Cuatro Vientos Airport, the oldest Spanish airport and one of the civil airports of Madrid
Cuatro Vientos Airport is an active airport in Madrid serving both civil and military aviation, located about five miles (eight kilometers) from the city center. The facility features an asphalt runway with modern lighting and marking systems, hangars from different eras, control tower installations, and a basic terminal building with administrative offices and a small cafe.
Cuatro Vientos was founded in 1911 by military aviation pioneers and became Spain's oldest airport still in operation, with original buildings constructed between 1911 and 1912 including an iconic signal tower built from 1919 to 1920. The facility served as a strategic military base during the Spanish Civil War and evolved after the conflict into a training hub for pilots and mechanics under management of Spain's Royal Aero Club.
The name Cuatro Vientos refers to the four winds that sweep across this open plain where the airport stands. Today it serves as a gathering place for aviation enthusiasts and pilots who share a passion for flying and preservation of historical aircraft.
The airport is easily accessible by public transportation and sits within Madrid's extended urban area where visitors can observe small planes, training aircraft, and occasionally vintage planes in operation. Plan for extended time at the site and wear comfortable shoes to walk around the grounds and view different areas.
A fascinating element is the signal tower built from 1919 to 1920, designed based on lighthouse plans and used to guide aircraft through optical signals long before radio communication became standard. This historic structure still stands today and shows how early aviation pioneers solved communication challenges with creative solutions.
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