Woensdrecht Air Base

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Woensdrecht Air Base
IATA: WOE - ICAO: EHWO
Summary
Airport type		Military
Operator		Royal Dutch Air Force
Serves		Woensdrecht
Elevation AMSL		ft ( m)
Coordinates		51°26′95″N, 004°20′52″E
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
07/25	8,005	2,440	Concrete/Asphalt

Woensdrecht Air Base (Dutch: Vliegbasis Woensdrecht) is a military airport located near Woensdrecht in the south of the Netherlands.

The airport was founded in 1934 as a glider and training airfield for the Royal Dutch Air Force. During German occupation in the Second World War, the airfield was expanded. After the war, it was used once again by the Royal Dutch Air Force for training purposes. In 1983 it was decided that Woensdrecht would house 48 cruise missiles fitted with nuclear warheads for the 486 tactical missile wing from the United States Air Force. However, just after completion of the required facilities, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty put a halt to these plans.

The airport currently has one runway, 07/25, which is 2,440 meters (8,005 feet) long. It is now mainly used by the Royal Dutch Air Force as a training and logistical base and normally does not house any combat units. It has one civilian user, Fokker Services, a company providing maintenance for primarily but not exclusively Fokker aircraft, the Fokker 50, Fokker 60 and Fokker 70 also being in use by the Royal Dutch Air Force and government. Because of the presence of Fokker Services, a large number of Fokker aircraft is usually present at the airfield. The Royal Dutch Air Force mainly operates the Pilatus PC-7 for training.