Our history

The Reus Aeroclub was founded in 1935. Since then many people who are attracted by the fascinating world of flying have decided to take pilot courses from among the various ones offered by the school.

The idea for a project for the construction of an aviation field in Reus and foundation of the Aeroclub started in 1932, fostered by the Reus Initiatives Association, with the objective of motorised flights and teaching through a pilot school. This was not only for pleasure, it went much further, in a belief that aviation would become an important means of transport and develop the area.

On 2nd May 1935, the Reus Aeroclub was finally founded by a group of aviation enthusiasts.

Its development was affected after July 1936 by the Spanish Civil War, and it became a strategic point and manufacturing site of aircraft controlled by the republicans, with this accelerating the construction of runways, hangars, workshops, and shelters. Also, CASA “Construcciones Aeronáuticas S.A.”  aircraft manufacturer moved from Getafe (Madrid) to Reus, getting away from the war front in Madrid, and even further strengthening the significant metallurgy industry that already existed in the area. All this established a major production sector around military aeronautics, with records showing that it accounted for 240 aircraft built during that period.

A new 2,650m² hangar was built in 1937, a complex engineering project, being one of the largest structures without columns of that time. After being moved from its original location to the Aeroclub installations and its restoration, today it is one of the active hangars of the flight school, listed as a building of historical interest. The famous Bücker were assembled in this hangar among other aircraft, and one of them is still owned and active in our school.

After the civil war ended on 1st April 1939, the installations became a military base, and the Aeroclub could not return to its place and activity until the end of the 1940s, restarting and promoting its pleasure, commercial and training business until the present day.

Photos: Archivo Ramon Tàpias

1935-1936: Foundation with 22 partners, purchase of the land and construction of the aerodrome.

1936-1939: Spanish Civil War.

1937: Construction of the historical 1937 hangar.

1939-1998: The installations were used as a Spanish military airbase.

1948: The Reus Aeroclub restarted aeronautical activities and private aircraft pilots’ school

1951: Air Festival and Air Trip around Catalonia. The Reus airport consolidated its presence after the opening to civil aviation traffic.

1958: First commercial flight of the Aviaco company (Reus - Madrid route).

1965: First charter flights due to the growth of tourism on the Costa Dorada.

1987: The air transport deregulation period started, promoted by the European Union and completed in 1992.

1990: Inauguration of its first own hangar.

1992: Airex aeronautical international trade show

1996: Starting of the second hangar.

1996-2003: Period for processing and starting “CESDA” Centre d’Estudis de l’Aviació [Aviation Studies Centre] activities. The Reus Aeroclub plays a fundamental role, establishing collaboration and facilitating the use of installations, hangars, flight plans, and access to runways.

2010: Relocation and restoration of the historical 1937 hangar.

2014: One Diamond DA 20 C1 is added to the fleet.

2018: New aircraft acquisitions: One Piper Archer III and 2 Piper Seneca I units.

2019: Starting of the fourth hangar.