La Gomera’s former aerodrome El Revolcadero was closed so far for more than 25 years.
The visit of this place has been on my bucket for more than 7 years, and now I finally decided to move on and make it happen. Just wanted to travel back in time and see how it looked liked there some 30 years ago.
The aerodrome was officially opened on the 24th of April 1959 and the first plane landed on the aerodrome was a Piper PA23-160 Apache (EC-ALQ), which landed at El Revolcadero on the 15th of July 1959.
The runway was 500m long and at both ends it counts with up-sloping “stopways” helping the planes to slow down after the landing and most probably to help to gain speed during the initial take off run as well.
The runway designation was 27/09, same as the new airport which can be seen on the next cliff behind the old aerodrome.
The aerodrome (still) counts with a small hangar, tower and a small power plant building.
It’s just a fascinating piece of history, you just need to imagine that people were passing during years through the airport.
During the last years I flew a lot of times by, and need to admit that I’d love to land at the aerodrome or to see again some signs of “life” there.
The place, where the time stands still… Quiet… Visited by some curious tourists now and then, and by the goats.
Unfortunately, there is not much information to be found about this aerodrome on internet, nor images of the planes at the aerodrome, nor the date when it was closed. But definitely at least some 25 years ago, as the new airport started their operations back in 1999.
So enjoy some more images and the video of this experience, and for those who’d like to know how to get to El Revolcadero, you can find it here.
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Dear Stan,
just WOW!! Thank you so much for let us join your fly over and walking trip to Revolcadero. I wonder how long doughnouts can last on runways. Maybe motorcross visitors…who knows… I am really curious to see it by myself one day. Lost places are just fascinating! Thank you one more time, great pictures and videos!
Thank you Carsten,
Glad you liked it. The time stands still at the aerodrome, now for more than 25 years.
Should you visit the place one day, send me your images and your thoughts.
All the best!
Hi, I want to thank you for the detailed information and photos about this “forgotten” airport. In the past there was a website about this place with a lot of information, but I can’t find it anymore, I think it was taken offline. I still remember that the flights with tourists came to an end, because the road was very bad, and difficult / expensive to keep passable, which I can imagine when I saw your photos! Did you know that there was another small airstrip on Gomera? You can still see it on Google Maps, when you enter ‘Roque Placeres’. Was used for crop spraying, I believe. I also read with great interest about your flight to Punta de Jandia’s Airfield, Fuerteventura. (Gustav) Winter Airfield was close to it. Apparently there are still old remnants. It remains fun, those forgotten and abandoned airports! Thanks again, and all the best.
Hi Erik,
Glad you liked it. When I’ll have the opportunity, I want to visit the abandoned runway and aerodrome at La Palma, Breña Alta. Now a road is crossing the old runway… Crossed it several times, but never stopped there…
I knew there was another airfield at La Gomera; should have been near San Sebastián de La Gomera, maybe I’ll try to look better next time if I’ll spot it… 🙂
And in Fuerteventura I was really surprised that there were “so many” airfields.
All the best,
Stanislav
Hi, i love the low pass !
I had the chance to visit this quiet place last month. Very nice hike. I did it on a Sunday, so i met some hunters but no goats.
One thing is irritating for me. The owner / builder was Alvaro Rodriguez Lopez.
He lived from 1885 – 1958. The airfield officially was opened in 1959.
Several sources tell that he used the airfield for private purposes and bringing the first tourists in by plane. But he was already dead when it was opened.
Some kinda strange.
gtx
Marc
Hi Marc,
Glad you liked it! It was a lovely hike, and I still look down each time I fly over it!
Unfortunately can’t confirm any detail about the owner. There is a luck of information about the aerodrome.
But people at La Gomera know perfectly the name of the owner of the ground and surroundings of it.
If I’ll find something out, I’ll keep you posted! 🙂
All the best,
Stanislav