Rumbula Air Base

Rumbula (ICAO: EVRC) is an air base located 11 kilometres (7 mi) southeast of Riga city centre in Latvia. The airfield was used for military purposes 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. It has many potholes and concrete blocks are 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 stretch of road without obstacles longer than 3000m. 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.

However, lately, mainly on weekends, motorized paragliders and ultra-light planes are using the runway. Airsport enthusiasts are taking control of the runway and stop students from driving cars so that they will not interfere with gliders and planes.

The air traffic from Rumbula can be seen flying mainly southward over Rumbula and along the Daugava river at heights of up to 300m (approx. 1000 ft).

History[]

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The airfield was used by the USSR Air Force before and during World War II. On June 22, 1941, was based at the airfield.

During the period from 1945 to 1953, the was based on the Yak-9U and MiG-15 aircraft (from 1950 of the year). The regiment in 1953 relocated to the airfield Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

In the period from December 14, 1944 to February 1946, the 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 Lithuanian SSR.^[1]

From March 2, 1946, the from the Romania was included in the 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 ,^[4] subsequently relocated to the airfield Lielvārde Air Base.

In November 1975, the regiment took part in the suppression .

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[]