The development of Heathrow airport is used as an example to illustrate how requirements for the
runway system and the other infrastructure of the airport can change rapidly and unexpectedly.
The history of Heathrow airport began in 1929. Richard Fairey Great West Aerodrome, which was
used mostly for experimental flights was opened on the site of the present airport. In the course of
World War II the Ministry of Aviation needed to build a bigger airport in the London area with
longer runways that could be used by heavy bombers and airliners. In 1942 site selection started
and in 1944 it was decided to build an airport at Heathrow with the then classical arrangement of
three runways forming an equilateral triangle.