Lepsari Airfield

Economic and political reasons following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The airfield was operated by the state-sponsored paramilitary sports organization DOSAAF (Voluntary Society for Cooperation with the Army, Aviation, and Navy). After the dissolution of the USSR, DOSAAF lost its significant state funding, leading to the widespread closure of its facilities, including the Lepsari airfield, due to the inability to cover operational and maintenance costs.

The airfield is completely abandoned and in a state of severe disrepair. The concrete runway and taxiways are heavily cracked, weathered, and significantly overgrown with grass and small trees. The original airfield buildings, such as hangars, the control tower, and administrative facilities, are either in ruins or have been completely dismantled for materials. The site is not maintained and is inaccessible for any form of aviation. It is unofficially used by locals for various recreational activities, including unauthorized car drag racing, airsoft/paintball games, and flying drones.

Lepsari was a significant training airfield for the Leningrad regional branch of DOSAAF. Its primary operations included primary flight training on propeller aircraft, most notably the Yakovlev Yak-52, and parachute jump training conducted from Antonov An-2 biplanes. It served as a key facility for preparing civilians with basic aviation and parachuting skills, many of whom would later enter military service. The airfield was a typical Soviet-era paramilitary sports aerodrome, playing a crucial role in the pre-conscription training system and promoting aviation sports among the youth in the Leningrad Oblast.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Lepsari Airfield. The extensive degradation of the runway and support infrastructure would require a complete and costly reconstruction, making any such project economically unfeasible, especially given the presence of other active general aviation airfields in the region. The land is more likely to be repurposed for non-aviation development (such as industrial or residential use) in the long term, but currently, it remains abandoned with no active redevelopment plans.