Benbecula (Balivanich)
Major
Did you know?
"Two of Benbecula’s hangars were moved to Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands in 1949 and resided there as a noted local landmark for many years afterwards.
"| Also known as: | Balivanich Aerodrome / Balivanich Airport / Benbecula Aerodrome / Benbecula Airport / RAF Benbecula / RAF Station, Benbecula |
| County: | Western Isles |
| Current Status: | Aviation |
| Date: | Opened March 1936 |
| Current Use: | Active |
| Used By: | RAF / RAF (Polish) / Civil / RAAF |
| Landing Surface Types: | Unpaved, later paved |
| Aircraft Roles: | Airliner (main role) / Air-sea rescue / General aviation / Maritime patrol (main role) / Naval aviation |
The following organisations are either based at, use and/or have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield (as at 01/07/2013):
- An Radio
- Benbecula Community Council
- Benbecula Historical Society
- Car Hire Hebrides
- Custom Prints
- Highlands and Islands Airports Limited - operator
- QinetiQ - Hebrides
- Verisimilitude
Main unit(s) present:
- No 36 Sqn
- No 179 Sqn
- No 206 Sqn
- No 220 Sqn
- No 279 Sqn
- No 280 Sqn
- No 304 Sqn
- No 455 Sqn
- No 814 Sqn
- No 819 Sqn
- No 838 Sqn
- No 841 Defence Sqn
- No 842 Sqn
- No 2841 Sqn RAF Regiment
- BEA
- British Airways
- Flybe
- Greylag GC
- Loganair
- Northern and Scottish Airways
- Scottish Airways
- Station Flight, Benbecula
The runway at Benbecula, 1 July 2007.
The runway at Benbecula, 20 July 2011.
The control tower at Benbecula, 31 July 2012.
Benbecula's airfield runway is extended, 1957. Courtesy of British Pathé
Footage of Benbecula in the 1980s. Courtesy of HuntleyFilmArchives