Maksimovka Airport

The primary reason for its replacement was technological obsolescence. Maksimovka Airport had an unpaved (grass/dirt) runway which was too short and unsuitable for the new generation of heavier, faster jet aircraft like the Tupolev Tu-104 and Ilyushin Il-18 that were entering service in the Soviet Union in the late 1950s. A new airport with a modern, concrete runway was required, leading to the construction of the current Ufa International Airport (UWUU/UFA) south of the city. The final closure was due to the expansion of the city of Ufa and the land being repurposed for industrial development.

The site of the former airport has been completely absorbed by the urban expansion of Ufa. The area is now a major industrial and logistics zone within the Kalininsky district of the city. While the faint outline of the former main runway can still be traced on satellite imagery, it is now intersected by roads and covered with numerous warehouses, manufacturing plants, and commercial buildings. None of the original aviation infrastructure is operational, and the land has been fully redeveloped.

Maksimovka was the original and first airport of Ufa, the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan. Opened in 1924, it was the cradle of aviation in the region. It initially handled mail and passenger flights on routes like Ufa-Sterlitamak. For decades, it was the main air gateway to the city, serving as a hub for the local division of Aeroflot. The airport operated a variety of propeller-driven aircraft typical of the era, including the Polikarpov Po-2, Lisunov Li-2, Antonov An-2, and Ilyushin Il-14. After its role as the primary airport ended, it continued to serve as a base for the local United Air Squadron, handling regional flights, agricultural aviation (crop dusting), and serving as a training center for pilots and parachutists (DOSAAF).

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Maksimovka Airport. The site is now a densely developed industrial area, making any return to aviation use impossible. The city is well-served by the modern and continually updated Ufa International Airport (UWUU/UFA), which meets all current and projected needs for the region.