RAF Tain
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RAF Tain is a bombing range (formal designation: Air Weapons Range) on the Moray Firth near Tain in Scotland.
The original airfield is abandoned, but still exists within the boundaries of the range. The current station is the largest live bombing range in Europe.[citation needed] It is the only one in Europe where live 1000 lb bombs may be dropped, and is thus crucial to the final certification of bomber pilots. Several World War II airfield buildings in various states of decay can be seen from the road to Inverness and Portmahomack.
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Raf Tain Is now under control of DTE Defence Tranning Estates . The Range has no live bombing it is all done at cape wrath range in the far north west of scotland at durness. The weapons at tain are 3kg and 14 kg Practice bombs and inert 1000lb concrete bombs. The americans drop bdu 50s and some 500lb bombs . The main users ar lossiemouth jets including 15 sqn ocu (operational conversion unit)trainee pilots but they can come from all over uk and beyond. The ocu use Tain to practice various types of attack from loft Dive and level from anthing from 250 feet up to 15000 ft .There are various Bombing Tarbets spread through out the range there is also a straffe pannel and a couple of heli straffe targets. The range is staffed by raf controlers and assistants from vt areospace both of whom also man cape wrath range .There are still some of the old Raf buildings and part of a runway left at Tain but they are all just used by the local farmers now.
