„The first airfield was located in Akmenė, later we ourselves started looking for a field that could be turned into an airfield. Although we found nothing within a 30–40 km radius around Mažeikiai and no longer believed we would find anything, on the way back we noticed a small road, and when we got closer – this huge field,“ says parachute instructor Rimantas Morkūnas.
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New reality – private planes
In 1986, enthusiasts began developing aviation and parachute sports in the Mažeikiai district, and the Mažeikiai airfield was named after the local aviator and engineer Julijonas Kumpikevičius to honor his contribution to aviation.
Any inaccurate action can lead to very tragic consequences.
„At that time, we worked extremely intensively, trained athletes, participated in championships, and achieved high results, but the beginning of Perestroika ruined everything,“ recalls the speaker. After everything collapsed, Rimantas decided to revive the airfield and, as he remembers today, thanks his wife who, in order to help fulfill her husband’s dream, decided to become the airfield manager and devoted herself to the airfield’s maintenance after quitting her job.
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A strong desire, faith, and hope saved the airfield and it started operating again. Currently, the airfield covers an area of 64 hectares, has 7 hangars, and residents of the Mažeikiai region keep their private planes at the airfield.
„People fly for pleasure or work purposes, for example, from Mažeikiai to Kaunas. Fuel consumption is similar, but it saves twice the time. And the planes are extremely safe because each of them has its own parachute, so if something bad happens, people would still be saved,“ reveals the airfield manager Ala Morkūnienė.
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