc97b83b9106a.jpeg

[Asturias56]

USA? Not sure about the Vendor tho

[siftydog]

Benedict Cumberbach would have it as Montana but I’ll go south, a lot further south. Are we in NZ’s high country?

[thnarg]

You’ve all been nice and deserve a christmas present…

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x480/img_3456_eb8620e344daf9364d9b5591f84cc770651d3dc0.jpeg

[siftydog]

The Z Fuel logo on the bowser leads me to think Tekapo or similar.

[thnarg]

The Z Fuel logo on the bowser leads me to think Tekapo or similar.

How was lunch, or breakfast in Canada and supper Downunder?

Final answer, Sifty?

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_3891_5ac2a15fe4121592d72573871bd647b8db2b44ca.jpeg

[siftydog]

Air Safaris… definitely NZ’s South Island.

the hills seem more distant in that shot though.

Let’s go with Timaru…

[siftydog]

My IPad won’t let me edit so I’ve had to delete my original rather obstinate support of Tekapo. Another drop of Christmas dram should sort it.

[India Four Two]

Montana or Wyoming?

[thnarg]

Good afternoon over there I42. It is NZ.

[thnarg]

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1806x892/img_4326_de6118062ebfdea6c361034391e3c322c3efaf84.jpeg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Well how about Wanaka ?

[thnarg]

Not Wanaka

[thnarg]

No lamp posts available, but there are a few sheds…

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1702x932/img_4329_602ece470c2b0cb3580081b8521abbdb43aa4143.jpeg

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

I think the time has come to ask please whether it is on South or North Island ?

[thnarg]

South Island

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Is it Lake Tekapo ?

[thnarg]

It is Lake Tekapo NZTL which is why I asked siftydog for his final answer, but by then I think he’d started another christmas dram!

I can recommend Air Safaris whose Airvans are ideal for seeing the mountains. Very professional operation from what I saw from the middle of the cabin:
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x480/img_3497_8f43b36728cc4b3f78322f3534cf6c3b309eeebc.jpeg

All yours Mr Ops.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Oh gosh sorry thnarg - I had completely overlooked siftydog's first offer. A jolly good challenge. When I saw how many strips there were on the South Island - I nearly chucked the towel in and retreated to the telly. However with one final gasp I thought I would check out Air Safari Airvans more closely which eventually threw up two images of that elusive Z Fuel Pump. I can offer a splendid shed and possibly a fuel pump as my next contribution but nothing much else. Belated best wishes to everybody particularly for The New Year.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/378x498/quiz_7d7c16e333bd6b8571c248d437e3b8272f2088b6.png

[Asturias56]

"hen I saw how many strips there were on the South Island - I nearly chucked the towel in and retreated to the telly"

You're not the only one..............................

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/850x518/c130_approach_07dd5e07f2f79ac724fbdd45f83f01cb68725071.png
rafaberporth.org

[chevvron]

Aberporth (West Wales) Airport, not the missile range.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x666/large_000000_69912ba3647725cec49e0467c146bc476efeb5e0.jpg
Imperial War Museum

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x533/wwa_cornerstone_of_the_na_down_c907361bfd25e0081197ca76de1a6 dfc7f94f763.jpg
flyuav.co

Well done chevvron - dunno how you got it.... were you detached there at some stage ? Aberporth Airfield or West Wales Airport it is.

Previous images include Launch Pad for the Skylark Rocket programme which commenced in 1957. We sometimes had our Summer Holiday at Aberporth. I remember Old Railway Carriage Homes along the cliffs. Also Barrage Balloons not sure what function they had.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/350x350/downsize_49c99bf3cef4d1544d22ddc4feb2bd9b429d40f2.jpg

You have control chevvron.....................

[Asturias56]

"dunno how you got it...."

probably the blazing sunshine in the first picture...................

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Could have been taken yesterday.........

[chevvron]

Open House
It was featured on a site called www.atchistory.wordpress.com about a year ago but seems to have disappeared. The occasion was a flypast by the Herc and the Air Cadets were there to salute it.
No I never got detached there, closest I ever got was about 2nm and 2000ft as we flew past in Farnborough's BAC 1-11; the range was separate from the airfield and the airfield itself was originally RAE and operated by a single controller supplemented by a FISO from Farnborough whenever the controller went on leave.

Further details www.rafaberporth.org.uk

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Well there we are - what a fortunate Stroke of Luck - Happy New Year T.

[chevvron]

Wondering what the dangly bits are on the wingtips; I've never seen them before (and won't again at least not in RAF markings)

[sycamore]

They`re called `Smokewinders`,same as on many display aircraft..

[Gne]

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1350x903/pict0116_4acc3a7c06101614076c7b4c45b8508123e33589.jpg
And in 2001 we were looking for a replacement.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1392x919/pict0006_6503f518fff834a732e72e920881492eb0ae3570.jpg

[Asturias56]

Americas?

[WIDN62]

They`re called `Smokewinders`,same as on many display aircraft..
I am not sure if you are serious here or making a joke that is passing me by!
The dangly bits on the wing tips are Orange Crop ESM pods.

[Gne]

Americas?
That narrows it down somewhat.

Gne

[Asturias56]

N America (Canada & the USA) ?

[Gne]

As I remember from my school days, North America includes Mexico; however, even with that correction, it's not North America.

More narrowing needed.

Note: In the spirit of the festive season and good will to all men (and women and the rest of the alphabet) I resisted the strong urge to place a full stop after "Mexico" and hit "Submit Reply".
Gne

[India Four Two]

As I remember from my school days, North America includes Mexico; however, even with that correction, it's not North America.


Gne,
I've often thought about mentioning to PPRuNe's owners the inconsistencies and overlaps in their forum naming! :)

We have:

Canada The great white north. A BIG country with few people and LOTS of aviation.
North America Still the busiest region for commercial aviation.
The Caribbean and Latin America ​​​​​​​Aviation has been around South America and the Caribbean since the early days. A forum for aviators from that part of the world.

[Asturias56]

As I remember from my school days, North America includes Mexico; however, even with that correction, it's not North America.

More narrowing needed.

Note: In the spirit of the festive season and good will to all men (and women and the rest of the alphabet) I resisted the strong urge to place a full stop after "Mexico" and hit "Submit Reply".
Gne
I appreciate your thoughtfulness - but on here??? Any weakness leads to instant annihilation - when people can ID a place from a a lampost no quarter should be given!! Have great New Year!

[Asturias56]

Back to the challenge -

Are we in Continental S America ?

[Gne]

I was weary after the journey but, as I remember, I was in South America when I took both pictures. I'm currently digitizing my pictures from that era and I'll see if I can find one with a shed or two or a couple of recognizable lamp posts.

I do remember there being some confusion about the status of the city in the hierarchy of government.

Gne

[Gne]

Another picture from the first visit with two clues for the observant.

Still looking for one with sheds and/or lamp posts.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1318x883/cockpit_528d3667ddceb4f3c5ffa43e3b531c9c0783511a.jpg

[Asturias56]

Ah! Blowing up the picture it looks as if the aircraft is at an altitude of circa 9600ft AMSL?

Since you are an officer and a gentleman we assume that this is important - so we guess that the aircraft is on the ground....................

and then check wiki for "S American airports over 9000ft" - we get a short list .

Amongst them is Juana Azurduy de Padila in Sucre Bolivia. at 95208 ft - formerly the main airport but replaced by Alcantari and closed in 2016

Wiki also tells us that " Sucre is Bolivia's constitutional (de jure) capital city," whereas "La Paz is the de facto capital"

an image search then gives us


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/470x301/2023_12_31_090932_3fb0af1d3b46bd17f99877644d939d2349b97532.j pg

where the hill at the end looks somewhat similar to the challenge photo....................... especially the trees!

[Gne]

Cannot fault the logic in your answer. You do not get full marks, however, because of the typo in the elevation! .

The "hill" you see trees on is actually the other side of a very deep valley just off the end of the runway.

Flew in in a B727-100 operated by LAB and, trust me, if there had been trains still operating from the rail station in the city (which, we were told, was the scene of the demise of real Butch Cassidy) I would have bought a ticket. We were there to find a suitable site for the then (2001) much needed replacement. The change occurred over a decade later.

Over to you Asturias.

Gne

[Asturias56]

After such an excellent challenge lets start the New Year off with an early bird location:-

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/300x300/sfdadfddsfddirstrip_f7ef2e5517108cef2c0b36d88f9c94bd704e61d7 .jpg

[descol]

happy new year all
Asturias -it looks remote - not a sealed runway - maybe a grass strip ?

[Gne]

A shoreline with breakers at the top of the picture?

Gne

[chevvron]

Montserrat old airport?

[Asturias56]

Yes we are beside the sea - regretfully a long way from Monserrat - tho the airfield is no longer in use

[Gne]

Can we eliminate the Pacific?

Gne

[sycamore]

Old Japanese airstrip...?

[descol]

Remote Pacific ?

[Asturias56]

not japanese - but Descol is correct

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/529x369/2023_12_31_095034_7e4db74794a1a950ac0400005285ed1bc4f9ca07.j pg

[descol]

Asturias - I spent some 20 years in the Pacific - on many islands and atolls - A massive part of the World
I am going to search for this challenge
Did you say its not in use ? if so, when was it in use - how long ago ?

[Asturias56]

Better to ask a few questions than try and look at a zillion islands. :ok:

This has never been up as a challenge before - at least not in the last few years - it was operational into the late '70's I believe.

It's generally uninhabited - certainly no permanent habitation

[Self loading bear]

Kuril islands?

[Asturias56]

A long way away from the Kuril Islands and much warmer -

periodically it features in news bulletins - if not by name by general location

[sycamore]

Fangatau,Fr Polynesia...?

[descol]

Asturias
Assuming it is located in an Independent Country - prior to Independence was it French or British ?
Is it North or South of the Equator ?

[Asturias56]

Not Fangatau - it is in an Independent country (not France) and it was British

It is south of the equator - it was quite busy for a period

there are old ruins but little is known about the early settlers
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/401x224/2024_01_03_093142_2e528efd4ffe0b61fad8181585dae4b8124a3e4c.j pg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/462x360/2024_01_03_092941_b53d767ac94f2dfedec10e7f0be44494e9f7825f.j pg

[MAC 40612]

If I say I'm grappling with the answer, would I be getting warm...

[Noyade]

If I say I'm grappling with the answer, would I be getting warm...

Based on that and Mr Google - Malden Island?
If so - Mr MAC deserves control.

[Gne]

Malden has been on this forum before and the coastline is nothing like the other OPS Grapple airfields (Kiritimati and AEON).

[Asturias56]

Yes it's Malden Island - one of the first places to see in 2024.

Going back Malden was posted in 2021 - apologies - and its been discussed on other forums on here though

I'll leave it to MAC and Noyade to agree who has control

[MAC 40612]

Yes it's Malden Island - one of the first places to see in 2024.

Going back Malden was posted in 2021 - apologies - and its been discussed on other forums on here though

I'll leave it to MAC and Noyade to agree who has control

Thanks, I'm otherwise engaged at the moment, so I think Noyade can have control.

[Noyade]

Cheers!


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x718/scan1501_eb915eb89245373015eb322353e93fa53628c9a2.jpg

[Asturias56]

Madden Island - better picture

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/805x680/2023_12_31_094615_c2a2b7a5352380a4c9dca045dbb5c6e1abf3f3c8.j pg

[Asturias56]

Is the challenge in the UK?

[chevvron]

Funny I was just thinking Dornoch.

[Asturias56]

Approaching from the west , as in the challenge picture, you'd expect to see a great deal of the N Sea in the background I think?

[Noyade]

Is the challenge in the UK?

No, we're in Australia - close to the Hume Highway and the NSW/Victorian border.
The nearby township where this is situated once had a very German name - changed during WWI.

[thnarg]

No, we're in Australia - close to the Hume Highway and the NSW/Victorian border.
The nearby township where this is situated once had a very German name - changed during WWI.

Crikey mate, that was a good clue
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1169x957/img_4351_108c2a3358110bc6fe3c6792f9bf94569825f581.jpeg

[chimbu warrior]

Looks like Holbrook. If so, I think you gave too many clues.

OH if correct.

[Self loading bear]

Please find attached in a .ZIP file the Which Aerodrome data base.
Asturias56 has updated it up to 31-12-2023 which he shared with me.
I have put a link to this post in the wikipost at the head of this thread.

[Noyade]

Looks like Holbrook. If so, I think you gave too many clues.

OH if correct.

Yes, it was a generous Saturday morning. Holbrook it is.

Open House.

[Noyade]

One more go then.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/900x715/scan1512_7595be9e0ec5f40f44cf1f97f221e2f65fa11361.jpg

[Asturias56]

North Africa?

[Noyade]

Indeed it is.

[Asturias56]

Egypt then?

[Noyade]

Libya.

[Asturias56]

TobrucK?//

[Noyade]

Not Tobruk.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x688/capture_d7f61ce80d43bd66846c532c58b5b24f71c82df4.png

[Allan Lupton]

El Adem?

[Noyade]

No. You need to head west.
Used by the RAF -1943 onwards.



https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/700x495/scan1516_cb200e1e4c60ec5f3d5c189024ac798864895045.jpg

[Noyade]

Probably time to shut this down and declare Open House.
Twas Castel Benito Airfield near Tripoli.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castel_Benito
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Castel_Benito

Cheers.

[Asturias56]

Pity - it was just difficult to place amongst all the
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/409x301/2024_01_14_113001_9a8f5f1870ea53ae99b19c644c6477f4af293b84.j pg
strips at that time

This one is a bit more recent

[chevvron]

Popham ?

[Asturias56]

N along way from Popham

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/345x446/2024_01_14_112644_d9e3adc5ae39e3a802e5fdb1f6c51500a0764029.j pg

[Asturias56]

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/884x628/2024_01_14_113051_7f1823dd90721817d1d6ce99c1e2650c64ff4874.j pg

[Self loading bear]

USA??

[Asturias56]

yes - not the usual post WW2 shack seen in most European small airfields...............

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/470x378/2024_01_14_112718_84c82908ae099e2004714a26d24cbda062bf286c.j pg

[Self loading bear]

We need some more clues.
I am guessing north East states?

[Asturias56]

Certainly north - not east. You are advised (but not required) to call ahead when landing here but it's not for any aviation reason. No regular commercial flights

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/431x304/2024_01_14_112832_d83990734a41f8c66e577d7a2258a680ff3b94c0.j pg