An Airport of Rare Type

In 1927, the Germans went to work at the outer boundary of Berlin, and built up Templehof Airport.  In it's day...it was a work of wonder.  It was one of the first airports in the world with a connection via an underground subway.....to the city nearby.

The runways?  Two....both around six thousand feet long.

The simple history?  The original use was related to the Knights Templar....going back to the mid-ages.  So, it's kinda holy in some fashion.

In the 1930s....the Nazis came along and made it a big deal to enhance the airport.  By 1940....there were almost a hundred flights a day operating out of the airport, with half considered international in nature.  It was by the basic definition....one of the busiest airports in the world.

While damaged in WW II.....the runways were repaired and made functional again.  In 1948, it was turned into the greatest rescue effort of all time....flying tons of coal, food and fuel into a blockaded city.  Planes landed in a matter of seconds....positioned themselves at key points....unloaded in a matter of minutes, and took to the sky.  The survival of Berlin....depended on an airport of unusual character and capability.  It delivered what was necessary.

Today?  It sits for the most part.  There's a debate in Berlin....what to do with it.  Some want it converted into apartment and business center real estate.  Some want it to remain 'as-is'.  Some want it to become a museum of sorts, and a large green park for that part of the city.

It's a significant part of Berlin's history over the past century.  It's hard to say how folks will react on this.  Political folks are lined up to charge ahead....but it's too sharply divided to say anything is concrete in nature.  Most airports outlive their usefulness....and simply get replaced....then torn down.  This one?  The last thing on Earth I can see....is that you'd want to tear it down.  But we've never had something like this to happen before.  An airport as valuable as the Great Wall of China?  Yeah.