Soest

Soest-Bad Sassendorf (EDLZ), located in the Sauerland region close to Soest and the Möhnesee, between the A 44 Motorway and B1 main road, is now a civilian airfield.

History

In the latter part of the Cold War (late 1970s and early 1980s until 1993), 3 Reg AAC was based there and operated Scout, Gazelle and Lynx helicopters. AAC units based there included: 653, 654, 660, 662, and 663 squadrons. The barracks was at 51.567397,8.181601.

3 Regiment Army Air Corps is currently at Wattisham.

Present day Site/Services

It is rated/approved as a "special landing site". These are often used by aero clubs. Unlike a commercial airfield, only the operators and (upon request also third parties) may take off and land. There is no obligation to operate, and therefore opening times are not required. In 2001, the airfield saw the rollout of the Airfisch Ground effect vehicle, designed to fly only two metres above the water's surface.

The length of the airfield main runway is 820 meters, while the glider winch launching distance is about 1,000 meters long. They are both grass runways with headins 07/25. The traffic pattern runs south as the northerly air space is reserved for skydivers. The airfield frequency is 122.600 MHz. There is a fuel station at the aerfield with Avgas, Mogas and Jet A-1 available.

Two clubs are based there: the Flugsportgemeinschaft Soest e.V (Soest Flying Club) operating powered-aircraft and gliders and the Fallschirmsportclub Soest-Bad Sassendorf e.V (Soest-Bad Sassendorf Skydiving Club). There is also a Gyrocopter-Flying school operating here, run by the Flugdienst Sauerland. Flying is usually on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (occasionally also on normal business days), weather permitting. The gliding season runs regularly from late March / early April to late October / early November. Powered flight takes place year-round. The small airfield also holds flying days where aerobatics and stunts are presented by professional pilots and aerobatic pilots.

Sources

Salamanca Barracks, Bad Sassendorf by Wikipedia