妻沼滑空場, Glider airfield in Kumagaya, Japan
Menuma Glider Field sits on the Tone River floodplain and has multiple landing strips that allow several aircraft to operate at the same time. The facility uses winch launching to get gliders into the air and is equipped with modern communication systems.
The airfield opened in 1963 on the Tone River floodplain and has grown to become a major facility for glider operations in Japan. Over the decades it developed into the training center for many aviation programs.
Student aviation clubs from major universities use this facility regularly for their flight training activities. These young pilots shape the daily life on the field and make it an important place for training the next generation of pilots.
The field is most active during the training season when university groups are present, which is the best time to visit. Access is limited since it is an operating flight school, so visitors should contact ahead to arrange a visit.
The facility holds national records for the longest glider flight durations and the highest number of flights, showing its outstanding role in Japanese aviation. The three parallel landing strips in the northern section make these remarkable performance statistics possible.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
