Madrid–Cuatro Vientos Airport (ICAO: LECU), also known as Cuatro Vientos Airport, is the oldest airport in Spain, established in 1911 and one of the three civil airports of Madrid along with Madrid–Barajas and Madrid–Torrejón Airport. The airport is located 8 km (5.0 mi) southwest of the city centre. The name "Cuatro Vientos" [ˈkwatɾo ˈβjentos] translates into English as "Four Winds".
Cuatro Vientos was originally an air base, which later became also a civil airport. Thus, there is a military section located on a separate apron of the airport, opposite to the civil one. It is also used as the Madrid base for aircraft of the Spanish Police, as well as for the road traffic surveillance helicopters.
On 31 July 1919, an English aviator James Arthur Peters made the first non-stop flight from the UK to Spain. He flew an Alliance aircraft, a Seabird P1 that he had designed, from Hendon airport to Cuatro Vientos in 9 hours. His navigator was named as Curtiss. He carried a letter for the Queen of Spain from Mr Gillow the owner of the company that made the aircraft. Peters later flew back to the UK and named his house in Kings Langley, Herts. ‘Cuatro Vientos’.
InfrastructureEdit
This airport is mainly used by general aviation aircraft, Flight Training Organizations and flying clubs. Due to the runway length and surrounding buildings it is only possible to operate helicopters, piston engine aircraft, medium size turbo-props and small business jets. The only navigational aid is a non-directional beacon.
The Museum of Aeronautics and Astronautics, an air and space museum mainly dedicated to the Spanish Air and Space Force, is located on the southern side of the airport.
Accidents and incidentsEdit
In September 1976, Douglas C-53 T.3-57 of the Ejército del Aire was involved in an accident at Cuatro Vientos AFB and subsequently withdrawn from use.[2]
In May 2013, a Hispano HA-200D Saeta of the Fundación Infante de Orleans crashed during an aerobatic show at Cuatro Vientos Airport. The pilot died and several people on the ground were injured.[3]
madrid, cuatro, vientos, airport, icao, lecu, also, known, cuatro, vientos, airport, oldest, airport, spain, established, 1911, three, civil, airports, madrid, along, with, madrid, barajas, madrid, torrejón, airport, airport, located, southwest, city, centre, . Madrid Cuatro Vientos Airport ICAO LECU also known as Cuatro Vientos Airport is the oldest airport in Spain established in 1911 and one of the three civil airports of Madrid along with Madrid Barajas and Madrid Torrejon Airport The airport is located 8 km 5 0 mi southwest of the city centre The name Cuatro Vientos ˈkwatɾo ˈbjentos translates into English as Four Winds Madrid Cuatro Vientos AirportCuatro Vientos Airport Control TowerIATA noneICAO LECU LEVSSummaryAirport typePublic MilitaryOperatorAenaLocationMadridHub forFlylink ExpressElevation AMSL2 269 ft 691 mCoordinates40 22 14 N 3 47 06 W 40 37056 N 3 78500 W 40 37056 3 78500RunwaysDirection Length Surfaceft m09 27 4 900 1 494 Asphalt09L 27R 3 698 1 127 Grass EarthStatistics 2016 Movements35 640Movements change 15 1611 5 Sources Aena 1 King Alfonso XIII of Spain at the aerodromeCuatro Vientos was originally an air base which later became also a civil airport Thus there is a military section located on a separate apron of the airport opposite to the civil one It is also used as the Madrid base for aircraft of the Spanish Police as well as for the road traffic surveillance helicopters Contents 1 History 2 Infrastructure 3 Accidents and incidents 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditOn 31 July 1919 an English aviator James Arthur Peters made the first non stop flight from the UK to Spain He flew an Alliance aircraft a Seabird P1 that he had designed from Hendon airport to Cuatro Vientos in 9 hours His navigator was named as Curtiss He carried a letter for the Queen of Spain from Mr Gillow the owner of the company that made the aircraft Peters later flew back to the UK and named his house in Kings Langley Herts Cuatro Vientos Infrastructure EditThis airport is mainly used by general aviation aircraft Flight Training Organizations and flying clubs Due to the runway length and surrounding buildings it is only possible to operate helicopters piston engine aircraft medium size turbo props and small business jets The only navigational aid is a non directional beacon The Museum of Aeronautics and Astronautics an air and space museum mainly dedicated to the Spanish Air and Space Force is located on the southern side of the airport Accidents and incidents EditIn September 1976 Douglas C 53 T 3 57 of the Ejercito del Aire was involved in an accident at Cuatro Vientos AFB and subsequently withdrawn from use 2 In May 2013 a Hispano HA 200D Saeta of the Fundacion Infante de Orleans crashed during an aerobatic show at Cuatro Vientos Airport The pilot died and several people on the ground were injured 3 References Edit Madrid Cuatro Vientos T 3 57 Accident description Aviation Safety Network Retrieved 15 August 2010 Crash Cuatro Vientos Hispania 200D NBCNEWS Retrieved 5 May 2013 External links EditMadrid Cuatro Vientos Airport official site in English nbsp This article about an airport in Spain is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Madrid Cuatro Vientos Airport amp oldid 1170344316, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
