Interlaken Air Base

Interlaken Airport^[a] (ICAO: LSMI) is a former military airbase in Interlaken, Switzerland.^[1] The airbase is now closed to scheduled commercial flights.

Interlaken Airport Flugplatz Interlaken
IATA: none ICAO: LSMI
Summary
Airport type	Former military airbase
Serves	Interlaken
Location	Interlaken, Switzerland
Elevation AMSL	1,893 ft / 577 m
Coordinates	46°40′35″N 007°52′44″E
Map
LSMI Location of the airport in Switzerland
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 05/23 5,433 1,656 Tarmac

History

From 1919, there was a civilian airfield at the site, which was closed during the economic crisis in 1930. The second airfield was built in 1940 during the Second World War as a Swiss Reduit airfield and opened in 1941. The Swiss Air Force operated all aircraft types up to the Northrop F-5 there and from 1947 operated the specialist department for the de Havilland Vampire aircraft.^[2] From 1964 to 1967, Globe Air operated charter flights from London to Interlaken during the high season.^[3] During the Cold War, Interlaken was used as operation base for Squadron 7 (Hunter) and as a maintenance facility for the aircraft until 1990.^[4]

In 1971, Swiss Air Rescue formed a base at the airfield named Wilderswil. Initially based in the military buildings, in 1982 the air rescue moved to a new heliport in Gsteigwiler. However, in 2008 they returned to Interlaken airfield retaining the Wilderswil base name.^[5]

In 2003, military use ceased and the airfield was sold.^[6]

Post closure use

In 2003, Mystery Park was opened on the site as a theme park based around the author Erich von Däniken. The park closed in 2006, before being purchased by Jakob Dietiker for $13million and renamed Jungfrau Park.^[7][8]

In 2004, the site was considered a potential venue for a permanent motor racing circuit, however this did not materialise, notably as the Swiss government only lifted the ban on motorsport in the country in 2018 ahead of the Zurich ePrix.^[9][10] Motor racing has since taken place on the airfield, notably in 2019, the opening round of the Swiss Slalom motor racing series was held at Interlaken.^[11] In summer 2023, an Alfa Romeo owners club meeting at the facility broke a national record for the most vehicles of the brand in one place.^[12][13]

Since 2005, the annual Greenfield music festival takes place at Interlaken.^[14]

In 2007, Interlaken Airbase was used for the sixth round of the Red Bull Air Race.^[15] It was also used for the 2024 Paragliding World Cup.^[16]

In 2023, Matten bei Interlaken railway station opened on the site.^[17][18]

In popular culture

• The airfield was used as a filming location in Band of Brothers.^[19]
• A mission in the video game Microsoft Flight Simulator X challenged the player to land an aircraft at Interlaken with a failed engine.

Photos

• 
  Venom aircraft taxiing at Interlaken air base in October 1983
• 
  A competitor in the 2007 Red Bull Air race
• 
  Band Mindcollision performing at Greenfield Festival in 2016