The first Russian airport opened in October, 1910. It was situated on Khodynka Field and was called Khodynsky. It takes its name from the small Khodynka River which used to cross the neighborhood. Major constructions on the field included the 19th century military barracks and the Botkin Hospital. The field is best known as the site of a tragic accident that happened on May 18th, 1896. Too many people gathered on the field to receive a gift they distributed during the festivities of the crowning of Nicholas II. As a result, 1389 people were trampled to death and roughly 1300 were otherwise injured.
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Khodynka Field’s new life began in 1909 after the performance of a French pilot.
In May, 1910 people watched with delight tricks of aviator Sergey Utochkin on his Farman IV.
Later, they assigned a piece of land for an aerodrome on the field and built several airplane sheds there.
When World War I began, they opened the first flying school in the country.
Khodynka Field saw plenty of plane wrecks. Valery Chkalov crashed in Khodynka on December 15th, 1938.
The first Russian all-metal plane took off from the field in May, 1924. It was an ANT-2 designed by A. N. Tupolev. In 1988, an Ilyushin Il-96-300 made its first test flight from Khodynka.
On May 9th, 1945 a plane landed in Khodynka with the German Instrument of Surrender aboard.
Today, Khodynka Field which represents a great part of Russian history seems to be destroyed forever.
Location: Khodynka Field
via dervishv
this makes me very sad. instead of just letting them sit in a field and rot, why not let westerners buy them or another country?
It’s a shame to see a place with such a rich history being abandoned.