First flights Interest in aviation in the
Šalek Valley was catalyzed by the landing of a first powered Italian aircraft in 1927. The second plane flew to Šoštanj in 1930 and landed under the Marovška manor near the current airport. This aircraft was a
Comper Swift, owned by industrialist
Tomáš Baťa in 1930. Through the 1930s, aviation enthusiasts Maks Medved and Valter Muhovec attempted to circumvent the lack of tools and equipment and assembled a home-built
glider; however, the aircraft was completely destroyed during a test run in 1937. The pair then enlisted the expertise Žarko Majcen, who was an active aviator of the flying club
Naša Krila in
Maribor for help and created their own flying club.
The aeroclub A constituent assembly for the club was held on 19 February 1939, at which Valter Muhovec was elected chairman of the committee. In 1939, following the plans and expert guidance of Žarko Majcen from Maribor, the construction of the
DFS Zögling glider began. They also built a “flight simulator”. After seven months and 1500 hours of construction, the Zögling glider was finished. Test pilot Žarko Majcen made his first flight successfully on 24 September 1939 in Lajše. After a successful trial, they organized an introductory sailing course. By 22 November 1939, they stopped flying and some “A” exams had been completed. On 3 February 1940, the authorities prohibited operation of the aeroclub. On 11 December 1940, the members held a general assembly in Šoštanj and a modeling section was established. They elected a new president of the board, Dr. Stane Medic, and vice-president Srečko Robinščak. The aspirations of these early aviators were cut short by the outbreak of
World War II.
After WW2 Following the
Second World War, new activities began at the airport in May 1961. The aeroclub was officially established on 24 November 1971. The first post-war president of the club was Peter Robida, and the vice-president Tone Kovačič. The first manager of the club was Vladimir Kočevar. The airport's grass runway was constructed between 1972 and 1973. The club's first
silver C flight was performed by Jože Ocepek on 24 March 1974 from
Celje airport to the then existing
Ljubljana Polje airport with the
Blanik L-13 glider. The flying club took possession of the hangar on 14 December 1974, and the asphalt runway was finished in October 1980. Today, the Šalek flying club is the sole owner and operator of the airport. ==Facilities==