Someone could say there is an “Area 51” situated in Fuerteventura, but in fact there is (apparently the Europe’s first) stratoport built.
It should serve for take off and landing of pseudo satelites and high altitude drones. The runway 02/20 is a bit more than 900m long (don’t know if including or excluding the displaced threshold.)
It is situated at the old Fuerteventura airport (Antiguo Aeropuerto de los Estancos, which I’ve visited back in 2020). At that time there was no mention of building this stratoport yet…
Not many know about the old (former) airport of Fuerteventura situated at Los Estancos, not far away from the capital city of the island Puerto del Rosario.
I’ve done some research on Google, but there is not much information to be found, and actually nor are there many signs of the old airport left, except this old terminal. This was the second airport on the island, after La Tefía (which I’ll need to search on my next visit :-D) and it was in service between the years 1951 and 1969.
The runway 03/21 was 1.350m long.
This aerodrome was replaced by the new airport situated at El Matoral, which is still in service.
I have the impression, that this 2.200km2 big island has many aerodromes we do not know much about. The Jandía strip, another one situated not far away from this one as well, El Jarde, La Tefía, etc…
My last flight was to Fuerteventura. I like to fly there, because I spent living for 2 years on the island, love the beaches, the nature, it is very quite, and I enjoy the views from the bird’s perspective while flying.
Our route: Tenerife-Fuerteventura-Tenerife
My friend Daldo flew the first leg: Tenerife Norte to Fuerteventura. We have departed via visual E point (above Tenerife’s Las Teresitas beach), and have requested 5.500 feet. As there was calima (winds blowing from Sahara, normally with very poor visibility and hot air), by the temperatures of around 30 degrees we have been keeping an eye on the engine’s temperature to be sure everything is working fine. The problem by calima is, that there is inversion, so the temperature increases with the increasing altitude, so we have to take into consideration so the air cools the engine as it should.
Established on 5.500″ with practically no wind, the engine parameters were fine and we were able to continue on course.
Lining up on runway 12 at Tenerife North Airport
After approximately 1 hour we have reached the south of Fuerteventura and have requested to maintain below 1.000 feet, as well notified to make a low approach over the Punta de Jandia’s airfield, which I believe was used in the II. World war.
Punta de Jandia’s airfield at the south of Fuerteventura
Here is a short video of the low pass, in the video you can see that it was a little bumpy.
After the low pass we have continued along the coastline direction Morro Jable/Jandía.
Punta de Jandía
As you can see, arriving at Jandía, the white beaches are giving us a very warm welcome; with their longitude of 15 kilometers they stay on our left until Costa Calma.
Beach and Lighthouse Jandía
Continuing the coast line, we have reached lightouse La Entallada, one of my favourite places on the island…
Lighthouse “Faro La Entallada”
After another 15 minutes flight we have reached the Fuerteventura airfield, and Daldo have managed to land smoothly with some crosswind on the runway 01R.
Seconds before touchdown at Fuerteventura airport, RWY 01R
On the stand we have checked, whether our Gopro was still attached to the airplane, and luckily it was!!!
Gopro Hero placed on the wing
We have walked to the operations (it is nice that you may walk without having to pay expensive handling costs as for example in Lanzarote) and after that to the terminal to pick up our car we have hired previously. We have decided to go to a place called Casillas del Ángel, some 15-20 minutes from the airport, to taste the local speciality which is goat’s meat at the Restaurante el Labrador. Unfortunately they had no more goat’s meat (which would cost around 15€/plate), so we took as alternative escalope (for around 7-8€/ plate) with french fries (home made) and some home made tortilla, which was really tasty. The portion was huge, so in our stomach there was no more space left for dinner :-).
Short stay on a beach called “Playa Blanca” near Puerto del Rosario and back to the airport, return the car, pay the landing fees at the operations and walk to our Piper to make a outside check and all preparations necessary for the flight (including switching on our Gopro, should be a part of the plane’s checklist as well, lol).
I was flying today the second leg; Fuertevetura – Tenerife North. We have be cleard to taxi to the holding point of runway 01R, where we made the engine run-up and waited for the departure clearence.
Holding short of RWY 01R at E10
After departure we have continued on the runway heading below 1.000 feet until Corralejo in the north part of the island, to see the beaches and the volcanos as well.
Playa de Corralejo
Leaving the island Isla de Lobos on the right side we have continued our climb to 4.500 feet heading Tenerife North airport.
Isla de Lobos
After some 50 minutes we have reached Tenerife.
Heading to Tenerife or to the sun?
Descending over capital city Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Descending over capital city Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Landing on the runway 30.
Landing on the runway 30.
Now our Piper can rest to be ready for our next adventure trip 🙂
Beeing a privat pilot gives you the wings to move free in the sky and see the earth and its beauties from a bird’s eye view… Here are some images taken during my flights in the Canaries…
Pico del Teide, Tenerife
Smudge of the underwater vulcano @El Hierro, november 2011
El Revolcadero, former La Gomera’s Airport
Lighthouse Punta Teno, Tenerife
Lighthouse “Faro de Punta Orchilla”, El Hierro
Volcano, North Fuerteventura
Lighthouse “Faro de Anaga”, Tenerife
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Isla de Lobos, Fuerteventura, Corralejo
Of course there are much more pictures I could publish and also there are still a lot of new places to see…