RAF Machrihanish
|
|
RAF Machrihanish is a former Royal Air Force station three miles (5 km) from the town of Campbeltown at the tip of Kintyre.
Millions of pounds were spent upgrading the base during the 1980s. While speculation regarding the base suggests its use in USAF black projects, an answer to Parliament in 2004 reveals that the base was handed over by the US Navy back to Ministry of Defence control on June 30 1995. The alignment of the runway and the length (3.049km), the second longest in the UK, have increased speculation that it was a testing ground for the F-117 or the Aurora. A less interesting possibilty is that this was simply necessary for the declared purpose of the site, a dispersal airfield for the V-bombers and an emergency landing site for P-3 Orions.
The base is now on what is termed "Care and Maintenance." This effectively allows the airfield to be used by civilian airlines, which may conduct scheduled and charter flights from the aerodrome. The civilian operating companies are responsible for the up-keep of the aerodrome, which may sometimes be used by an RAF or Army detachment whilst on exercise. During times of conflict / national emergency, the aerodrome would revert to its intended military use. The aerodrome has one of the longest runways in the United Kingdom, only shorter than RAF Boscombe Down.
RAF Machrihanish is now known as Campbeltown Airport and is used by Loganair for flights to Glasgow International Airport.