RCAF Station Vulcan

RCAF Station Vulcan
Location in Alberta
A jacket patch from RCAF WWII No. 19 SFTS, Service Flying Training School, Vulcan Alberta and manufactured by Crest Craft (Saskatoon), circa 1944

RCAF Station Vulcan, also referred to as RCAF Aerodrome Vulcan, was a Second World War flying training station located southwest of the town of Vulcan, Alberta, Canada. It was one station of many that were established in Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

The Vulcan aerodrome was officially opened on October 30, 1942 and hosted No. 2 Flying Instructor School (FIS), which had moved to Vulcan from Claresholm. The aircraft used were Cornells, Cranes, Fawns, Finches, Harvards, Oxfords, Tiger Moths and Ansons. In April 1943, No. 2 FIS moved to the Pearce aerodrome near Fort Macleod and No. 19 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) took over the facilities, training future bomber pilots using the Anson. No. 19 SFTS ceased operation on April 14, 1945. Relief or auxiliary landing fields were located at Ensign and Champion.

For a period of time the old station operated as the Vulcan Industrial Airport. Although the runways still exist, the aerodrome has seen many aircraft since the war. Six of the original seven hangars remain standing. The remaining hangars are used for storage and for private industrial purposes.Three of the building owners are working to restore their hangars.

In 2009 new ownership began re-invigorating the airport and in 2011 was reopened as Vulcan/Kirkcaldy Aerodrome and is being operated by Wheatland Industries.[1] The aerodrome is currently being used by private aircraft and one commercial operator, Vertical Extreme Skydiving.[2] One of the main runways is being resurfaced.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 24 July 2014 to 0901Z 18 September 2014
  2. ↑ Vertical Extreme Skydiving Retrieved: 2011-03-11


Coordinates: 50°19′55″N 113°21′28″W / 50.33194°N 113.35778°W