RAF Tain
Encyclopedia
RAF Tain is a Ministry of Defence
air weapons range on the Moray Firth
near Tain
in Scotland
. Royal Air Force
aircrews from RAF Lossiemouth
and RAF Leuchars
are trained in air weaponry on the range, along with NATO aircrew.
and Portmahomack
.
RAF Tain is now under the control of DTE (Defence Training Estates). The range has no live bombing as it is all done at the Cape Wrath range in the far northwest of Scotland at Durness. The weapons at Tain are 3 kilograms (6.6 lb) and 14 kilograms (30.9 lb) practice bombs and inert 1000lb concrete bombs. The Americans drop BDU 39 and 50s and some inert 500 pounds (226.8 kg) bombs. Trainee pilots of No. 15 Squadron OCU (Operational Conversion Unit from RAF Lossiemouth
make use of the range, and it is available to aircrews from across the United Kingdom. The OCU use Tain to practice various types of attack from loft, dive and level from 250 feet (76.2 m) up to 15000 feet (4,572 m). It is also an important range for UK Forward Air Controllers and there NATO counterparts to maintain their air weapons qualifications.
There are various bombing targets spread throughout the range, including strafe targets. The range is staffed by RAF controllers and assistants from VT Aerospace, both of whom also man the Cape Wrath
range.
As a Royal Naval Air Station, it was also known as RNAS Tain.
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
air weapons range on the Moray Firth
Moray Firth
The Moray Firth is a roughly triangular inlet of the North Sea, north and east of Inverness, which is in the Highland council area of north of Scotland...
near Tain
Tain
Tain is a royal burgh and post town in the committee area of Ross and Cromarty, in the Highland area of Scotland.-Etymology:...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
aircrews from RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth is a Royal Air Force station to the west of the town of Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. It is one of the RAF's biggest bases and is currently Britain's main base for Tornado GR4s. From 2013 the Northern QRA force of Typhoon F2 will relocate to Lossiemouth following the closure of...
and RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. It is located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, near to the university town of St Andrews.-Operations:...
are trained in air weaponry on the range, along with NATO aircrew.
Facilities
The original airfield is no longer in operation, but still exists within the boundaries of the range. The current station is the largest live weapons range in the Defence Training Estates. It is one of only three ranges in Europe where live 1000 pounds (453.6 kg) bombs may be dropped (the others are Cape Wrath (RN) and Otterburn (Army)), and is thus crucial to the final certification of bomber pilots. Several Second World War airfield buildings in various states of decay can be seen from the road to InvernessInverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
and Portmahomack
Portmahomack
Portmahomack is a small fishing village in Easter Ross, Scotland. It is situated in the Tarbat Peninsula in the parish of Tarbat. Tarbat Ness Lighthouse is about three miles from the village at the end of the Tarbat Peninsula. Ballone Castle lies about a mile from the village...
.
RAF Tain is now under the control of DTE (Defence Training Estates). The range has no live bombing as it is all done at the Cape Wrath range in the far northwest of Scotland at Durness. The weapons at Tain are 3 kilograms (6.6 lb) and 14 kilograms (30.9 lb) practice bombs and inert 1000lb concrete bombs. The Americans drop BDU 39 and 50s and some inert 500 pounds (226.8 kg) bombs. Trainee pilots of No. 15 Squadron OCU (Operational Conversion Unit from RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth is a Royal Air Force station to the west of the town of Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. It is one of the RAF's biggest bases and is currently Britain's main base for Tornado GR4s. From 2013 the Northern QRA force of Typhoon F2 will relocate to Lossiemouth following the closure of...
make use of the range, and it is available to aircrews from across the United Kingdom. The OCU use Tain to practice various types of attack from loft, dive and level from 250 feet (76.2 m) up to 15000 feet (4,572 m). It is also an important range for UK Forward Air Controllers and there NATO counterparts to maintain their air weapons qualifications.
There are various bombing targets spread throughout the range, including strafe targets. The range is staffed by RAF controllers and assistants from VT Aerospace, both of whom also man the Cape Wrath
Cape Wrath
Cape Wrath is a cape in Sutherland, Highland, in northern Scotland. It is the most northwesterly point on the island of Great Britain. The land between the Kyle of Durness and the lighthouse that is situated right at the tip, is known as the Parph, two hundred and seven square kilometers of...
range.
As a Royal Naval Air Station, it was also known as RNAS Tain.