Ambri Airport ( :ICAO: LSPM) is a

Swiss Swiss most commonly refers to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Swiss may also refer to: Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina * Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses * Swiss Café, an old café located ...

general aviation General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations except for commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services for other ...

airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial Aviation, air transport. They usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surf ...

. It located near the village of

Ambrì Ambrì is a Swiss village in the municipality of Quinto, Ticino, Quinto, Leventina District, Canton of Ticino. Geography Ambrì is located in the Leventina Valley, upon the southwestern shore of Ticino (river), Ticino river and below the Lepo ...

, in the municipality of Quinto,

canton of Ticino Ticino ( ), sometimes Tessin (), officially the Republic and Canton of Ticino or less formally the Canton of Ticino, is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eight districts and its capital city is Bellinzo ...

. Ambri serves the surrounding area and is home to a gliding school, a helicopter base and has sufficiency for VFR flying. The airport is situated in the steep-sided alpine valley of the

Ticino river The river Ticino ( , ; ; French and ; ) is the most important perennial left-bank tributary of the Po. It has given its name to the Swiss canton through which its upper portion flows. It is one of the four major rivers taking their source in t ...

. It is flanked to the north by the A2 motorway and the river, and to the south by the Gotthard railway and the villages of Ambri and Piotta.

History

Ambri Airport began as a :Swiss Air Force base, built during World War II. It was home to the Fighter Squadron 8, whose fleet included the :EKW C-35, :Messerschmitt Bf 109, :de Havilland Vampire, :de Havilland Venom and the :Hawker Hunter. The mountains surrounding the airport housed bunkers of which were home to tactical buildings, fighter aircraft and troops. The bunkers were accessed by

taxiway A taxiway is a path for aircraft at an airport connecting runways with Airport apron, aprons, hangars, Airport terminal, terminals and other facilities. They mostly have a hard surface such as Asphalt concrete, asphalt or concrete, although sma ...

s that passed under the A2 motorway, and over the Ticino river. In 1994 the Swiss Air Force base was deactivated, and the airfield converted into a civilian airport. The

Aircraft cavern Aircraft cavern, a calque of the German language, German word ''Flugzeugkaverne'', is an underground hangar amongst others used by the Swiss Air Force. Historical During World War II, the neutral Switzerland, Swiss military airfields were equippe ...

that formerly accommodated the base still exists but are now empty.

References

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External links

*
Official Website

DH-112 Venom Take-off & landing at Ambri {{authority control Airports in Ticino

History

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