Thunder Pad / Savage Pad

Military Base Closure. The heliport was an integral part of the US Army's Ray Barracks installation. It was closed following the withdrawal of US forces from the base as part of a broader post-Cold War realignment and force reduction in Europe. The base was officially handed back to German authorities in September 2007, at which point all aviation operations ceased.

The entire former Ray Barracks site, including the area of the Thunder Pad / Savage Pad heliport, has been completely redeveloped. The land was converted for civilian use in a large-scale urban development project known as the 'Ray Barracks Quartier'. The former military grounds now feature new residential housing, commercial businesses, public parks, and infrastructure. The original heliport and any associated structures have been demolished, and the land has been fully integrated into the city of Friedberg.

Thunder Pad / Savage Pad was a US Army heliport located within Ray Barracks in Friedberg, a significant American military installation during the Cold War. Its primary function was to support the combat aviation elements of the US Army units stationed there, most notably the 3rd Armored Division ('Spearhead') and later the 1st Armored Division ('Old Ironsides'). Operations included transport, reconnaissance, and attack helicopter missions using aircraft such as the UH-1 Iroquois, AH-1 Cobra, and later the AH-64 Apache. The heliport played a crucial role in NATO's defense strategy, being strategically located near the Fulda Gap, a potential key invasion route for Warsaw Pact forces. While the heliport itself was purely military, the parent base, Ray Barracks, is famously known for being the post where Elvis Presley served as a soldier from 1958 to 1960.

None. There are no plans or prospects for reopening the heliport. The site has been permanently and completely repurposed for civilian residential and commercial use. The ICAO code DE-0521 is defunct and the physical infrastructure for aviation no longer exists.