| RNAS Yeovilton | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: YEO – ICAO: EGDY | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military | ||
| Operator | Royal Navy | ||
| Location | Yeovil | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 75 ft / 23 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Map | |||
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EGDY
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| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 04/22 | 4,797 | 1,462 | Concrete |
| 09/27 | 7,648 | 2,331 | Concrete |
| Radio: Yeovilton Approach - 127.350 (Mhz), Yeovilton Tower - 122.100 (Mhz), Yeovilton Ground - 122.100 (Mhz), Yeovilton Radar - 127.350 (Mhz) | |||
Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, or RNAS Yeovilton, (IATA: YEO, ICAO: EGDY) (HMS Heron) is an airfield of the Royal Navy, sited in South West England a few miles north of Yeovil in Somerset. It is one of two active Fleet Air Arm bases (the other being RNAS Culdrose) and is currently home to the Royal Navy's Lynx helicopters and the Royal Marines Commando Westland Sea Kings.
The site consists of 1,000 acres (1.562 sq mi; 4.047 km2) of airfield sites plus ranges and minor estates. Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton is a large multi-role air station with an annual budget of some £61 million. The airfield is also home to the Fleet Air Arm Museum and the station hosts an annual Air Day.
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In 1938, the potential of the land at Yeovilton for use as an airfield was spotted by Westland Aircraft's chief test pilot Harald Penrose and an offer was made to buy the land. Th owners, however – the Ecclesiastical Commissioners of the Church of England – refused to sell it. In 1939, the Admiralty Air Division commandeered 417 acres (169 ha) of the land and work began on the construction of the site. The runways being completed in 1941 despite problems with poor drainage. A main runway of 3,645 ft (1,111 m) and three subsidiary runways each of 3,000 ft (914 m) had been constructed.[1]
750 Naval Air Squadron was formed at RNAS Ford on 24 May 1939 from the Royal Navy Observer School, but after Ford was bombed early in the war, it moved to RNAS Yeovilton.[2] They were joined by 751 and 752 Squadrons with the Naval Air Fighter School soon following. In addition Westland Aircraft developed a repair facility at the site. From July 1940, the site was subjected to Luftwaffe bombing on several occasions. 794 Naval Air Squadron was the first to be formed at the base and served to train other squadrons to practice aerial gunnery, and part of one of the runways was marked up as a flight deck to practice landing on an aircraft carrier. 827 Naval Air Squadron was also stationed at Yeovilton operating Fairey Albacores and later Barracudas starting in May 1943, becoming the first squadron to receive Barracudas in any substantial number.[1] Several units which were preparing for embarkation were also stationed at the site during the Second World War. Because of pressure on space at the airfield, satellite sites were set up at Charlton Horethorne and Henstridge in 1942. A centre for Air Direction Radar was also established at Speckington Manor on the edge of the airfield.[1]
After the end of the war, Yeovilton became one of the main demobilization centres for the Royal Navy, with many of the men helping to refurbish the runways while they stayed at the base. In 1952, Yeovilton became the shore base for the fleets all-weather fighters. The runways were further extended by Taylor Woodrow in 1952 and 1957 to cope with jet aircraft. In May 1953, it became the headquarters of Flag Officer Flying Training.[3]
During the 1960s, further development work was undertaken, with the School of Fighter Direction returning to the site and the Sea Venoms being replaced by the de Havilland Sea Vixens then in turn by the McDonnell-Douglas Phantom FG.1 as a carrier-borne fighter. The 1970s saw the Flag Officer, Naval Air Command (FONAC), transferring from RNAS Lee-on-Solent. Royal Navy fixed wing operations were phased out, and the Phantoms transferred to the RAF. The base remained as the home of the Commando Helicopter Squadrons, using the Wessex HU.5 and later the Sea King HC.4, and the fixed wing Fleet Requirements and Aircraft Direction Unit (FRADU) and became the main shore base for the Navy's fleet of Sea Harrier FRS.1 (and later, FA.2s). A ski-jump (now removed) was installed to enable practice of ski-jump assisted take-offs.[3]
In July 2006, Sea King HC.4 helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton were deployed to Cyprus on Operation Highbrow to assist with the evacuation of British citizens from Lebanon.[4] Following the closure of RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey) in 1999, HMS Heron became the main shore base for the Lynx fleet.[3]
It is home to Royal Navy (RN) Lynx helicopters and RN Commando Helicopter Force and until April 2006 BAE Sea Harrier FA2s. RNAS Yeovilton operates over 100 aircraft of four different types and is manned by around 1675 service and 2000 civilian personnel including MoD employees and permanent contractors. Training of aircrew and engineers of resident aircraft types is also carried out at Yeovilton. It is also the location for the RN Fighter Controller School, training surface based aircraft controllers.
During periods of busy flying training, pressure on the Yeovilton circuit is relieved by the use of RNAS Merryfield, nearby.
FA2 Sea Harriers are no longer present, 800 Naval Air Squadron, 801 Naval Air Squadron and 899 Naval Air Squadron have disbanded and are now operating RAF GR7/GR9 aircraft until the replacement F-35C Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft now termed the Joint Combat Aircraft is due to enter service in 2012 (although the latter date is likely to be delayed).
The station holds an annual airshow when the airfield is open to the public. It includes both a flying and static aircraft display.
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