Old Chiang Rai Airport
{{Short description|Former airport northern Thailand (1926–1992)}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Old Chiang Rai Airport
| nativename =
| image = Old_Chiang_Rai_Airport_สนามบินเก่า_เชียงราย_(October_2021)_-_img_15.jpg
| image-width =
| caption = The disused runway and building of the airport
| IATA =
| ICAO = VTCR
| type = Public / Military
| owner =
| operator =
| owner-oper = Royal Thai Air Force
| city-served = Chiang Rai
| location = Chiang Rai, Thailand
| opened = {{start date|1926|||df=yes}}
| closed = {{end date|1992|08|05|df=yes}}
| elevation-f = 1,312
| elevation-m = 400
| coordinates = {{Coord|19|53|21.3144|N|99|49|36.5808|E|type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| website =
| metric-elev =
| metric-rwy =
| r1-number = 18/36
| r1-length-f = 5,065
| r1-length-m = 1,544
| r1-surface = Asphalt
| stat-year =
| stat1-header =
| stat1-data =
| stat2-header =
| stat2-data =
| footnotes =
}}
Old Chiang Rai Airport {{airport codes||VTCR}} is a non-active airport near the city of Chiang Rai in Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand.
History
In 1926, Chiang Rai Airport was established, making it the first airport in the region and the third in Thailand. Later, during the Pacific War, it was used for transporting military equipment. It was the former base of the 417th Squadron, Royal Thai Air Force. In 1992, it was thought to have been abandoned as the new airport opened. The runways and its area is currently used for recreational activities and events, being used amongst the locals as a park.
In 2018, the airport was used as a heliport to support the Tham Luang cave rescue.{{cite web |url=https://www.77kaoded.com/content/121038 |title=ฮ.ตำรวจลงเชียงรายคาดนำหมูป่าคนที่ 5 ส่งรพ. - 77 ข่าวเด็ด |website=www.77kaoded.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809043150/https://www.77kaoded.com/content/121038 |archive-date=2019-08-09}}
Former airlines and destinations
{{Airport destination list
| Thai Airways Company | Bangkok–Don Mueang, Chiang Mai
| Thai Airways International | Bangkok–Don Mueang, Chiang Mai
}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150427143438/https://xpat.life/forum/17326-old-chiang-rai-airport/ Old Chiang Rai Airport - recent (2008) pictures and commentary]
{{Airports in Thailand}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Defunct airports in Thailand
Category:Airports established in 1926