| Wien-Aspern Airport | |
| Nativename: | Flugplatz Aspern |
| Icao: | LOWA |
| Type: | Defunct |
| City-Served: | Vienna |
| Location: | Aspern, Vienna, Austria |
| Opened: | 1912 |
| Closed: | 1977 |
| Coordinates: | 48.2431°N 16.4897°W |
| Pushpin Map: | Austria |
| Pushpin Label: | LOWA |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Austria |
| R1-Number: | 09/27 |
| R1-Length-M: | 760 |
| R1-Surface: | Concrete |
| R2-Number: | 13/31 |
| R2-Length-M: | 1200 |
| R2-Surface: | Concrete |
| R3-Number: | 18/36 |
| R3-Length-M: | 700 |
| R3-Surface: | Concrete |
Wien-Aspern Airport (ICAO: LOWA) is an abandoned airport that closed in 1977, in Aspern, Vienna, Austria.
Wien-Aspern Airport was built on 23 June 1912 as the largest airport in Europe. The Aviatik aircraft manufactured and test flown its aircraft here.[1]
After the assassination of the Austrian heir to the throne, civil aviation ceased, and the airfield became a training ground for Austrian military pilots. By the mid-1920s, the airfield received expansions and was rightly referred to as an airport. On April 27, 1925, the first scheduled flight between Vienna and Poland took place, with Junkers F-13 operated by Polish airline LOT.[1]
After World War I in 1919, the airfield was ordered to be destroyed under the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, however it was reopened in 1920.[2]
During the Anschluss of 12 March 1938, the airfield was immediately converted for military use. The airfield was operated by the Luftwafte, and was heavily fortified with bunkers, blast walls, Anti-Air positions, and hangars. During World War II, the airfield was severely damaged and acquired by the Red Army in April 1945.[1]
Aircraft such as the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 took off and landed daily. There was one Soviet fighter regiment and one bomber regiment operating 34 Petlyakov Pe-2s assigned to the airfield. It was reported that the bomber regiment was brought up to strength, or a second regiment had been activated.[3]
After the occupation by the Red Army ended in 1955, the airfield was taken over by the Austrian Aero-Club. Various aviation activities such as pilot training, parachuting, and gliding were held there.[1]
From 1966 to 1977, races were occasionally held on the runways, drawing large attention from the town of Aspern. The track length was 2,600 meters, had 8 curves, and there was 26 starters.[4]
Due to the expansion of runway 16/34 at Vienna Schwechat Airport, the airfield became an obstruction to the approaching zone. This would lead the closure of Wien-Aspern Airport. The last aircraft took off on April 30, 1977, dragging a black flag behind to mark the end of Wien-Aspern Airport.[1]
In 1980, the airfield remained unused until the construction of the General Motors plant (Opel Austria) began on a section of the airport in 1982. The disused runways were used by the ARBÖ automobile club as a driving course until 2008.[1]
In 1997, a commemorative air show organized by the Motorflugunion Klosterneuburg was held. Various airplanes, helicopters, and ultralights gathered at the former airport. Led by veteran pilot Gustav Holdosi, a section of runway 18/36 was restored for the event. The event lasted two weeks, and was the final aviation event at Aspern.[1]
In 2005, an architectural competition was announced, and plans to build 8,000 apartments 7,500 industrial jobs, and 18,000 Office jobs were made. A stone memorial plaque was built on the old access road to commemorate the airport's history.[1] The expansion of the Vienna S-Bahn was also built on the former airfield, with the Wien-Aspern Nord Station being built.[2]