Kassel-Waldau Airfield

The primary reason for closure was the opening of the Kassel-Calden Airport (the predecessor to the current Kassel Airport, KSF). The Waldau airfield's runway was too short for modern, larger aircraft, and its location within the city, surrounded by residential and industrial areas, severely limited any potential for expansion. The new airport at Calden offered a longer runway and superior infrastructure to meet the growing demands of post-war air traffic and business aviation.

The site of the former airfield has been completely redeveloped and no longer exists as an aviation facility. It is now the 'Industriepark Kassel-Waldau' and the adjacent 'Gewerbepark Langes Feld', which together form one of the largest contiguous industrial and commercial areas in the state of Hesse. The area is home to numerous companies, large logistics centers (including a major Volkswagen Group original parts center), and manufacturing plants. The only remaining legacy of the airfield is in the local street names, such as 'Fieseler-Straße' and 'Junkersstraße', which commemorate its aviation past.

Kassel-Waldau was a historically significant airfield in Germany. Opened in 1924, it was one of the country's first civil airports and an early hub for Deutsche Luft Hansa, connecting Kassel with major German cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, and Hanover. Its most profound significance stems from being the home of the Fieseler aircraft works (Fieseler Flugzeugbau). The factory, located directly at the airfield, developed and produced the famous Fieseler Fi 156 'Storch', a renowned STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) reconnaissance aircraft. During World War II, the Fieseler factory became a crucial part of the German war effort, producing components for fighter aircraft like the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Most notably, Fieseler was the prime contractor for the V-1 flying bomb (officially Fieseler Fi 103). Due to its strategic importance, the airfield and factory were heavily targeted and damaged by Allied bombing raids. After the war, the airfield was repaired and resumed operations, primarily serving general aviation, gliding clubs, and business flights until its closure.

There are absolutely no plans or prospects for reopening the Kassel-Waldau Airfield. The site has been fully and densely redeveloped for industrial and commercial use for over 50 years. The aviation needs of the Kassel region are served by the modern Kassel Airport (KSF) located in Calden.