Llanbedr Airport


Llanbedr Airport, formerly RAE Llanbedr, is an operational general aviation airport located in the Snowdonia National Park near the village of Llanbedr, Gwynedd, northwest Wales.

History

It opened in 1941 as part of RAF Fighter Command's 12 Group. During its life, the base has been known as:
The site was an operational base for Towed Target, and later, Target Drone services to the UK Armed Forces. Target provision services were typically to the Cardigan Bay Ranges but Llanbedr targets also worked other UK ranges, including the Royal Artillery range off the Hebrides and occasionally overseas.
During the Second World War, RAF Llanbedr was home to thirty-two different RAF Squadrons on rotation who flew a variety of aircraft. The longest serving Squadron was No. 631 Squadron who arrived at Llanbedr in May 1945 from RAF Towyn and stayed until February 1949. The Squadron was re-numbered as No. 20 Squadron RAF.
The following units were here at some point:

Post RAF

From 1957, civilianisation of the base services began with Short Brothers holding a series of contracts until 1979, when Airwork Services took over and held them until 1991. In 1991, contracts and scope of work changed again and FR Serco took over its running.
Secondarily, it served as a Royal Air Force V bomber dispersal airfield, more recently used for military weapons training. The site closed in October 2004. Navigational and ATC equipment was removed by the military and the site put up for sale.
In May 2014 the airport re-opened, catering for the needs of general aviation activities in the area.

Recent events

In recent years, the site has been used for agricultural purposes under the terms of an agreement with the Welsh Government, the current site owners.
It was reported in February 2008 that Welsh Ministers had awarded preferred bidder status for a 125-year lease to the operators of Kemble Airport near Cirencester. In May 2008, the Snowdonia Society, the Brecon Beacons Park Society and the Friends of Pembrokeshire National Park formed an alliance against the development of a new civilian airport at the site without a full public debate "best achieved by making an application for planning permission".
This campaign has been opposed by members of the local population who are in favour of the reuse and redevelopment of the site. A paper-based petition in favour of Kemble's plans for the airfield attracted over a thousand signatures, while an e-petition from the Snowdonia Society received 156.
In December 2008, the Welsh Government gave the go-head for Kemble to take over the airfield, subject to Kemble obtaining the "relevant permissions and consents." In November 2009, the Snowdonia National Park Authority took external legal advice and refused to issue certificates of lawful use to Kemble. In August 2011, a certificate was granted to Llanbedr Airfield Estates for use of the airport to test and develop unmanned aerial vehicles.
In August 2012, permission was granted to turn the airfield into a yard for the dismantling of airliners.
In January 2013 the Welsh Government included the site in the Snowdonia Enterprise Zone.
In June 2014 Fly Llanbedr Limited were awarded their licence to run a flight training and air experience operation from Llanbedr Airfield.
In July 2014 it was named as one of 8 possible locations for the UK spaceport the British government is looking to establish by 2018. The shortlist was reduced to 6 airports in March 2015, with Llanbedr still a candidate.
In June 2015 one of the hangars at Llanbedr Airfield was used for the Red Bull Air Race Barnstorming stunt, where Red Bull Air Race pilots Paul Bonhomme and Steve Jones flew two modified Xtreme Air Sbach XA41's in formation through the hangar itself.
In September 2015 the London Gliding Club based in Dunstable, Bedfordshire held an expedition to the airfield in order to take advantage of the unique soaring opportunities that the Site has to offer, which are often not accessible to soaring gliders originating from inland. In three weeks the club achieved 254 movements, with 436 flying hours recorded.
In September 2016 the London Gliding Club based in Dunstable, Bedfordshire held another expedition to the airfield. In three weeks the club achieved 262 movements, with 455 flying hours recorded.
In October 2018 FlySnowdonia started operating as a flying school from the airfield operating two Robin DR400 aircraft. The airfield is also open to visiting pilots wanting to land but prior permission is required and more information can be found on the FlySnowdonia website.

List of types flown from Llanbedr

Target tug