Châteaudun Aerodrome

The air base was created in 1934 near the site of a World War 1 munitions depot. In 1937 it was expanded significantly as a centre to fit arms and ammunition to aircraft received from various manufacturers. From Jun 1940, it was occupied by the Luftwaffe. From Sep 1945 repairs to war damage were made and the base was recommissioned as the Armee de lAir major storage facility.

Armee de lAir BA279 was closed on 2 Jul 2014 and a small care and maintenance team remained, as EAR279; the base stored c 200 out of service aircraft. In 2018 it was announced that the base would close in Jul 2021, while the local community and industry has been looking to secure the future of the site.

A number of schemes could occupy parts of the site, including a small general aviation facility using part of the runway, the development of an aviation museum, a hydrogen power research area and EDF plans a photovoltaic production plant.