Old Sungai Besi Airport, Kuala Lumpur

Approximate area of the Old Sungai Besi Airport, to be redeveloped as Bandar Malaysia

Old Sungai Besi Airport is the airbase in Sungai Besi that is now used as a Malaysian Air Force Base. It is also known variously as the TUDM Kuala Lumpur, Simpang Airport, Sempang Airport and Sungai Besi Airfield.

The Old Sungei Besi Airport was the airport for Kuala Lumpur from 1952 until 1965, when it operated as the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. It was the only airfield to be used as a civilian airport within the boundary of Kuala Lumpur. Then in 1965, Subang International Airport was completed, and from then on, the international airport for Kuala Lumpur has been located in various places in Selangor.

After the civilian international airport moved out, the Sungai Besi Airport became the base of the Royal Air Force Kuala Lumpur, and today the Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia). The airport is also the base for the Royal Malaysian Police Air Wing and the Royal Selangor Flying Club. The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department also has an air unit here. The Royal Malaysian Air Force operates the TUDM Museum, the only aviation museum in the country, at Sungai Besi Airport.

The Government of Malaysia is presently planning a redevelopment of the Old Sungai Besi Airport land for the Bandar Malaysia project.

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