Dare to dream of flight. Here at Flugplatz Pirna-Pratzschwitz, that dream takes wing. This special airfield near Pirna has a rich history. It offers a unique blend of aviation and local charm.
Flugplatz Pirna is a German airfield. It sits just northwest of Pirna’s town center. You will find it nestled between the Birkwitz gravel and bathing lake and the S 177 road. The airfield lies within the Pratzschwitz district, part of Birkwitz-Pratzschwitz.
The airfield boasts a grass runway. This runway is perfect for motor aircraft. A parallel strip supports glider winch launches and landings. Model aircraft enthusiasts also have their own dedicated area.
The story of Flugplatz Pirna began in the late 1920s. Visionary groups formed. A call in the Pirnaer Anzeiger in 1928 from the Akaflieg Dresden sparked the creation of a flying club. This club was part of the German Air Transport Association. Members built their own aircraft and equipment. The Zögling glider and a Poppenhausen double-seater soon became the club’s prized possessions.
Early practice areas included Berthelsdorf near Neustadt and the Kohlberg in Pirna. The Pirna club participated in Rhön competitions. These annual glider meetings at the Wasserkuppe were vital for German glider pilots. World War II halted all sporting aviation activities in Germany.
In 1952, aviation enthusiasts in Pirna reunited. They started building model aircraft and gliders again. A Schulgleiter SG 38 glider was used for flight operations. It suffered severe damage in 1953 during an off-site landing. Flight operations were suspended until the glider was repaired in 1955. During this time, Pirna’s glider pilots used other airfields. These included Riesa-Göhlis and Flugplatz Klix. Basic training occurred on the Elbe meadows.
Their first aircraft was a Lommatzsch FES-530 Lehrmeister. It came from Apparatebau Lommatzsch near Meißen. Uniquely, VEB Entwicklungsbau Pirna was listed as the owner.
Yet, Flugplatz Pirna did not have its own airfield. Initial efforts focused on former airfields like Kohlberg and Triebenberg. The rapid technical advancements in gliding post-war demanded longer towing distances. A minimum of 1200 meters was desirable. Areas with low land values drew attention to the current Flugplatz Pirna location in Pratzschwitz.
The first launch from the new airfield occurred in 1958. The airfield’s final completion took until around 1975. In the early 1970s, glider and powered flight enthusiasts from the Technical University of Dresden joined. Advanced gliders enabled long flights. These flights soared over Saxon Switzerland, Lusatia, and the Ore Mountains. Competitions at district and republic levels became commonplace.
Unfortunately, this progress ended abruptly in 1979. Leadership changes within the Society for Sport and Technology impacted aviation. Following several escapes from East Germany using GST aircraft, many airfields near the border closed. The focus shifted from sport to pre-military training.
Many glider pilots faced a tough choice. They had to choose between flying and family ties in West Germany. Most chose their families. By the mid-1980s, sports aviation gained more freedom.
The “Wende” in 1990 allowed flight sports clubs to become independent. They returned to sport and hobby flying without political interference. The Aeroclub Pirna e. V. was founded that year. Today, the Aeroclub Pirna boasts about 200 members. They operate various gliders and a DR 400 Remorqueuer for scenic flights and towing.
Flugplatz Pirna is conveniently located near Pirna’s city edge. It is accessible via the A17 motorway and the S 177 road. Flight operations run from April to October each weekend. Besides gliding, powered gliding, and powered flight, Flugplatz Pirna-Pratzschwitz hosts model aircraft and paragliding activities.
So, as you stand here at Flugplatz Pirna-Pratzschwitz, imagine the thrill of soaring through the skies. It is a place where aviation history meets modern-day passion, and the dream of flight is alive and well.