Old Chiang Rai Airport

Old Chiang Rai Airport
The disused runway and building of the airport
IATA: none ICAO: VTCR
Summary
Airport type	Public / Military
Owner/Operator	Royal Thai Air Force
Serves	Chiang Rai
Location	Chiang Rai, Thailand
Opened	1926 (1926)
Closed	5 August 1992 (1992-08-05)
Elevation AMSL	1,312 ft / 400 m
Coordinates	19°53′21.3144″N 99°49′36.5808″E / 19.889254000°N 99.826828000°E / 19.889254000; 99.826828000
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 18/36 5,065 1,544 Asphalt

Old Chiang Rai Airport (ICAO: VTCR) is a non-active airport near the city of Chiang Rai in Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand.

In 1926, Chiang Rai Airport was established, making it the first airport in the region and the second in Thailand. Later, during the Pacific War, it was used for transporting military equipment. It was the former base of the 417th Squadron, Royal Thai Air Force. In 1992, it was thought to have been abandoned as the new airport opened. The runways and its area is currently used for recreational activities and events, being used amongst the locals as a park.

In 2018, the airport was used as a heliport to support the Tham Luang cave rescue.^[1]

• Chiang Rai International Airport

• Old Chiang Rai Airport - recent (2008) pictures and commentary