The final battle for Tempelhof Airport

Skybird · 04-25-08, 06:50 AM

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...549685,00.html

In Berlin, this Sunday there will be a a people's referendum on wether to accept the Berlin senate's decision to shut it down, or not. Legally, the referendum is not binding. Emotions pro and contra go high.

So far, a concept for whzat to do with the area if Tempelhof gets closed, still is missing, and any calculations on how much profit it would give to turn it into this or use it for that purpose, are abstract at best. Two investors with concepts that would have used the buildings, have been turned away. In this context it must be mentioned that the city, after a massive baniking and fraud scandal some years ago, is drowning in debts. The prestigious plan to turn the Potsdamer Platz (with the well-known sony-Cantre and the ex-DB-tower) into a tourist magnet and city hotspot, have failed, and failed so enormously that the Deutsche Bahn (German Railway) recently has sold the newly constructed towers, with financial write-offs. Other high profile companies are said and rumoured to wish to flee the place, too.

Tempelhof is wished to be kept alive for two reasons: small business air traffic, and sentimental and symbolic reasons.

Wether or not the business air traffic is sufficient an argument to keep Tempelhof in financial supply for operating costs, is hotly debated. Alterntaive models to finance it have popped up as often as they disappeared again.

The symbolic argument is self-explanatory from history that is not about the "Luftbrücke" alone, and is briefly mentioned in the essay.

I personally would miss the airport in the heart of the city. Berlin has changed so dramatically in the past 15 years that some areas where I used to live and go in the 80s I almost cannot recognize anymore. For the most, the changes, all in all, are for the worse. That many natives and the upper medium social class is moving out of the city, while socially weak people and immigrants move in, is a telling symptom for it, and is the major explanation for the tax mess the city is in: business goes slowly, tax income is not sufficient, since people from the surrounding areas of Beröin may move into the city to work there and get a loan for that, but they do not spend the money in the city, but move home and spend it there, or elsewhere.

Let Tempelhof live, I say. And send the stupidly grinning mayor (who was shameless enough to try to make political profit from almost showing off with his homosexuality) to hell. One can be gay without turning it into a public dance-party motto and inviting SM events into town, Mr. Wowereit.

joea · 04-25-08, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

Let Tempelhof live, I say.

One of my fave airports in MS flight simulator (not seen it in real life though). I hope to at least see it sometime as Berlin is on my wish list of places to vist.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

And send the stupidly grinning mayor (who was not shameless enough to try to make political profit from almost showing off with his homosexuality) to hell. One can be gay without turning it into a public dance-party motto and inviting SM events into town, Mr. Wowereit.

Errrrr wow.

Then again maybe I won't visit.

Skybird · 04-25-08, 12:29 PM

FS-flyer, hm?

Tempelhof sees a nice FS9 representation in German Airports 4 by Aerosoft, along with BBI/Schönefeld as well, and Tegel in German Airports 3.

Tempelhof is a favourite airport of mine in FS, too. We lived exactly under the Western final approach vector. the sim version as well as the real thing simply have something about them. There is also a huge park north of it where I spend a lot of time. Ah... memories...

Sorry for messing up the grammar in my remark on Wowereit. Corrected.

Sailor Steve · 04-25-08, 02:27 PM

Cities grow and change. That's the way of life.

Still, I agree: it's a piece of history I would hate to see go.

Happy Times · 04-25-08, 02:33 PM

There is the same discussion in Helsinki, the city wants to build on the old Malmi airfield.
They have a site and petition going in English also.

http://www.pelastamalmi.org/en/index.html

Brag · 04-25-08, 05:23 PM

Still in the days of West and East Berlin, I ate at the USAF Templehoff Officers' club once. They had the worst food in Berlin.

Skybird · 04-28-08, 06:06 PM

It's over.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...550099,00.html

Maybe typical Zeitgeist. Where there is no sense of self-identity, there cannot be any understanding of symbolic meaning.

I still can hear the humming of the American Hercules flying over our home, already at very deep altitude, like giant hornets. Neither these nor any other planes will be heared at Tempelhof again...

I am surprised myself how deep this story stings my heart, but for whatever the reason may be: it does.

04-25-08, 06:50 AM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,603 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	The final battle for Tempelhof Airport http://www.spiegel.de/international/...549685,00.html In Berlin, this Sunday there will be a a people's referendum on wether to accept the Berlin senate's decision to shut it down, or not. Legally, the referendum is not binding. Emotions pro and contra go high. So far, a concept for whzat to do with the area if Tempelhof gets closed, still is missing, and any calculations on how much profit it would give to turn it into this or use it for that purpose, are abstract at best. Two investors with concepts that would have used the buildings, have been turned away. In this context it must be mentioned that the city, after a massive baniking and fraud scandal some years ago, is drowning in debts. The prestigious plan to turn the Potsdamer Platz (with the well-known sony-Cantre and the ex-DB-tower) into a tourist magnet and city hotspot, have failed, and failed so enormously that the Deutsche Bahn (German Railway) recently has sold the newly constructed towers, with financial write-offs. Other high profile companies are said and rumoured to wish to flee the place, too. Tempelhof is wished to be kept alive for two reasons: small business air traffic, and sentimental and symbolic reasons. Wether or not the business air traffic is sufficient an argument to keep Tempelhof in financial supply for operating costs, is hotly debated. Alterntaive models to finance it have popped up as often as they disappeared again. The symbolic argument is self-explanatory from history that is not about the "Luftbrücke" alone, and is briefly mentioned in the essay. I personally would miss the airport in the heart of the city. Berlin has changed so dramatically in the past 15 years that some areas where I used to live and go in the 80s I almost cannot recognize anymore. For the most, the changes, all in all, are for the worse. That many natives and the upper medium social class is moving out of the city, while socially weak people and immigrants move in, is a telling symptom for it, and is the major explanation for the tax mess the city is in: business goes slowly, tax income is not sufficient, since people from the surrounding areas of Beröin may move into the city to work there and get a loan for that, but they do not spend the money in the city, but move home and spend it there, or elsewhere. Let Tempelhof live, I say. And send the stupidly grinning mayor (who was shameless enough to try to make political profit from almost showing off with his homosexuality) to hell. One can be gay without turning it into a public dance-party motto and inviting SM events into town, Mr. Wowereit. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert. Last edited by Skybird; 04-25-08 at 12:31 PM.

04-25-08, 12:29 PM	#3
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,603 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	FS-flyer, hm? Tempelhof sees a nice FS9 representation in German Airports 4 by Aerosoft, along with BBI/Schönefeld as well, and Tegel in German Airports 3. Tempelhof is a favourite airport of mine in FS, too. We lived exactly under the Western final approach vector. the sim version as well as the real thing simply have something about them. There is also a huge park north of it where I spend a lot of time. Ah... memories... Sorry for messing up the grammar in my remark on Wowereit. Corrected. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

04-25-08, 02:27 PM	#4
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Cities grow and change. That's the way of life. Still, I agree: it's a piece of history I would hate to see go. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

04-25-08, 02:33 PM	#5
Happy Times Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 2,950 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	There is the same discussion in Helsinki, the city wants to build on the old Malmi airfield. They have a site and petition going in English also. http://www.pelastamalmi.org/en/index.html __________________

04-25-08, 05:23 PM	#6
Brag Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Docked on a Russian pond Posts: 7,072 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Still in the days of West and East Berlin, I ate at the USAF Templehoff Officers' club once. They had the worst food in Berlin. __________________ Espionage, adventure, suspense, are just a click away Click here to look inside Brag's book: Amazon.com: Kingmaker: Alexey Braguine: Books Order Kingmaker here: http://www.subsim.com/store.html For Tactics visit:http://www.freewebs.com/kielman/

04-28-08, 06:06 PM	#7
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,603 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	It's over. http://www.spiegel.de/international/...550099,00.html Maybe typical Zeitgeist. Where there is no sense of self-identity, there cannot be any understanding of symbolic meaning. I still can hear the humming of the American Hercules flying over our home, already at very deep altitude, like giant hornets. Neither these nor any other planes will be heared at Tempelhof again... I am surprised myself how deep this story stings my heart, but for whatever the reason may be: it does. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.