Schönwalde Airfield

The primary closure of the military air base was political, resulting from the withdrawal of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany after German Reunification. The final closure of the smaller, civilian airfield was due to a combination of economic non-viability, noise complaints from the growing local communities, and the land being repurposed for a large-scale renewable energy project.

The site has been fundamentally transformed and is no longer recognizable as an active airfield. The majority of the former runways, taxiways, and aircraft dispersal areas are now covered by the 'Solarpark Schönwalde-Glien' (also known as Solarpark an der B5), one of Germany's largest photovoltaic power plants. The solar farm covers over 200 hectares of the former military base. While the operational surfaces are covered in solar panels, some derelict Cold War-era infrastructure, such as hardened aircraft shelters (HAS), barracks, and technical buildings, still exist in various states of decay on the periphery of the site, serving as a reminder of its military past.

Schönwalde Airfield has significant Cold War history. Originally built in the 1930s for the German Luftwaffe as 'Fliegerhorst Schönwalde', it was used for fighter pilot training during World War II. After the war, it was taken over by the Soviet Air Forces and became a major frontline air base just outside the border of West Berlin. Throughout the Cold War, it hosted various Soviet fighter, fighter-bomber, and helicopter regiments. Notable aircraft stationed there included the MiG-23, MiG-27, Su-17, and transport/attack helicopters like the Mi-8 and Mi-24. Its proximity to Berlin made it a strategically critical asset for the Warsaw Pact. After the Soviet military's departure in 1992, a part of the vast complex was briefly repurposed as a civilian airfield for general aviation, gliders, and ultralight aircraft before its final closure.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Schönwalde Airfield for aviation purposes. The extensive and permanent installation of the massive solar park on its core operational areas makes any return to flight operations practically impossible and economically unfeasible. The land's current use for renewable energy generation is its long-term future.