Zutendaal Air Base, Military air base in Zutendaal, Belgium
Zutendaal Air Base is a military airfield with a runway extending about 3 kilometers in length, built with asphalt and reinforced concrete sections. The site contains storage facilities for retired military aircraft and various ground equipment.
The site was established by the German Army in 1917 as a training school for artillery observation pilots. Over the following decades it evolved from a grass airfield training facility into a modern reserve base supporting NATO operations.
Today a local gliding club uses the airfield on weekends, with sailplanes taking off and landing in the calm routine of sport aviation. This peaceful activity marks how the former military installation has become part of the community's recreational life.
The site maintains restricted access due to its military status, but it is possible to observe the airfield from exterior vantage points. Visitors should note that weekend operations by the gliding club mean certain areas are in active use during those times.
The base saw intense aerial combat in January 1945 when fighter squadrons stationed here successfully defended against a major German air offensive. This battle was among the largest air engagements of that period in the region.
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