Former Soviet air base 

at Kiltsi, Estonia

This former soviet air force base is situated north the town of Haapsalu in the baltic republic of Estonia. When the baltic countries achieved their freedom in 1991 the Russian - former Soviet - military forces began their withdrawal from the republics. Although it took several years, they are now long gone and all that is left are their old bases. This abandoned air base is one typical example.

Although equipped with only one single runway, it has a classic air base look. Blast shelters for the aircraft, service hangars, fuelling and arming facilities, and various building scattered around the airfield. The buildings are in a terrible shape, mainly because the soviet personnel plundered and vandalized the place before leaving. As good as all metal parts that could be removed were brought along, including radiators and banisters. From some signs at the service facilities we could tell that the aircraft types based here probably were MiG-23:s, NATO codename FLOGGER, or Su-24:s, NATO codename FENCER. The latter was (and is) a very common plane with the Soviet, later Russian air force and navy in the baltic region.


An aircraft shelter and concrete aprons


A service hangar.


A command/control bunker with the runway in the background


Taxiway and refuelling facilities.


The tower.


A sign near the entrance.
Can anybody work out the meaning of the text?
If you can, please send me an e-mail. (I can send you a bigger version of the picture).


This site is administered by Carl Björklund.
Please feel free to send me any comments or questions.
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