Brandenburg-Briest

52°26'19"N 012°27'30"E

Runway: 07/25 - 2,442x40meters (1499x30meters/4918x98feet usable) - concrete (CLOSED)
Runway: 07/25 - 1,000x150meters - concrete (Emergency use only - CLOSED)
Runway: 12/30 - 1,500x50meters - concrete (World War II - CLOSED)

Airfield Brandenburg-Briest (german: Flugplatz Brandenburg-Briest, ICAO: EDUB) is a former military airfield near the cities of Brandenburg an der Havel and Briest, Germany.
The airfield was founded between 1912 and 1914 on the banks of the Havel River. Not much is known about its use between the opening and World War II.

At the beginning of World War II the airfield served aircraft that had participated in the Poland campaign. During World War II the airfield housed the Arado factory and its primary use was research and testing.


Luftwaffe Me109s of I. Gruppe after the Poland campaign in 1939 (source).

After the war the airfield became a support facility for the Soviet Armed Forces and the East-German National Peoples Army (german: Nationale Volks Armee or NVA). It was home base to the Helicopter Training Wing (german: Hubschrauberausbildungsstaffel) HAS 35 (later HAG - Hubschrauberausbildungsgeschwader 35) and Transporthubschraubergeschwader THG 34 "Werner Seelenbinder" flying Mil Mi-8. At some time Attack Helicopter Wing 64 (german: Kampfhubschraubergeschwader 64, former 4. Staffel of THG), yet later KHG 67) with Mil Mi-8TB and Mil Mi-24 were also stationed at the base. KHG64 later moved to Cottbus.


Mil Mi-2 of HAS35 in front of Brandenburg-Briest tower.

After the German reunification units of the German Heeresflieger Transporthubschraubergeschwader 65 used the base occasionally. After a successful transition to civilian air traffic the airfield remained in use as a Special Air Field, meaning it was only open to local companies or only under PPR.


Approach map of Brandenburg-Briest, ca 2004 (source).

When the lease to the airfield expired by the end of July 2009 the airfield closed. The owner had the permission to fly from the airfield revoked to allow a 400hectares large solar energy production plant to be built.


Air Base Brandenburg-Briest in 2007 (www.fotos-aus-der-luft.de)