Sagae Gliderfield

The airfield was officially abolished due to a combination of economic and land management issues. The operator, a non-profit organization named the Yamagata Sky Sports Association, faced financial and operational difficulties in maintaining the facility and ensuring safety standards. Furthermore, the airfield was located on riverbed land (kasenshiki) along the Mogami River, which is primarily managed for flood control. Renewing the land use permits for aviation purposes became untenable, leading to the decision to close the facility.

The site of the former airfield has been completely repurposed for other uses. The northern portion of the former runway area has been converted into the 'Sagae Gliderfield Park Golf Course' (寒河江市滑空場パークゴルフ場), a recreational facility for a sport similar to miniature golf. The southern portion of the site now houses a large-scale solar power generation plant ('mega solar' plant). The land remains part of the Mogami River's flood plain.

Sagae Gliderfield was a vital hub for recreational aviation in the Yamagata Prefecture. As its name implies, it was primarily used for gliding and sailplane operations, including training and recreational flights. The facility featured an unpaved grass/gravel runway approximately 800 meters long. It served as the home base for the Yamagata Sky Sports Association and was a crucial grassroots facility for fostering interest in aviation and providing an accessible entry point for new pilots through gliding.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Sagae Gliderfield. The land has been permanently redeveloped with a park golf course and a solar farm, making a return to aviation activities highly improbable. The significant investment in the current infrastructure and the underlying land management challenges that led to its closure have solidified its new purpose.