Airports fall into three general categories as far as geography is concerned. The first category is the city’s airport was established downtown and stayed there. Haneda Field in Tokyo and Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam are good examples. The second category is the city’s airport used to be downtown, but it later moved to some distant location. Kansas City International Airport is a good example. Third category is the airport was built far outside of the city. Suvarnabhumi Airport is a good example. Don Muang International Airport (DMIA) (sometimes spelled Don Mueang, Thai: ท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง) falls into the second category.

 

DMIA is considered one of the oldest airports in the world. It is Asia’s oldest operating airport. Actually, Thailand’s first airport was located on the grounds of the Royal Bangkok Sports Club (RBSC). This airport was originally called Sa Pathum Airfield after the Sa Pathum Horse Racing Course which was later renamed the RBSC. It was established in February 1911 when Wilbur Wright, one of the inventors of the airplane, arrived in Thailand. That year Thailand sent three army officers to France to train as pilots. On completion of their training, the pilots were authorised to purchase eight aircraft, four Breguets and four Nieuports. These aircraft formed the basis of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF).

 

It was always a mystery to me why DMIA was located so far away from the heart of the city as the RBSC was at the outer edge of Bangkok at the time. The explanation is simple. The person in charge of finding a location for a new airfield was looking for a suitable place high in elevation to avoid the annual flooding in the whole area so planes could operate safely. The only suitable ground was at what would soon become DMIA. The first flights to DMIA were made on 8 March 1914. This involved the transfer of the eight aircraft of the RTAF. The official RTAF airfield opened 27 March 1914. The first commercial arrival was by a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines airplane in 1924.

 

In 1933, DMIA was the scene of heavy fighting between royalists and government forces during the Boworadet Rebellion. During World War II, the Japanese occupied DMIA. The Allies also periodically bombed and strafed the airfield. After the fighting ended in September 1945, the British took control of DMIA until March 1946. During the Vietnam War, the US Air Force used DMIA as a base of operation from 1962 to 1976 when all US military forces withdrew from Thailand.

 

Full Story: https://expatlifeinthailand.com/travel-and-leisure/fly-me-to-the-moon-don-muang-international-airport-bangkok/

 

-- © Copyright Expat Life in Thailand 2021-05-26

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18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

That year Thailand sent three army officers to France to train as pilots. On completion of their training, the pilots were authorised to purchase eight aircraft, four Breguets and four Nieuports. These aircraft formed the basis of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF).

Can you imagine all the complaints that would have been posted for this had there been a TVF back in those days? ????

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The person in charge of finding a location for a new airfield was looking for a suitable place high in elevation to avoid the annual flooding in the whole area so planes could operate safely. The only suitable ground was at what would soon become DMIA.

 

Suitable ground, hmm?.

Except for the 2009 flood, the airport is usually usable and not flooded, I did enjoy landing there, but it was still

over an hours by taxi to get to Nana Hotel.  Ahh  the good ol days.

Geezer

On 5/26/2021 at 11:09 PM, Bangkok Barry said:

 

Suitable ground, hmm?.

Did all the ramps flood or only where disused aircraft were stored?