Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Colorado: Colorado Springs
© 2002, © 2007 by Paul Freeman. Revised 6/9/07.
Aaardvark Field (revised 11/4/06) - (Original) Pueblo Municipal Airport (revised 6/9/07)
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(Original) Pueblo Municipal Airport, Pueblo, CO
38.25 North / 104.66 West (South of Denver, CO)
The original Pueblo Municipal Airport, as depicted on the December 1941 7M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The original airport for the town of Pueblo was located on the southwest side of the town.
The date of construction of the airfield has not been determined.
According to a plaque by the Colorado Historical Society,
the hangar was constructed at the Pueblo Airport in 1925.
The earliest directory reference to the airfield which has been located
was in The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described Pueblo as a municipal airport, located 3.25 miles southwest of the post office.
The field was said to consist of a 534-acre prairie grass field, “T” shaped,
containing a single 3,300' north/south runway.
The earliest depiction of the Pueblo Airport which has been located
was on the December 1941 7M Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The January 1944 Denver Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
continued to depict Pueblo as a municipal/commercial airport,
but it also depicted the newly-constructed Pueblo Army Air Field on the northeast side of the town,
which would eventually replace the original Pueblo Airport.
The 1945 Haire Publishing Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Pueblo Municipal Airport as a “class 4” field, owned & operated by the City.
It was said to have 4 paved runways, with the longest being the 5,200' north/south strip.
A hangar was said to be marked with the field's name.
The field was said to offer airline service by Braniff & Continental.
The Southern Colorado Flying Service was listed as an operator,
and the Airport Manager was listed as E.G. Wayman.
The most detailed depiction which has been located of the original Pueblo Municipal Airport
was in the 1950 USAF Pilot's Handbook (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted the field as having 4 paved runways,
with the longest being the 5,280' north/south strip.
A control tower & a building were depicted on the east side of the field.
The last depiction which has been located of the original Pueblo Municipal Airport
was on the May 1954 Denver Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It labeled the field as “Pueblo #1”, described it as a shared Air Force & public field,
and depicted the field as having a 5,300' hard-surface runway & a control tower.
The original Pueblo Municipal Airport was evidently abandoned at some point during 1954,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the November 1954 Denver Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
In 1959, the Colorado Historical Society converted the old Pueblo Municipal Airport hangar into the original El Pueblo Museum.
In the 1999 USGS aerial photo,
there was no recognizable trace of the original Pueblo Municipal Airport.
A 2007 photo by James O'Leary of the former Pueblo Airport hangar, since restored by the Colorado Historical Society.
A 2007 photo by James O'Leary of a plaque on the former Pueblo Airport hangar (with the word “hangar” misspelled).
The site of the original Pueblo Municipal Airport is located northwest of the intersection of South Prairie Avenue & Route 78.
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Aardvark Field, Colorado Springs, CO
39.03 North / 104.84 West (South of Denver, CO)
Aardvark Field was labeled simply as a “Landing Strip” on the 1986 USGS topo map.
Photo of the airfield while in use has not been located.
This small airfield is located on the north edge of the property of the Air Force Academy.
The date of construction of Aardavrk Field has not been determined.
It was not depicted at all on the 1983 USGS topo map.
The earliest depiction of the airfield which has been located is the 1986 USGS topo map,
which depicted the runway, labeled simply "Landing strip".
It was not depicted at all (not even as an abandoned airfield)
on the 1993 Denver Sectional Chart (according to Russ Roslewski).
The 1999 USGS aerial photo depicted the field as consisting of a single 2,300 asphalt Runway 17/35,
with no other facilities.
The 2002 USGS aerial photo depicted the field as consisting of a single 2,300 asphalt Runway 17/35,
with no other facilities.
However, even though the airfield was not listed in the Airport Facility Directory as an active facility,
the runway was not marked as closed.
It was not depicted at all (not even as an abandoned airfield)
on the 2003 Denver Sectional Chart (according to Russ Roslewski).
According to a recent Academy graduate (via Russ Roslewski),
"The airstrip is used by the Academy's soaring training program.
The first flight or two before the cadets get into the gliders is done in a motorglider.
They use the runway for practicing patterns & approaches, though they do not touch down on it.
I suspect that may be due to lack of any support equipment or quick access in the event of a botched landing.
That explains why it's in good condition!
Operating here gets them away from the main airfield,
which at least up until several years ago I had seen listed as the busiest VFR tower in the world."
Therefore, this runway is not officially listed as an "airfield",
since the aircraft apparently never actually land at it!
Truly a unique facility.
Aardvark Field, as depicted on an Air Force Academy local flying area publication (courtesy of Matthew Zimmerman).
According to Air Force Academy Cadet Matthew Zimmerman,
"The airfield is known as 'Aardvark'.
It's listed on all our local area charts here.
It also can be (and has been) used as an emergency landing site for gliders
if they can't get back to KAFF (extremely rare though)."
The airfield is located northwest of the intersection of Interstate 25 & North Gate Boulevard,
only 4 miles north of the Air Force Academy's main airfield.
Thanks to Russ Roslewski for pointing out this airfield.
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