Renfrew Airport
Encyclopedia
Renfrew Airport was the former domestic airport serving the city of Glasgow
until it was decommissioned in 1966.
It was located in the Newmains area of Renfrew
, approximately 2 kilometres east of Abbotsinch Airfield which would eventually replace it. It consisted of a main terminal building and ancillary buildings, and a main runway which ran west south-west of the terminal.
Already in existence as a military facility during the First World War, it first handled scheduled flights in 1933 with the first regular destination being Campbeltown
.
Despite the construction of a new terminal building in 1954 (with a parabola
arch), it became evident that the airport was unable to cope with the increasing demands for domestic air travel in the 1960s. The final departure took place on 2 May 1966 - its destination being the new Glasgow Airport
a few hundred metres away.
After the airport was closed, the runway became the first urban part of the M8 motorway
. Opened in March 1968, it connected the new Glasgow Airport to Bishopton
in the west and Glasgow city centre (via Hillington
) in the east. The entire airport was demolished in 1978. A Tesco supermarket was built on the former terminal site which opened for business in March 1980, and the whole of the surrounding area is now covered with housing.
The only trace of the airport left is the Viscount Bar pub which was an ancillary building. It is situated opposite where the main terminal sat.
, Return to the Lost Planet. One of the characters is about to fly back from Scotland
to Berlin
, but the hero and his companion join him at the last minute on the bus from St. Enoch, Glasgow, to the airport, and persuade him to stay and help them.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
until it was decommissioned in 1966.
It was located in the Newmains area of Renfrew
Renfrew
-Local government:The town of Renfrew gave its name to a number of local government areas used at various times:*Renfrew a town to the west of Glasgow*Renfrewshire, the present unitary local council area in which Renfrew is situatated....
, approximately 2 kilometres east of Abbotsinch Airfield which would eventually replace it. It consisted of a main terminal building and ancillary buildings, and a main runway which ran west south-west of the terminal.
Already in existence as a military facility during the First World War, it first handled scheduled flights in 1933 with the first regular destination being Campbeltown
Campbeltown
Campbeltown is a town and former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies by Campbeltown Loch on the Kintyre peninsula. Originally known as Kinlochkilkerran , it was renamed in the 17th century as Campbell's Town after Archibald Campbell was granted the site in 1667...
.
Despite the construction of a new terminal building in 1954 (with a parabola
Parabola
In mathematics, the parabola is a conic section, the intersection of a right circular conical surface and a plane parallel to a generating straight line of that surface...
arch), it became evident that the airport was unable to cope with the increasing demands for domestic air travel in the 1960s. The final departure took place on 2 May 1966 - its destination being the new Glasgow Airport
Glasgow Airport
Glasgow Airport may refer to:*Glasgow International Airport, in Renfrewshire, the primary airport serving Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.*Glasgow Airport , also known as Wokal Field, in Glasgow, Montana, United States.It may also refer to:...
a few hundred metres away.
After the airport was closed, the runway became the first urban part of the M8 motorway
M8 motorway
The M8 is the busiest motorway in Scotland and one of the busiest in the United Kingdom. It connects the country's two largest cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and serves other large communities including Airdrie, Coatbridge, Greenock, Livingston and Paisley...
. Opened in March 1968, it connected the new Glasgow Airport to Bishopton
Bishopton, Renfrewshire
Bishopton is a large village in Renfrewshire, Scotland, a few miles west of Erskine.-Transport links:Bishopton sits a couple of miles from the southern end of the Erskine Bridge, which spans the River Clyde between Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire. Part way along the B815 road is a computer...
in the west and Glasgow city centre (via Hillington
Hillington
Hillington can refer to:* Hillington, Glasgow, Scotland* Hillington, Norfolk, England...
) in the east. The entire airport was demolished in 1978. A Tesco supermarket was built on the former terminal site which opened for business in March 1980, and the whole of the surrounding area is now covered with housing.
The only trace of the airport left is the Viscount Bar pub which was an ancillary building. It is situated opposite where the main terminal sat.
In fiction
The airport features briefly in the second novel of a space opera series by Angus MacVicarAngus MacVicar
Angus MacVicar was a Scottish author with a wide-ranging output. His greatest successes came in three separate genres: crime thrillers, juvenile science fiction, and autobiography...
, Return to the Lost Planet. One of the characters is about to fly back from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, but the hero and his companion join him at the last minute on the bus from St. Enoch, Glasgow, to the airport, and persuade him to stay and help them.