RAF Silverstone

RAF Silverstone
RAF Silverstone in 1945.
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Location	Near Silverstone, Northamptonshire/Buckinghamshire
Built	1942 (1942)
In use	1943-1947 (1947)
Elevation AMSL	512 ft / 156 m
Coordinates	52°04′19″N 001°00′44″W
Map
RAF Silverstone Location on the Bucks/Northants border
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 02/20 5,487 1,672 Asphalt 06/24 3,840 1,170 Asphalt 14/32 3,567 1,087 Asphalt

Royal Air Force Silverstone or more simply RAF Silverstone is a former Royal Air Force (RAF) station, built during the Second World War, and used by the RAF from 1943 until 1947. It straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border 10 miles (16 km) south west of Northampton, and is named after the nearby village of Silverstone.

In 1948 the Royal Automobile Club hosted the first British Grand Prix at this location, and the site is now a racing circuit known simply as 'Silverstone'.

RAF use 1943–1947

The station was the base for No. 17 Operational Training Unit RAF operating the Vickers Wellington bomber.

Since 1948

Today the airfield is a major racing circuit known as Silverstone. Private aircraft and helicopters have continued to use this location, particularly in 2009 for the World Aerobatic Championships, but mostly it is now helicopters in connection with motor racing events. The airfield's three runways, in a standard World War II era triangle, lie within the outline of the classic racetrack, but have either been removed, or re-purposed and are no longer available as dedicated runways. In 2010 the main straight between turn 5 and turn 6, following the line of one of the runways, was renamed the 'Wellington Straight'.

The circuit is also home to the Silverstone Heliport.

See also

• List of former Royal Air Force stations

References

• Sturtivant, Ray (2007). RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912. Air-Britain. ISBN 0-85130 365 X.