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
Pista el Revolcadero was an privately owned airfield which entered service in 1959. Since 1995 La Gomera counts with a new airport, which was built only 2 km before the old field “El Revolcadero”.
El Revolcadero made me and still makes me very curious about its past.
Pista El Revolcadero, La Gomera
Sorry for the quality of this picture, but the frame just photographed our propeller as well :-).
La Gomera Airport is a pretty complicated airfield due to its location and wind conditions, and overflying the field is very bumpy. Today the weather conditions were very favorable; almost no wind: 4-5 kts), so after the take off from the La Gomera Airport (GMZ/GCGM) we have proceeded to El Revolcadero to make a low pass.
During the low pass we could spot the old hangar and the former tower (and the only one tree as well :-)). I am quite sure, that this short runway, and its surface turned every landing in the past in to a big challenge (and adventure)…
Tower and hangar on the “El Revolcadero” field
El Revolcadero’s Tower
On my next trip I would like to walk to the field to visit it closely. If you have heard any stories about the field, or you have some nice pics or recommendations, I’d be pleased to see them.
I will leave you a short video taken from the airplane, so enjoy the flight and experience together with us.
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