Reims-Champagne (BA 112) Air Base

The closure was a direct result of the 2008 French military reform (Réforme des armées françaises). This nationwide restructuring, initiated under President Nicolas Sarkozy, aimed to modernize the armed forces, optimize the defense budget, and rationalize the distribution of military bases across France. BA 112 was one of several bases selected for closure as part of this strategic reorganization, with its missions and squadrons being transferred to other air bases.

The former air base is undergoing a major, long-term redevelopment project managed by the local government (Grand Reims) and known as 'Pôle 112' or 'Bétheny-Base'. The vast 530-hectare site has been repurposed for multiple uses, including:

- **Renewable Energy:** A large-scale photovoltaic solar farm has been installed on a significant portion of the land, making it one of the largest in the region.
- **Economic Development:** An industrial and business park is being developed to attract new companies, focusing on logistics, industry, and technology.
- **Automotive Sector:** A portion of the site is used for automotive testing and development, including tracks and workshops.
- **Events and Leisure:** The site has been used to host large-scale events, such as music festivals (e.g., La Magnifique Society).

Much of the original military infrastructure, including bunkers and hangars, has been demolished to make way for these new developments, although some elements of the former base are still visible.

The site holds a paramount place in global aviation history. Its significance can be broken down into several key periods:

- **Pioneering Aviation:** In August 1909, it hosted the 'Grande Semaine d'Aviation de la Champagne,' the world's first major international airshow. This event established many early aviation records and attracted legendary aviators like Louis Blériot and Glenn Curtiss, cementing the location's role as a cradle of aviation.

- **World War I:** It served as a crucial French military airfield on the Western Front, supporting reconnaissance and fighter operations.

- **World War II:** After the Fall of France in 1940, the airfield was captured and used extensively by the German Luftwaffe as a fighter base. Following its liberation in August 1944, it was repaired and used by the U.S. Army Air Forces as Advanced Landing Ground A-62, supporting the Allied advance into Germany.

- **Cold War and Modern Era:** After WWII, it became a major front-line base for the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air). It was officially named Base Aérienne 112 'Commandant Marin la Meslée' in honor of a top French WWII fighter ace. For decades, it was home to prestigious fighter squadrons, most notably the 30th Fighter Wing (30e Escadre de Chasse), which included the famous 'Normandie-Niemen' squadron. The base was a key air defense and reconnaissance installation during the Cold War, operating aircraft such as the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, North American F-100 Super Sabre, and, most famously, the Dassault Mirage F1 in its reconnaissance (CR) and tactical fighter (CT) variants until its closure.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Reims-Champagne Air Base as a military or civilian airport. The military's operational capabilities have been permanently consolidated at other bases (like Saint-Dizier – Robinson Air Base). The extensive and largely irreversible redevelopment of the site—including the installation of a massive solar farm across former runways and taxiways and the creation of business parks—makes its return to an aviation role technically and economically unfeasible. The focus of all stakeholders is entirely on the economic and environmental reconversion of the land.