Zimnyanskiy Aerodrome Beketovsk | |
Location: | Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast |
Country: | Russia |
Type: | Air Base |
Pushpin Map: | Russia Volgograd Oblast#Russia |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Shown within Volgograd Oblast |
Pushpin Label: | Beketovsk |
Used: | -present |
Icao: | URWA |
R1-Length: | 2720m (8,920feet) |
R1-Surface: | Natural |
Zimyanskiy Aerodrome (formerly Beketovsk, Beketowskaja, Deketovskaya, or Beketovka) is a small aerodrome located approximately 20km (10miles) southwest Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast, Russia.
From 1951 through 1997, the aerodrome was used by the Russian Air Force (and predecessor Soviet Air Forces) as a training base and was home to the 706th Training Aviation Regiment. This unit was stood up on with MiG-15 aircraft during the 1950s before converting to the Czechoslovakian-built L-29 Delfin dedicated trainers in 1963. More advanced L-39 Albatros aircraft were acquired in the 1980s and the unit was reported as operating 89 of them in 1990 along with 84 of the original L-29 fleet. The L-29s were withdrawn in 1992, but the L-39s continued in service until the regiment was disbanded in 1997.[1]
The airfield's existence pre-dated World War II, and while German forces briefly occupied the airfield during the German Case Blue offensive, there is no record of it being used by the Luftwaffe.[2]