Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base

The closure was a direct result of the reorganization and downsizing of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). As part of the 'Bundeswehr-Strukturreform', numerous military bases across Germany were identified for closure or reduction to increase efficiency and adapt to new security challenges. Fürstenfeldbruck's role as a primary flight training base was consolidated at other locations, leading to the cessation of its aviation operations.

The vast site is currently in a state of transition and conversion from military to civilian use.

- **Military Remnants:** Some Bundeswehr facilities, particularly IT and training services, remain active on a portion of the base, but are scheduled to relocate by 2026.
- **Civilian Redevelopment:** A large-scale urban development project is underway to transform the former airfield into a new district for the city of Fürstenfeldbruck. This includes plans for residential housing, commercial businesses, educational facilities, parks, and recreational areas. The project is known as the 'Konversion Fliegerhorst Fürstenfeldbruck'.
- **Memorial Site:** A memorial dedicated to the victims of the 1972 Munich Massacre, named 'Ort des Gedenkens' (Place of Remembrance), has been established on the base near the location of the final events.
- **Infrastructure:** The main runway and taxiways are still physically present but are no longer used for aviation. They are now used for various events, including car shows, driving safety courses, and filming.

Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base has a long and significant history.

1. **Nazi Era and WWII:** Construction began in 1935 for the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany. It served as a pilot training school and a base for fighter and bomber units during World War II.

2. **USAF Occupation:** After the war, it was captured by the US Army and became a USAF installation known as Airfield R-72. It was a key operational base for the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), hosting transport, tactical reconnaissance, and fighter units during the early Cold War.

3. **German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Era:** In 1957, the base was handed back to the newly formed West German Air Force (Luftwaffe). It became one of its most important installations, most notably as the home of the German Air Force Officer School (Offizierschule der Luftwaffe), where generations of German air force officers received their training. Its ICAO code during this active period was ETSF.

4. **1972 Munich Olympics Massacre:** The air base is infamously known worldwide as the site of the tragic conclusion to the Munich Olympics hostage crisis on September 5, 1972. The Palestinian terrorists of the 'Black September' group and their nine remaining Israeli hostages were flown to Fürstenfeldbruck in a botched ambush and rescue attempt. The ensuing firefight resulted in the deaths of all nine hostages, one West German police officer, and five of the terrorists.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening Fürstenfeldbruck as an active airport. The formal decommissioning, the advanced state of the civilian redevelopment project, the site's valuable location within the Munich Metropolitan Region, and the lack of any political or economic will make a return to aviation operations unfeasible. The future of the site is firmly set in its conversion to a new urban district.