Ahlhorn Airport

The closure was a direct result of the post-Cold War military drawdown and the subsequent restructuring of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). Following the reunification of Germany and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, the strategic need for many large military bases in Germany was significantly reduced, leading to widespread closures and consolidations for economic and strategic reasons.

The former airbase has been completely repurposed into a large, multi-use civilian area known as the 'Metropolpark Hansalinie'. The current uses include:

* **Industrial and Business Park:** Many of the former hangars, shelters, and administrative buildings have been converted for use by various commercial and industrial companies.
* **Solar Park:** A significant portion of the site, including large sections of the former runways and taxiways, has been covered with photovoltaic panels, creating one of Germany's largest solar farms ('Solarpark Ahlhorn').
* **Special Landing Site (Sonderlandeplatz Ahlhorn - EDHA):** A part of the main runway (approximately 1280 meters) remains operational. The site is licensed as a special landing site, allowing general aviation aircraft to land and take off with prior permission. It is not a public airport with scheduled services.
* **Event and Testing Venue:** The remaining runway and large paved areas are frequently used for driver safety training, automotive testing, motorsports events, and large open-air festivals.
* **Emergency Accommodation:** At various times, parts of the former barracks have been used by the state of Lower Saxony as temporary emergency accommodation and reception centers for refugees.

Ahlhorn Air Base (former ICAO: ETNA) has a long and significant military history.

1. **Third Reich Era (1938-1945):** Construction began in 1938 as a base for the Nazi German Air Force (Luftwaffe). During World War II, it was a major operational airfield, primarily hosting bomber units such as Kampfgeschwader 54 (KG 54) flying Junkers Ju 88 aircraft. It was heavily targeted by Allied bombing raids towards the end of the war.

2. **Royal Air Force (RAF) Era (1945-1958):** After the war, the base was taken over by the British Royal Air Force and named RAF Ahlhorn. It was located in the British zone of occupation and became a key NATO frontline airbase during the early Cold War. It hosted various RAF squadrons flying aircraft such as the de Havilland Vampire, Hawker Hunter, and English Electric Canberra.

3. **Bundeswehr/Luftwaffe Era (1958-1993):** In 1958, the base was handed over to the newly formed West German Air Force (Luftwaffe). It became one of Germany's most important military airfields. Over the years, it hosted several prominent units, including:
* **Air Transport Wing 62 (LTG 62):** Flying the Nord Noratlas transport aircraft.
* **Helicopter Transport Wing 64 (HTG 64):** Operating a large fleet of Sikorsky CH-53G heavy-lift transport helicopters. This was the primary unit at the base for many years.
* **Fighter-Bomber Wing 43 (JaboG 43):** Flying the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet in the light attack and tactical reconnaissance roles.
* **Naval Air Wing 3 (MFG 3):** A detachment of Tornado aircraft was temporarily based here in the early 1990s after the closure of their home base.

The base played a crucial role in NATO's defense strategy throughout the Cold War, serving as a hub for transport, helicopter, and fighter-bomber operations.

There are no known or credible plans to reopen Ahlhorn as a major public commercial airport or to return it to military service. The extensive conversion of the site into an industrial park and a massive solar farm makes such a prospect economically unviable and logistically improbable. Its current status as a multi-purpose business park and a special landing site for limited aviation is considered its permanent, long-term function. The proximity of Bremen Airport (EDDW), about 40 km to the northeast, serves the region's commercial air travel needs.