RAF Ahlhorn
Royal Air Force Ahlhorn or more simply RAF Ahlhorn, is a former Royal Air Force station located south east of the centre of Ahlhorn, Lower Saxony and north of Vechta, Lower Saxony, Germany Originally, it was a German airbase for Zeppelins. The Royal Air Force (RAF) disestablished the station and it was closed down in the autumn of 1958 and was transferred to the Bundeswehr. It was a private airport before being converted to a solar park in 2011. History. First World War. Built during the summer of 1915 for Zeppelins four large hangars were built. In two  pairs, the hangers measured in length, in width and in height. The hangers were name "Albrecht" and "Aladin" (northern pair), and "Alrun" and "Alix" (southern pair). On 5 January 1918 Ahlhorn hangars explosion that destroyed the "LZ 87" (L 47), "LZ 94" (L 46), "LZ 97" (L 51), "LZ 105" (L 58), and SL 20. Fifteen killed, 134 injured. Second World War and beyond. During the Second World War the airfield was used as an Advanced Landing Ground before becoming a permanent RAF station. Current use. Jagdgeschwader 73 was formed at Ahlhorn and Oldenburg on 1 April 1959. Jagdgeschwader 71  of the German Air Force were to take residence from June 1959 with 50 Canadair Sabres, Germany's first operational jet fighter unit. They remained at Ahlhorn until 1961. Solarpark Ahlhorn. From 2005 the Aircraft Maintenance Service GmbH provided services on widebody aircraft but the company went bankrupt in 2009. A number of solar panels were installed on most of the airfield converting it into Solarpark Ahlhorn. Opening in 2011 the solar panels provide, 17.5 MW. There is only one airstrip in use.