Papawai Airfield serves Papawai, NZ.
Papawai Airfield (NZPW) is a private airfield located in Papawai, Wellington Region, New Zealand, a few kilometers east of Greytown, near the confluence of the Ruamahanga and Waiohine rivers. It is classified as a small airport and does not have scheduled commercial airline service.
The airfield serves primarily as the flying site for the Wellington Wairarapa Gliding Club and the Greytown Soaring Centre, with gliding activities being its main use. Gliders are often launched using a specialized winch system. Papawai Airfield features two grass runways: a longer runway designated 03/21, which is 2,000 meters long, and a shorter runway (possibly 11/29) that is 1,400 meters long. The airfield's elevation is 128 feet (39 meters) above mean sea level.
The significance of Papawai as a gliding hub increased when the Wellington Gliding Club relocated its operations there in 2016, leading to a substantial increase in activity and the airfield's inclusion in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). The wider Wairarapa region, where Papawai is situated, is historically notable in New Zealand gliding for holding the national altitude record for gliders.
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Where is Papawai Airfield located?
Papawai Airfield is located in Papawai, NZ, at an elevation of 128 ft. Its IATA code is — and ICAO code is NZPW.