Eskişehir Kalkanlı Air Base

The closure was a result of military operational consolidation and significant urban redevelopment. The air base was located in a prime, rapidly developing urban area of Eskişehir. The Turkish Air Force consolidated its primary flight operations at the larger and more modern Eskişehir Air Base (ICAO: LTBI), located just a few kilometers to the southwest. This strategic move freed up the valuable Kalkanlı land for public use and city expansion.

The former air base site has been completely and permanently redeveloped. The runway, taxiways, and most of the original airfield infrastructure have been demolished. The majority of the land is now occupied by the 'Eskişehir Millet Bahçesi' (Eskişehir National Garden), a large public park with recreational facilities, ponds, and green spaces. While the adjacent military maintenance facilities remain active, the airfield itself no longer exists.

Eskişehir is a historically vital center for the Turkish Air Force, often considered its heartland. Kalkanlı Air Base was intrinsically linked to the adjacent 1st Air Maintenance Factory Directorate (1'inci Hava Bakım Fabrika Müdürlüğü), a key industrial facility for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of military aircraft and engines. The air base's primary function was to support this major maintenance center. Operations primarily consisted of:
- Test flights for newly repaired or overhauled aircraft before they returned to active service.
- Logistical and transport flights carrying parts, personnel, and equipment.
- General support missions for the maintenance command.
It was not a primary combat base but a crucial component of the Turkish Air Force's logistical and industrial backbone for many decades.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening the airport. The site has been irreversibly redeveloped into a major public park. The runway has been completely removed, and the land has been repurposed for civilian and recreational use, making any future aviation activity at this specific location impossible.