An eventful history: Air sports association Greiling celebrates the 100th anniversary of the airfield

Created: 09/17/2022, 18:00

By: Elena Royer

Flight operations at Greiling Airfield in its early days.

© PIFFL

The airfield in Greiling celebrates its birthday this year.

Because the square has been around for 100 years.

Greiling - On this occasion, the chairman of the Air Sports Association (LSV) Greiling, Martin Gambs, and Michael Melzer, a founding member of the LSV, report on the eventful history of the airfield.

100 years of Greiling airfield: space used to be an alternative airfield

In the early 1920s, the field served as an alternative airport for aircraft on the Munich-Innsbruck route.

"The reason for this was that the engines were still quite unreliable at the time," says Gambs.

At that time, the passengers were accommodated in Tölz if they got stuck, reports Melzer.

You can find more current news from the region around Bad Tölz at Merkur.de/Bad Tölz.

After the Americans left, the future of the place was uncertain

After the war, the Americans took over the airfield in 1945.

Melzer and other parachutists could practice their sport together with them.

“We were tolerated because we were all in the military.

It was really easy,” he recalls.

"In 1990 we heard for the first time that the site was going to be closed." After the Americans withdrew in 1991, no one knew what was going to happen with the site.

"It was a nail-biter," says Gambs.

"Because it was not clear whether the airfield would be handed over to its original civilian purpose or whether it would be closed completely." In 1994 it was clear: the airfield can continue to be operated.

"The operator was a newly founded community of owners, which was made up of gliding clubs, especially Munich clubs, and the Greiling Air Sports Association,"

Deal with the municipality has been negotiated

After the club had to deal with strong opposition from the community in the early 2000s, it was negotiated with the community in 2010 that no more motorized flights would take place in the future.

In return, the airfield may continue to exist as such.

A major setback for the glider pilots, as Gambs reports, because a tow launch with a powered aircraft is easier than a winch launch.

This decision, coupled with the impending construction of the northern clasp, meant that the glider pilots from the Greilinger club looked elsewhere and switched to the Pömetsried airfield in Ohlstadt.

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"Oisam Fliang": Many categories are represented

With its motto "Oisam Fliang", the LSV Greiling includes model aircraft, parachuting, hang-gliding and paragliding as well as ballooning.

The most active group are the model pilots with about 50 members.

In the meantime, electric aviation is coming more to the fore.

"The future lies in electric aviation," says Gambs.

"It's getting better and better technically." In the meantime, the club has dedicated itself entirely to environmentally friendly flying with a winch start or with an electric drive.

With a special permit, however, it is also possible to take off with motorized aircraft.

Nature conservation on the airfield site

The LSV is also committed to nature conservation in other ways.

During the breeding season, the members dodge the rare skylark with the winch launches so as not to disturb the bird and draw the attention of walkers to it.

In addition, the State Building Authority has set up information boards on the site.

They contain information about the measures taken to preserve the skylark's breeding area.

"Of course, that makes us a bit proud that our badge is on the information board," says Melzer.

Construction of the north clasp shortens the runway

The airfield is currently struggling with the planned construction of the northern bypass.

The runway will therefore be shortened by 250 meters.

The operating license for the shortened runway has already been issued.

"That gives us future security," says Gambs.

In addition, the municipality of Greiling is planning a solar park (we reported) on the part of the airfield south of the Nordspangentstrasse, for which the previous halls will have to give way.

"The small hall has already been implemented," explains the LSV chairman.

“The big hall is still being built.

That takes some effort.”

The centenary

was supposed to take place this Saturday, September 17th.

It has now been canceled due to the bad weather, reports Martin Gambs.

A possible alternative date is still to be determined.

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