Raadi Airfield (Tartu Air Base) (ICAO: EETR) is a former air base in Estonia located 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of Tartu. The land once belonged to Raadi Manor and is now designated as the new site of the Estonian National Museum.
In 1940 100 hectares (250 acres) were requisitioned from the Raadi Manor estates to create a Russian airport.[2] The airfield was fought over during the Second World War and the manor house was burnt during the Tartu Offensive.
The airport became a major Soviet bomber base for fifty years. The secrecy of the airfield meant that foreigners were not allowed to visit the city. Dozens of bombers were based here making it the largest Baltic airfield. The airfield is still seen as a reminder that Estonia was occupied by Soviet forces.[3]
It was a fairly extensive base with 24 large revetments and over 30 small ones. This airfield was listed as No. 13 in USSR airfield priority, by the US in 1956. Meaning it was the only nuclear target in the Baltics at this time.[4] It was a Soviet base, home to 132 TBAP (132nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment) which flew Tupolev Tu-16 and Tupolev Tu-22M aircraft.[5] It was also a transport base with the 192 and/or 196 VTAP (Military Transport Aviation Regiment) flying Ilyushin Il-76M cargo aircraft until 1990.[6] These aircraft were relocated to Tver.
On 15 January 1991, a Soviet Air Force Tupolev Tu-16KBadger crashed near Tartu Air Base, on landing when the undercarriage failed to extend. The pilot and co-pilot ejected, but the four crew members were killed.[7]
Today
By 1993 it was listed as a designated emergency airfield on a Jeppesen chart for airline use although this is no longer possible as the runway has various used car lots preventing use by aircraft. On 16 January 2006 the winning works of the international architecture competition held to design the new Estonian National Museum building were revealed. In 2016, the museum was opened. [8][9][10]
In 2020, estimated 200,000 solar panels will be built on Raadi Airfield, making it the biggest solar farm in Estonia.
^ "Estonian National Museum hosts opening gala ahead of Oct. 1 opening". 30 September 2016.
February 21, 2023
raadi, airfield, tartu, base, icao, eetr, former, base, estonia, located, northeast, tartu, land, once, belonged, raadi, manor, designated, site, estonian, national, museum, main, runway, 2009iata, noneicao, eetrsummaryairport, typemilitaryoperatorsoviet, forc. Raadi Airfield Tartu Air Base ICAO EETR is a former air base in Estonia located 4 km 2 5 mi northeast of Tartu The land once belonged to Raadi Manor and is now designated as the new site of the Estonian National Museum Raadi AirfieldMain runway in 2009IATA noneICAO EETRSummaryAirport typeMilitaryOperatorSoviet Air ForcesLocationTartu Tartu County EstoniaElevation AMSL223 ft 68 mCoordinates58 24 17 N 026 46 25 E 58 40472 N 26 77361 E 58 40472 26 77361 Coordinates 58 24 17 N 026 46 25 E 58 40472 N 26 77361 E 58 40472 26 77361MapEETRLocation within EstoniaRunwaysDirection Length Surfacem ft09 27 3 000 9 842 ConcreteSources Forgotten Airports 1 Contents 1 History 2 Today 3 Gallery 4 ReferencesHistory EditIn 1940 100 hectares 250 acres were requisitioned from the Raadi Manor estates to create a Russian airport 2 The airfield was fought over during the Second World War and the manor house was burnt during the Tartu Offensive The airport became a major Soviet bomber base for fifty years The secrecy of the airfield meant that foreigners were not allowed to visit the city Dozens of bombers were based here making it the largest Baltic airfield The airfield is still seen as a reminder that Estonia was occupied by Soviet forces 3 It was a fairly extensive base with 24 large revetments and over 30 small ones This airfield was listed as No 13 in USSR airfield priority by the US in 1956 Meaning it was the only nuclear target in the Baltics at this time 4 It was a Soviet base home to 132 TBAP 132nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment which flew Tupolev Tu 16 and Tupolev Tu 22M aircraft 5 It was also a transport base with the 192 and or 196 VTAP Military Transport Aviation Regiment flying Ilyushin Il 76M cargo aircraft until 1990 6 These aircraft were relocated to Tver On 15 January 1991 a Soviet Air Force Tupolev Tu 16K Badger crashed near Tartu Air Base on landing when the undercarriage failed to extend The pilot and co pilot ejected but the four crew members were killed 7 Today EditBy 1993 it was listed as a designated emergency airfield on a Jeppesen chart for airline use although this is no longer possible as the runway has various used car lots preventing use by aircraft On 16 January 2006 the winning works of the international architecture competition held to design the new Estonian National Museum building were revealed In 2016 the museum was opened 8 9 10 In 2020 estimated 200 000 solar panels will be built on Raadi Airfield making it the biggest solar farm in Estonia Gallery Edit References Edit Raadi Airfield at Forgotten Airfields History ERM ee retrieved 31 December 2013 Estonian National Museum Where is this When is this Archived 2014 01 01 at the Wayback Machine ERM ee retrieved 1 January 2014 Kulma soja aegne USA sojaplaan nagi ette Tartu tuumarelvaga havitamise Dal nyaya Aviatsiya Aviabaza KPOI 37 Vozdushnaya Armiya VGK Brinkster com 2005 www ejection history org uk Archived from the original on 2006 09 02 The Estonian National Museum s New building 1 prize entitled Memory Field Estonian National Museum hosts opening gala ahead of Oct 1 opening 30 September 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Raadi Airfield amp oldid 1130373719, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
