As war approached in the late 1930s, the government felt that the concentration of aviation industry and activity within
Riga was too great (and vulnerable to bombardment from the sea) and made plans for a large facility about 35 km to the east, in Ropazi.
The plans included workshops (for VEF and, potentially, other manufacturers), hangars and a large airfield.
The outbreak of war ended this project almost before it began.
