dec, 2021
There can be no identity without memory. The chain of events, places and people that created a 60 years long story about Portorož Airport is something we want to point out since this year we are celebrating Portorož Airport 60th anniversary. History has the ability to inspire an individual so we invite you to our journey of a series of articles where you will be able to learn more about the origin, operation, attractions and development of the airport.
In the early 60s they prepared the terrain for a take-off runway. Members of the Postojna Aeroklub made an important contribution. In 1962, Drago Gabriel drew his first sketch of the area where the airport was eventually built. Using his sketches, several aviation commissions of the Federal Civil Aviation Authorities from Belgrade started checking the terrain. On the 27th of September that year, the aviation commission from Zagreb recommended a temporary registration for a secondary sports airport for aircrafts up to 3000 kg. Two weeks later, the Civil Aviation Authorities of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia confirmed that the Portorose airport was officially registered.
The first official landing on an unfinished grass runway was on August 22, 1962, when Drago Gabriel landed with an Aero-2 575.
In 1962, it was a new milestone for the Portorose airport. The Aeronautical Associations of Yugoslavia and Slovenia decided that the competition for the 3rd Adriatic Aeronautical Cup would be held at Portorose. The preparations of the grass and the runway were done by Pavel Zamar and other members of the first aeronautical club on the coast. They'd already stablished a 1,200-meter runway for the competitions.
The Portorose airport opened with an aircraft meeting on October 14, 1963. Aeronautical clubs from all over Slovenia attended, as well as delegates from other Yugoslav republics. 26 planes were competing. The event was attended by nearly 5,000 spectators.
The third Adriatic Aeronautical Cup in 1963, sponsored by the Union of Slovene Aircraft Associations and the Portorose Aeroklub, had 86 participants from 16 countries. The first prize in combination went to Czechoslovakia, while the women's first prize went to the USA. The best competitor from former Yugoslavia was Marjan Marič: he was placed 17th. The third Adriatic Skydiving Cup was special for it introduced a new discipline, attraction jumps for the Portorose Tourist Prize. The winning team came from the USA. The Portorose Tourist Association also introduced panoramic flights over the Slovene coast.
The Adriatic Skydiving Cup at Portorose then turned into a biennial competitive event. In 1975, the first European Skydiving Cup was organized. It was attended by more than 100 competitors.
