Lade Airport remained in use until 1965, when it was abandoned to allow for the area to be redeveloped for industry, shopping, and a sports venue.

During the late 19th century it was proposed used as a site for the Norwegian College of Agriculture, but was instead located at Ås Municipality in Akershus county.

[5] Værnes Air Station was in such a condition that it was unsuitable for the large German aircraft, such as the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka.

If the local authorities were not able to follow up, the German military threatened to lock down the city and shoot anyone attempting to leave.

In addition to serving as a stop-over for flights northwards, Lade was important for the defense of Trondheim and the submarine bases.

[9] DNL resumed scheduled flights from Trondheim on 27 May 1946, serving Ilsvika with Ju 52 seaplanes with a stop-over on their Northern Norway route from Oslo Airport, Fornebu.

Hjalmar Riiser-Larsen took in a letter to the editor in Adresseavisen in 1947 initiative to establishing a land airport in Trøndelag.

The Bukken Bruse Accident in which nineteen people were killed in a crash during landing at the water aerodrome at Hommelvik.

[15] The two clubs organized an annual air show, both to generate income and to raise the interest for aviation.

A new airline, A/S Trønderfly, was established on 11 July 1950 and bought a single aircraft, serving the uncovered market in the surge of the first company's failure.

In addition to the taxi, scenic and ambulance flights, Widerøe also conducted aerial photography, at first using a Fairchild Cornell.

[14] From 1956 Widerøe operated a Lockheed Model 12 Electra Junior out of Lade and remained at the airport until it closed.

The lack of a hard landing surface caused seasonal disruptions in operations and in rainy periods Braathens SAFE had to reroute its services to Værnes.

Trondheim's concern was that they would lose tax income it industrial companies moved to Strinda or other neighboring municipalities.

Longer distances, increased parking and hangar rental fees, the need for radio communication certificates all put their toil on recruitment and retaining members.

[5] The airport never had any instrument landing system and all aircraft movements required visual flight rules.

Widerøe set up a "commando center" in their hangar and installed VHF radios to communicate with aircraft.

[18] During World War II the airport was equipped with anti-aircraft warfare measures including flak guns, barrage balloons and a smoke machine.