Ropsha Airfield

Primarily economic reasons. The airfield was operated by DOSAAF (Voluntary Society for Assistance to the Army, Air Force, and Navy), a paramilitary sports organization that was heavily subsidized by the Soviet state. Following the collapse of the USSR, this state funding disappeared, rendering the operation of many such airfields, including Ropsha, financially unsustainable. Subsequently, the valuable land, located relatively close to St. Petersburg, was repurposed for real estate development.

The airfield is permanently closed and has been completely dismantled. The site has been redeveloped into a large residential area, often referred to as 'Novaya Ropsha' (New Ropsha). The land has been divided into individual plots, and numerous private houses (dachas) and cottages have been built directly on the former runway and taxiways. While the faint outline of the grass runway might be discernible on older satellite images, current imagery shows a grid of streets and active housing construction covering the entire former territory of the airfield.

Ropsha Airfield was a key training facility for the DOSAAF organization in the Leningrad Oblast. It was the home base for the 2nd Leningrad United Aviation Squadron. Its primary mission was to provide pre-military and sports aviation training to civilians. Operations included:
- **Parachute Training:** It was a major center for parachute jumping, primarily using Antonov An-2 aircraft.
- **Flight Training:** It provided initial flight training on piston-engine trainer aircraft, most notably the Yakovlev Yak-52 and potentially the Yak-18.
- **Gliding:** The airfield also supported glider towing and training activities.
As part of the vast DOSAAF network, it played an important role in the Soviet system of mass military-patriotic education and in developing a pool of trained individuals for the Soviet Air Force.

Zero. The prospect of reopening the airfield is non-existent. The land has been irrevocably converted to high-density residential use. The construction of permanent homes, roads, and other infrastructure on the former operational area makes any return to aviation activities physically impossible.