Base aérienne 745 Aulnat, Military airbase in Aulnat, France
Base aérienne 745 Aulnat is a former military airfield in Aulnat, a town just east of Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne region. The site included hangars, training zones, and maintenance facilities, and today it forms the grounds of Clermont-Ferrand-Auvergne Airport.
The site was established in 1916 by the Michelin brothers as an aviation facility and quickly became a major pilot training center during the First World War. Through the 20th century it hosted various military units before gradually transitioning to civilian use.
The base takes its name from the nearby town of Aulnat, which sits on the edge of Clermont-Ferrand. Travelers passing through the modern airport today walk the same grounds that once served only military purposes.
The site sits just east of Clermont-Ferrand and is well connected by public transport since the active airport operates here. Because it is a working airport, access to former military areas may be limited, so it is worth checking in advance.
France's first concrete runway was built on this site, a concept that was entirely new at the time and made landings in poor weather far more reliable. That innovation later became a standard feature of airports around the world.
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