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| Location Lat 37° 52' 0S Long 175° 19' 56E Hamilton Airfield is located to the east of Rukuhia and south of Hamilton in the in Waikato Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Also known as Rukuhia Airfield for nearby Rukuhia. Construction In the late 1800s, this area was owned by Samuel Steele from about 1880 and was developed into farm land. By 1929, the first landing ground was established at this location known as "Steele's Aerodrome". In 1935, sold and expanded into a larger airfield and was already used as a stopover for flights with refueling and quarters for pilots. Wartime History During World War II, used by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). Postwar At the end of the Pacific War, many RNZAF aircraft were stored outdoors. In the late 1940s, the planes were offered for sale as war surplus and sold by tender to the public or scrapped. Charles Darby recalls: "I learned about the dump areas near Rukuhia Airfield (Hamilton Airport) in New Zealand, and spent many days investigating the 102 P-40 hulks (plus three Corsairs and two Hudson fuselages) that were all that was left of the hundreds of RNZAF wartime aircraft scrapped there." By 1950, the first commercial flights operated this location known as Hamilton Airport. In 1965, the main runway was sealed and expanded in 1970. Today In 1989, the New Zealand government sold the airport to the councils and district in the area and resulted in further growth and development. Hamilton Airport has four runways. The first oriented 25L/07R measures 2,346' x 197' surfaced with grass. The second oriented 25R/07L measures 2,362' x 197' surfaced with grass. The third oriented 36L/18R measures 2,871' x 197' surfaced with grass. The fourth oriented 36R/18L measures 6,430' x 148' surfaced with asphalt. Airport codes: IATA: HLZ, ICAO: NZHN. References Hamilton Airport - Official Website Contribute
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