Břeclav

Wings Over the Wine Country

Břeclav is a small town in the south-east of the Czech Republic, nestled in the Country’s main wine growing region.

The history of the airport goes back to 1932, when ground was broken for it. by 1934, the airport was opened for operations.

1948 saw the formation of the Břeclav Aeroklub.

By 1951, the paramilitary SVAZARM organization had been formed and all aeroklubs in the former Czechoslovakia came under that organization’s jurisdiction.

Due to the close proximity of Břeclav to the border with Austria, gliders were the primary aircraft type based at the airport during the Socialist era. The lack of powered aircraft at the airport was intended to discourage pilots from using it as a base for defecting to Austria. A flight to Austria with a powered aircraft would be relatively easy from Břeclav, while the same flight with a glider would be much more challenging.

Through the 1960s, 1970s and a good part of the 1980s; growth and development of the airport was steady. By 1989, SVAZARM was in decline and by 1993 the Břeclav Aeroklub was self-governing and powered aircraft were becoming more common at the airport.

From the early 1990s to the present, the airport at Břeclav has become an important centre for both glider and powered aerobatics competition in the Czech Republic.

The airport hosts an annual air show toward the end of spring. The show is small and a solidly civilian affair. Aircraft at the show are a good mix of modern and vintage.

It is also possible to take sight seeing flights before and after the show. given the airport’s close proximity to the picturesque wine country and tourist attractions like the UNESCO listed Lednice-Valitice area, I can certainly recommend trying to get yourself on one of those flights.