Operation Grasshopper
Encyclopedia
Operation Grasshopper was a project to look for natural resources in Suriname
from the air. For this project, seven airstrips were constructed in the interior of Suriname from 1959 onwards.
The project was the brainchild of the Minister of Development of Suriname at the time, Frank Essed. In order to speed up the process of mapping the natural resources of the country—under the method used at the time it would at least take another few decades before the whole country was mapped—the plan foresaw in the exploration of the country by flying over it using planes with magnetometer
s and scintillometer
s on board. In order to be able to do this, seven airstrips were needed in the interior of Suriname.
During the construction of an airport near Paloemeu
, a plane carrying building material crashed nearby. The pilot and co-pilot, Vincent Fajks and Ronald Kappel died in the crash. The airport was subsequently named after Fajks
.
One of the results of Operation Grasshopper was the discovery of bauxite
in the Bakhuis Mountains
. This led to the drafting of the West Suriname Plan
.
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
from the air. For this project, seven airstrips were constructed in the interior of Suriname from 1959 onwards.
The project was the brainchild of the Minister of Development of Suriname at the time, Frank Essed. In order to speed up the process of mapping the natural resources of the country—under the method used at the time it would at least take another few decades before the whole country was mapped—the plan foresaw in the exploration of the country by flying over it using planes with magnetometer
Magnetometer
A magnetometer is a measuring instrument used to measure the strength or direction of a magnetic field either produced in the laboratory or existing in nature...
s and scintillometer
Scintillometer
A scintillometer is a scientific device used to measure small fluctuations of the refractive index of air caused by variations in temperature, humidity, and pressure. It consists of an optical or radio wave transmitter and a receiver at both ends of an atmospheric propagation path...
s on board. In order to be able to do this, seven airstrips were needed in the interior of Suriname.
During the construction of an airport near Paloemeu
Paloemeu
Paloemeu is a small Amerindian village in the interior of Suriname, situated at the site where the Paloemeu River joins the Tapanahoni River. The town is primarily by the native Tiriyó Indians. Vincent Fayks Airport is located near the village....
, a plane carrying building material crashed nearby. The pilot and co-pilot, Vincent Fajks and Ronald Kappel died in the crash. The airport was subsequently named after Fajks
Vincent Fayks Airport
Vincent Fayks Airport , near Paloemeu, Suriname. The airport was constructed as part of Operation Grasshopper. It was named after the Polish pilot Vincent Fajks who crashed with co-pilot Ronald Kappel at the site in October 1959, while trying to deliver building materials for the airport.-Airlines...
.
One of the results of Operation Grasshopper was the discovery of bauxite
Bauxite
Bauxite is an aluminium ore and is the main source of aluminium. This form of rock consists mostly of the minerals gibbsite Al3, boehmite γ-AlO, and diaspore α-AlO, in a mixture with the two iron oxides goethite and hematite, the clay mineral kaolinite, and small amounts of anatase TiO2...
in the Bakhuis Mountains
Bakhuis Mountains
The Bakhuis Mountains are a mountain range in central Suriname, spanning 110 kilometres. The mountain range form of the Northern part of the Wilhelmina Mountains, and were named after the Dutch explorer and Royal Dutch East Indies Army officer Louis August Bakhuis.The Bakhuis Mountains have rich...
. This led to the drafting of the West Suriname Plan
West Suriname Plan
The West Suriname Plan is an economic development plan for the western part of Suriname. As originally conceived, it consists among others of the mining of bauxite in the Bakhuis Mountains, the building of a hydroelectric power plant on the Kabalebo River, and the construction of a harbour and an...
.
Airports constructed during Operation Grasshopper
- Kabalebo AirstripKabalebo AirstripKabalebo Airstrip , near Kabalebo, Suriname. It was constructed as part of Operation Grasshopper.- Charter :...
- Coeroeni Airstrip
- Kayser AirstripKayser AirstripKayser Airstrip , near the Kayser Mountain Range, Suriname. It was constructed as part of Operation Grasshopper.- Charter :...
- Oelemari Airstrip
- Sipaliwini AirstripSipaliwini AirstripSipaliwini Airstrip , near Sipaliwini, Suriname. It was constructed as part of Operation Grasshopper.-Airlines and destinations:Airlines serving this airport are:* Bluewing Airlines...
- Tafelberg AirstripTafelberg AirstripTafelberg Airstrip , also known as Rudi Kappel Airstrip, after the co-pilot of the flight which crashed near Vincent Fayks Airport, is situated in the vicinity of Tafelberg, Suriname...
- Vincent Fayks AirportVincent Fayks AirportVincent Fayks Airport , near Paloemeu, Suriname. The airport was constructed as part of Operation Grasshopper. It was named after the Polish pilot Vincent Fajks who crashed with co-pilot Ronald Kappel at the site in October 1959, while trying to deliver building materials for the airport.-Airlines...