Johannisthal Airfield

The closure was a direct consequence of German reunification in 1990. The airfield was then used by the East German National People's Army (NVA). After reunification, the NVA was dissolved, and its assets were transferred to the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). The Bundeswehr had no strategic need for the airfield, especially given its urban location and the proximity to other major Berlin airports (Schönefeld, Tegel, Tempelhof). The site was designated for a major urban redevelopment project, leading to its conversion from military to civilian use.

The former airfield site has been completely transformed and is no longer recognizable as an airport. It is now the heart of the Adlershof Technology Park (WISTA - Wissenschafts- und Wirtschaftsstandort Adlershof), one of Europe's largest science and technology parks. The area includes:
- **University Campus:** The science and mathematics faculties of the Humboldt University of Berlin.
- **Research Institutes:** Numerous non-university research institutions and over 1,200 technology companies.
- **Landscape Park:** A large, 65-hectare public park (Landschaftspark Johannisthal/Adlershof) has been created on the former runways and taxiways, preserving the open character of the field. Two of the original runways are still visible as grass strips within the park.
- **Preserved Heritage:** Several historic buildings, including old hangars, workshops, and the DVL's wind tunnels (the 'Trudelturm' and 'Großer Windkanal'), have been preserved as historical monuments and integrated into the new campus and park.
- **Residential and Commercial Areas:** New housing and commercial districts have been built around the park.

Johannisthal Airfield holds a pivotal place in aviation history. It was Germany's first motor-powered airfield, opening on September 26, 1909. It is often referred to as the 'cradle of German aviation'.

Key historical points:
- **Pioneering Era:** It was the center of early German aviation, hosting numerous flight competitions, airshows, and record-breaking attempts. Many pioneering aviators, including Orville Wright, flew here.
- **First Passenger Flights:** The world's first airline, DELAG, operated passenger flights with its Zeppelin airships from Johannisthal starting in 1912.
- **Aircraft Manufacturing Hub:** Before and during World War I, it was a major center for aircraft design and manufacturing. Famous companies like Rumpler, Fokker, and Albatros Flugzeugwerke had factories on or near the airfield, producing thousands of aircraft for the war effort.
- **Research Center:** During the Weimar Republic and the Nazi era, it was home to the prestigious German Aviation Research Institute (Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt - DVL), which operated advanced facilities, including large wind tunnels, some of which are still preserved today.
- **Cold War Era:** After World War II, the airfield was located in the Soviet sector of Berlin. It was used initially by the Soviet Air Forces and later became the main helicopter base for the East German National People's Army (NVA), housing Transport Helicopter Wing 34.

None. There are absolutely no plans or prospects for reopening Johannisthal as an airfield. The site has been comprehensively and irreversibly redeveloped into a dense urban area combining a major science park, university campus, public park, and residential neighborhoods. Its original function is now purely historical, and its proximity to the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) further negates any potential need for its reactivation.