Unfortunately the access road is pretty damaged and partially non existing, but to walk down for approximately 2 hours along the valley is absolutely amazing. The landscape is absolutely fantastic; like in the western movie.
The aerodrome is not accesible by car, nor 4×4. Just by feet, helicopter (maybe) or apparently from the beach by feet, if you get transferred there by a boat.
17 kms to get there and back (actually a bit less, but if you walk up and down the 500m long runway, this counts as well)… If you are on Strava, you can see the cute here.
And now simply enjoy some of the pictures taken during the walk to the aerodrome El Revolcadero.
This is what left from the access road to El Revolcadero aerodromeThis is what left from the access road to El Revolcadero aerodromeWalking down to El Revolcadero airfield at La GomeraGoats seem to be the only passengers… This is what left from the access road to El Revolcadero aerodromeThis is what left from the access road to El Revolcadero aerodromeThis is what left from the access road to El Revolcadero aerodromeThis is what left from the access road to El Revolcadero aerodromeEl Revolcadero aerodrome, La GomeraEl Revolcadero aerodrome, La GomeraThe route to El Revolcadero aerodrome at Strava
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.
El Revolcadero aerodrome, La Gomera
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.
El Revolcadero aerodrome, La Gomera
The runway designation was 27/09, same as the new airport which can be seen on the next cliff behind the old aerodrome.
El Revolcadero aerodrome, La Gomera
The aerodrome (still) counts with a small hangar, tower and a small power plant building.
The old tower at El Revolcadero aerodrome, La GomeraThe old tower at El Revolcadero aerodrome, La GomeraViews from the old tower at El Revolcadero aerodrome, La GomeraThreshold Runway 27 at El Revolcadero aerodrome
It’s just a fascinating piece of history, you just need to imagine that people were passing during years through the airport.
Hangar at El Revolcadero airfield, La GomeraInside the hangar at El Revolcadero airfield, La Gomera
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.
Goats seem to be the only passengers…
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.
El Revolcadero aerodrome, La GomeraAerial view at the hangar at El RevolcaderoEl Revolcadero aerodrome, La GomeraEl Revolcadero aerodrome, La GomeraDebris on the runwayEl Revolcadero aerodrome, La GomeraEl Revolcadero aerodrome, La GomeraRunway at El Revolcadero aerodrome, La GomeraThreshold Runway 27 at El Revolcadero aerodromeLooking at the tower from the power stationThe old tower at El Revolcadero aerodrome, La GomeraThe old tower at El Revolcadero aerodrome, La GomeraThe old tower at El Revolcadero aerodrome, La GomeraThe old tower at El Revolcadero aerodrome, La GomeraHangar at El Revolcadero airfield, La GomeraInside the hangar at El Revolcadero airfield, La GomeraEl Revolcadero, La GomeraHangar at El Revolcadero airfield, La GomeraThreshold RWY 09 at El Revolcadero airfieldWalking down to El Revolcadero airfield at La GomeraEl Revolcadero aerodrome, La GomeraThis is what left from the access road to El Revolcadero aerodrome
Approximately a week ago I was “spotted” by a spotter while departing out of El Berriel. I saw him during the climb out, I only should have smiled a bit more…
Many thanks to Eusebio Ruiz Gómez for this nice pictures!
Now I have some images to remind me at this day of flight.
SP-EVK takeoff from El Berriel. Credit Eusebio Ruiz GómezSP-EVK takeoff from El Berriel. Credit Eusebio Ruiz Gómez
I was simply too busy to find a moment to write this post. Wanted to make it special, but I’ll just write it right now, because otherwise it won’t happen…
So approximately one year ago I started to “play” with the idea to either buy a plane (share) with someone (PA28-140), to have it and to fly whenever I want. But the plane we wanted to buy (I flew it some 10 years ago), had it’s certificates, etc. expired, so it would have been the same as buying “a problem” and to put in flight would be pretty expensive.
Second option, instead of investing this money into a plane was to make the flight instructor course. Even though I said that I was not going to invest more money into aviation, I did it again.
First, because I wanted to keep learning and refreshing my knowledge. Actually never thought, I’ll have to “re-do” the PPL course again, that I did almost 16 years ago… It was nice to refresh the basics. Where it all started. It had maybe a bit more sense, as at that time, as everything was new to me, but now, it was a nice refreshment of the basics.
So, in May 2021 I started with the FI course. First theory, then flying. Obviously, a bit challenging to learn to fly from the right seat. It took me a couple of hours to feel more confident flying the plane from the right side. But I got used to it, and I feel pretty comfortable flying from the right side (now and then I fly the good old Piper from the left seat, and it makes no problem at all)…
The course was pretty tough. A lot of studying, exams (had to pass the PPL exam over again, which is something I wouldn’t have ever expected to happen again.)
Flight instructor course done!
I did my FI course at Canavia, the same school where I did my ATPL (frozen), and I must say I’m happy with the level of the course. The flights were not only “empty flights” to fly the hours and done; as It happens in some schools. We did all the missions you’d have to do with a student that is learning to fly.
Well at the end I was lucky enough to start to work as a flight instructor for Canavia, and it was something special to have get paid for my flights rather than paying for flying. On the top of that, flying out of Tenerife south airport, which is just 10 minutes from where I live, a busy international airport and it’s a good challenge to fly from here.
I need to admit, that I feel the responsibility when I fly. There is the life of the person learning to fly next to me, it’s my life, and lives of all the people on the ground. Also the responsibility for the plane, etc etc. But I like that that challenge, it pushes me further to make the things better and the follow the procedures to operate in a safe manner.
Obviously, I have taken a bunch of images during the course; here are at least some of them; hope you’ll enjoy them!
Safe flying everyone!
PD. And if you want to learn to fly, you know where to find me. Or you can do an introductory flight in Tenerife with me as well, just to try how it feels to fly an airplane :-). I still love to share the joy of flight with all the world!
Around Gran CanariaApproach into El Berriel Flight instructor courseFlight instructor courseTeide at sunsetGot my Gopro mounted on the wing againSunsers are magicNight landing into Tenerife southFlight instructor courseFlight instructor courseFlight instructor courseAbove the sea of cloudsNavigation at duskWho remember the “old CR3”?Arrival into La GomeraLanding into El BerrielAround Gran Canaria
A couple of days ago just the perfect combination of weather and time of the flying met to take this picture.
Most time of the year at Tenerife South Airport, runway 07 is in use. It’s also the preferential runway at the airport.
Sometimes, when the wind is blowing from the westerly direction (caused by weather systems above the Atlantic Ocean), the runway in use changes to 25.
So mostly if you land just before the sunset on the westerly direction, the sun blindes you during the approach and the landing. It makes no sense to take a picture because you would only see something overexposed on it.
On this landing I was thinking the same. It makes no sense to take a picture. However, I’ve noticed that the sun was already a bit under the horizon so I took out my mobile and just took some shots.
And I’m pretty happy with the result, even though it’s not 100% sharp and we were still lining up with the runway’s extended centerline…
Yeah, definitely like sunsets and also the golden hour! 🙂
So, my very first flight in 2022 was on a glider Let-23 Super Blaník, reg. OM-7182.
Hangar at Ocova aerodrome (LZOC), Slovakia
We had to move by -5 degrees all the gliders to get ours out… But the glider was washed a couple of days ago and it’s main landing wheel froze and it didn’t wanted to move… Fortunately the were able to arrange a heater and “de-freeze” the wheel, so we could get the Blaník out.
Remember the field from the summer, it wasn’t so frosty like now 😀
Towed the glider to it’s position on the runway and went up for 2 circuits.
M-7128 is ready for departure…
No heating, only my ski clothes to warm up…
Ready to go…
We did 2 short circuits…
Cockpit views…
Usually don’t fly with so cold conditions, but it was nice. Something different. A new experience. I’ll be back, but most probably in the summer…
Fly with Stan - Sharing (not only my) flying experiences... 