| Tel Nof Israeli Air Force Base | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: none – ICAO: LLEK | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military | ||
| Operator | Israeli Air Force | ||
| Location | Rehovot | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 193 ft / 59 m | ||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 15R/33L | 7,835 | 2,388 | Asphalt |
| 15L/33R | 7,830 | 2,387 | Asphalt |
| 00/18 | 9,022 | 2,750 | Asphalt |
| 09/27 | 6,004 | 1,830 | |
Tel Nof Israeli Air Force (ICAO: LLEK), also known as Air Force Base 8, is one of three principal airbases of the Israeli Air Force. Tel Nof is located near Rehovot, Israel.
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Tel Nof was founded during the British Mandate as RAF Aqir and served as the main Royal Air Force station in Palestine. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, it was known as Ekron Airbase.
Today Tel Nof houses several fighter and helicopter squadrons. Several special units of the Israel Defense Forces are also based there, including Unit 669 (airborne combat search and rescue) and the paratroopers training center. Tel Nof housed the IAF flight academy until April 1966 when it was moved to Hatzerim Airbase. It is rumored that Israeli nuclear weapons are stored in or around the Tel Nof Airbase.[1]
In June 2011, it was reported that eight American jet engines for F-15 and F-16 fighters had been stolen from the base.[2]
On October 18, 2011, Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who had been held captive by Hamas in Gaza for over five years and four months, returned to Israel via Tel Nof airbase as part of a deal to exchange Shalit for 1,027 prisoners.[3]
Operational units of the Royal Air Force stationed at RAF Aqir from 1941 to 1948.
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