Torslanda Airport
Encyclopedia
Torslanda Airport — (Swedish: Torslanda Flygplats or Torslanda Flygfält) served the city of Gothenburg
, Sweden
, as its main airport from 1923 to 1977, when the Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport
was opened. After 1977, Torslanda air traffic was assumed by both Gothenburg City Airport
(also known as Säve Airport), and Landvetter.
Notably, a historically correct "setting" of Göteborg-Torslanda is available for Microsoft Flight Simulator
.
In 1969, an air traffic control tower was built on an adjacent hilltop as replacement for an older tower built in 1938.
Torslanda Airport was closed as an actual transportation facility in 1977.
In a notable 1972 incident, a flight also from Torlsanda en route to Stockholm was hijacked
and diverted to Bulltofta airport
outside the Swedish city of Malmö
. Nine Croatians imprisoned nearby were traded for 500.000 SEK before flying to Madrid
, Spain, before being captured by police.
The Blue Hangar: Until 1995, car company Volvo
housed its collection of historic vehicles in "The "Blue Hangar" (Den Blå Hangaren), see Torslanda
. Now they are located in the Volvo Museum
, a few kilometres away.
Amhult: In recent years, the original land from the Torslanda Airport has quickly redeveloped into a residential area known as Amhult, eventually to become a garden village with 900 new homes, a commercial centre, preschool and school.
Runway usage: The former runways have partially been used for car testing by Volvo, for driver training and race car testing, and for model aircraft, until the runways were removed.
Current usage (2010): An area is still used for storing ship containers. A golf course has been built over parts of the former runways. The road no 155 to Öckerö went a detour around the north-south runways. Around 1997 the road was rebuilt to go straight across the former runway.
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, as its main airport from 1923 to 1977, when the Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport
Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport
Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport is an international airport serving the Gothenburg region in Sweden. With 4.3 million passengers in 2006 it is Sweden's second-largest airport...
was opened. After 1977, Torslanda air traffic was assumed by both Gothenburg City Airport
Gothenburg City Airport
Gothenburg City Airport or Göteborg City Airport , formerly known as Säve Flygplats, is Gothenburg's second international airport, located north-west from the centre of Gothenburg on the island of Hisingen, Bohuslän, Sweden. It is located within the borders of Gothenburg Municipality, hence its...
(also known as Säve Airport), and Landvetter.
Notably, a historically correct "setting" of Göteborg-Torslanda is available for Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a series of flight simulator programs for the Microsoft Windows operating system, although it was marketed as a video game. It is one of the longest-running, best-known and most comprehensive home flight simulator series...
.
In 1969, an air traffic control tower was built on an adjacent hilltop as replacement for an older tower built in 1938.
Torslanda Airport was closed as an actual transportation facility in 1977.
-
- See also: Swedish Wikipedia Article: Torslanda Flygplats
- See also: History, Torslanda ESGB at WWW.ESGB.se
- See also: Torslanda Airport, History (Swedish)
- See also: Torslanda Airport, Photos, Today (Swedish)
Incidents
The Torslanda airport had been the site of a mishap on 23 December 1967 when a Douglas DC-6B operated by Sterling Airways carrying 55 passengers en route from Stockholm landed 3000 feet beyond the landing threshold.In a notable 1972 incident, a flight also from Torlsanda en route to Stockholm was hijacked
Aircraft hijacking
Aircraft hijacking is the unlawful seizure of an aircraft by an individual or a group. In most cases, the pilot is forced to fly according to the orders of the hijackers. Occasionally, however, the hijackers have flown the aircraft themselves, such as the September 11 attacks of 2001...
and diverted to Bulltofta airport
Bulltofta Airport
Bulltofta Airport was, from 1923 to 1972, the main airport serving the city of Malmö, Sweden, until it was replaced by Sturup Airport. The former airport area, in the district of Kirseberg, has been converted into, in part, a major park, in part a commercial area.The route Malmö-Copenhagen, started...
outside the Swedish city of Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
. Nine Croatians imprisoned nearby were traded for 500.000 SEK before flying to Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain, before being captured by police.
Use after the closure
The Control Tower: The 1969 control tower remains (as of 2010) as one of the last artifacts of the airport. Most of the old airport was demolished in 1997, when the former runway paving were mainly removed.The Blue Hangar: Until 1995, car company Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
housed its collection of historic vehicles in "The "Blue Hangar" (Den Blå Hangaren), see Torslanda
Torslanda
Torslanda is an urban district and a locality situated in Göteborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 10,129 inhabitants in 2005.-The Volvo Torslanda Plant:...
. Now they are located in the Volvo Museum
Volvo Museum
The Volvo Museum is in Gothenburg, Sweden. It covers the development of Sweden's leading vehicle manufacturer Volvo, from the first ÖV 4 to the current cars, trucks, buses and other products. The museum also contains many other exhibits, including Gabrielsson’s and Larson’s joint desk from the...
, a few kilometres away.
Amhult: In recent years, the original land from the Torslanda Airport has quickly redeveloped into a residential area known as Amhult, eventually to become a garden village with 900 new homes, a commercial centre, preschool and school.
Runway usage: The former runways have partially been used for car testing by Volvo, for driver training and race car testing, and for model aircraft, until the runways were removed.
Current usage (2010): An area is still used for storing ship containers. A golf course has been built over parts of the former runways. The road no 155 to Öckerö went a detour around the north-south runways. Around 1997 the road was rebuilt to go straight across the former runway.