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You are here: Home Moving to Country Facts Berlin's historical Tempelhof Airport closes

29/10/2008Berlin's historical Tempelhof Airport closes

To the dismay of those it saved, the much beloved Tempelhof Airport makes way for other, yet undefined uses.

Berlin -- Famed for its role in the historic Allied airlift, Berlin's Tempelhof Airport will be confined to history at midnight on Thursday after a lengthy battle to save it failed.
 
Tempelhof courtyard © Flickr Creative Commons-licensed
The sky above the capital has been resounding to the drone of planes as people take advantage of "Goodbye Tempelhof" -- sightseeing flights in original Douglas DC3 planes used in the 1948-49 Airlift. Dozens of recreational pilots from around Germany have been flying to Tempelhof to experience it "just one more time."
 
"For me, Tempelhof is the world's greatest airport. I'll never forget it," said a 65-year-old pilot from southern Germany as he clambered from his cockpit. "Coming in to land at Tempelhof from above the houses and tree tops has always excited me. In the airlift days, pilots, aware that its runways were short, would indulge in much black humor about the cemetery at the far end of the airfield."
Tempelhof © Flickr Creative Commons-licensed
 
The final domestic scheduled flight is due to leave at 9.50 pm on Oct. 30, when a plane departs for Mannheim with passengers. Some 800 guests will see them off at a "farewell" gala organized by the holding company responsible for Tempelhof and the city's two other airports, Tegel and Schoenefeld.
 
At a minute before midnight a Douglas DC 3 and a Lufthansa Berlin Foundation JU 52 will soar into the air from Tempelhof -- the last planes to fly from the condemned airport. The last pilots to fly from Tempelhof will be Georg Kohne, Steffen Wardin 

2 reactions to this article

racy posted: 29-10-2008 | 10:50 AM

You understandably don't like the German eagle because of its historical associations. But to call repeatedly call it "ugly" misses the point. It was actually very well designed. And certainly no more ugly than all other eagle symbols used to express power and authority.

WALTER K. BAUER posted: 06-11-2008 | 9:17 AM

So what is to become of the land on which so many Deutches Volk,kinden,und Grosskinden owe their lives.New highrise buildings the noone can afford to live in,only foriegn Money Changers? Is this just another attempt to doaway with good,and bad Deautches History.This would be a perfect place for the Rebergining Zepplin Airship Comany,and Martin/Mariatia's World Orbiter Zepplins to show case the Future of Economic World Travel,of Passangers and Goods.With Solar powering there Eletric Motors,how many OIL BURNING ship could be permanatly docked,and millions of tons carried aloft. Well I'll get off my soap box,and pry that the German Peaple will see change is possible,just as here in Americia with a New and far better leader.Don't fear looking over your past for guidence for the future.We ae all not a dimwitted as our KING GEORGE the W (For worst)May God bless our Futures! Remember 68% of U.S. citisens clame German Roots,Peace to All soon I pay,Walt Bauer

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