Aviosuperficie Vigarolo

“Cleared for takeoff!” crackled the radio at Aviosuperficie Vigarolo. The small airfield buzzed with activity. Imagine light aircraft gracefully soaring above the Lombardy plains, a patchwork of green fields stretching as far as the eye can see. Aviosuperficie Vigarolo, nestled near the confluence of the Lambro and Po rivers, isn’t your typical international airport. It’s a hub for the passionate, the adventurous, and those who dream of touching the sky. Officially, it holds no IATA or ICAO code, but its local reference, LOVIG, is known amongst the flying community. This airfield, approximately 15 km south of Lodi, in the quaint village of Borghetto Lodigiano’s Vigarolo fraction, is a testament to the enduring spirit of aviation. The Aero Club Lodi “Francesco Agello” oversees the operations at Aviosuperficie Vigarolo. Its single grass runway, stretching 615 meters long and 45 meters wide, welcomes pilots on Saturdays and holidays, adhering to VFR rules. The runway, oriented 16/34, favors takeoffs on 16 and landings on 34. The airfield sits at an altitude of 67 meters above sea level. Aviosuperficie Vigarolo has its share of stories etched in its history. On March 30, 2003, a training exercise turned dramatic. A Reims-Aviation Cessna F172H (I-VEPP) was simulating an emergency landing. During the simulation, the passenger unexpectedly deployed the flaps fully, causing the aircraft to land short of the runway. The plane crashed into an irrigation canal. Both pilot and passenger, though seriously injured, miraculously escaped the wreckage. Another incident occurred on September 19, 2015, when a Storm 300 (I-7209) landed in a field adjacent to the airfield. The aircraft suffered significant damage. The pilot, fortunately, escaped with only minor injuries and shock. Today, Aviosuperficie Vigarolo continues to hum with life, a testament to the enduring allure of flight, where dreams take off and stories are written in the sky.