Which Aerodrome Mk II
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It is indeed within the former Soviet Union.
This is quite an obscure photo that doesn't indicate too much information about the mystery airfield; except the 'major' slope, both down and up, within the runway landing zone; hence, a few clues might be in order.
Nikita Khrushchev and Fidel Castro held talks at this airfield about the siting of missiles in Cuba.
This is quite an obscure photo that doesn't indicate too much information about the mystery airfield; except the 'major' slope, both down and up, within the runway landing zone; hence, a few clues might be in order.
Nikita Khrushchev and Fidel Castro held talks at this airfield about the siting of missiles in Cuba.
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Not to butt in, but...
Folks,
I know I'm cutting in line here, but I thought you'd get a kick out of this.
First, what airport? (I know after lurking in this thread and its predecessors for a year or so, it will take about 0.5 seconds for someone to nail it!)
The real reason I posted this is to share this quaint video.
The Airport (1948)
It's clearly aimed at a primary-school audience, the voiceover is sort of poopy, but you'll find a lot of nice nostalgic footage of vintage airport ops.
Enjoy!
RR
I know I'm cutting in line here, but I thought you'd get a kick out of this.
First, what airport? (I know after lurking in this thread and its predecessors for a year or so, it will take about 0.5 seconds for someone to nail it!)
The real reason I posted this is to share this quaint video.
The Airport (1948)
It's clearly aimed at a primary-school audience, the voiceover is sort of poopy, but you'll find a lot of nice nostalgic footage of vintage airport ops.
Enjoy!
RR
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Vnukovo was used as a meeting place, and probably still is. However I am not confident about this being correct as it does not appear to have a humped runway and being near Moscow I can't see how it would be any better than others as a staging post to Cuba? However, I'll throw it in to keep things moving!
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Mr_Grubby is very close but not quite there.
The Soviet Cold War strike-force would have used this airfield to launch any offensive upon the USA. To this day it operates Backfire TU22-M bombers.
The Soviet Cold War strike-force would have used this airfield to launch any offensive upon the USA. To this day it operates Backfire TU22-M bombers.
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The 'upslope' within the runway threshold zone meant that you had to get the landing flare absolutely correct; or plant the airframe very 'firmly' if you got it wrong! Having said that, there was a further 3000 metres of concrete to play with after the upslope; which you wouldn't see (visually) until you'd passed the 'hump'.
Our Russian Naval aviator hosts were most entertaining and provided copious amounts of Vodka!
Our Russian Naval aviator hosts were most entertaining and provided copious amounts of Vodka!
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This airfield was a refueling stop for the Moscow to Havana TU-144 during the 1960s
The Havana Tu-114s sometimes routed via Conakry, Guinee.
Edit - But having now worked back through the other clues that one does not stack up.
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Descol; waaaaaay off-track. Head North to the land of the 'White Nights'.
Check-out the previous posts... Murmansk was close; Polyarny was a tad north of Murmansk; try looking south.
Another clue... there's a massive hole in the ground adjacent to the local town (of the same name as the airfield) where iron ore is extracted for the use of shipbuilding. The translation of the town's name literally means 'Reindeer Mountain'.
Check-out the previous posts... Murmansk was close; Polyarny was a tad north of Murmansk; try looking south.
Another clue... there's a massive hole in the ground adjacent to the local town (of the same name as the airfield) where iron ore is extracted for the use of shipbuilding. The translation of the town's name literally means 'Reindeer Mountain'.
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SMOKEON has it. Оленего́рск it is. You have control.
I had the pleasure of visiting Olenegorsk as part of an arms limitation inspection team; a desolate place, but the people were very warm and welcoming. Many of the 'old folk' still held fond memories of the Royal Navy for keeping the sea-lanes open during WW II.
I had the pleasure of visiting Olenegorsk as part of an arms limitation inspection team; a desolate place, but the people were very warm and welcoming. Many of the 'old folk' still held fond memories of the Royal Navy for keeping the sea-lanes open during WW II.
