Cottbus Air Base, Military air base in Cottbus, Germany
Cottbus Air Base is a former military airfield on the northwestern edge of Cottbus, Brandenburg, with a concrete runway and several preserved operational buildings. The grounds now host an aviation museum alongside one of the largest solar installations on a former military site in Germany.
The airfield was used by the Luftwaffe during World War II and then continued in service under the East German National People's Army until the early 1990s. After German reunification, the base was gradually wound down and officially closed in 2004.
The aviation museum on the grounds displays aircraft and equipment from the East German military era, giving visitors a direct look at what daily life on the base was like. Most of the objects on display came from the base itself.
The site is mainly accessible through the aviation museum, which serves as the starting point for any visit. Large sections of the grounds are covered by solar panels and are not open to walk through freely.
The concrete runway is still officially available for emergency landings and is occasionally used by aircraft, even though the base is otherwise closed. This dual role as an emergency strip and solar park is very rare in Germany.
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