Woomera Airfield
Encyclopedia
RAAF Woomera Airfield is an operational Royal Australian Air Force airfield located 4 km north of the Woomera
Defence Village, in South Australia
. Operational management of the airfield (and its satellite airfield "Evetts Field") is under the command and control of Headquarters, RAAF Woomera Test Range (which is located approximately 450 km south-east of Woomera, at RAAF Base Edinburgh near Adelaide). The airfield is an integral part of the aerospace test and evaluation role the RAAF Woomera Test Range provides for Australia. There are full time operational staff at Woomera supporting airfield operations, but access to the field is controlled through HQ WTR in Adelaide.
Normally, civilian aircraft are not given permission to use the airfield unless such use is related to Defence activities at Woomera. Full airfield details and points of contact are contained in the En-Route Supplement Australia (ERSA).
RAAF Woomera is able to operate all current types of aircraft used by the ADF, including C-17 Globemasters and all fast-jet types. The airfield can be fitted with an arrestor cable system when required to bring it to normal RAAF operating standards for FA-18 Hornet operations.
The airfield is also well able to handle larger aircraft types such as the C-5 Galaxy and Boeing 747. Large aircraft movements occur often at Woomera in support of ADF test and evaluation activities on the Range.
in early 1947.
The first aircraft (two DC-3s) to use the field, landed at Woomera on 4 July 1947.
Woomera, South Australia
The town, or village, of Woomera is located in the south east corner of the Woomera Prohibited Area ; colloquially known as the Woomera Rocket Range...
Defence Village, in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. Operational management of the airfield (and its satellite airfield "Evetts Field") is under the command and control of Headquarters, RAAF Woomera Test Range (which is located approximately 450 km south-east of Woomera, at RAAF Base Edinburgh near Adelaide). The airfield is an integral part of the aerospace test and evaluation role the RAAF Woomera Test Range provides for Australia. There are full time operational staff at Woomera supporting airfield operations, but access to the field is controlled through HQ WTR in Adelaide.
Normally, civilian aircraft are not given permission to use the airfield unless such use is related to Defence activities at Woomera. Full airfield details and points of contact are contained in the En-Route Supplement Australia (ERSA).
RAAF Woomera is able to operate all current types of aircraft used by the ADF, including C-17 Globemasters and all fast-jet types. The airfield can be fitted with an arrestor cable system when required to bring it to normal RAAF operating standards for FA-18 Hornet operations.
The airfield is also well able to handle larger aircraft types such as the C-5 Galaxy and Boeing 747. Large aircraft movements occur often at Woomera in support of ADF test and evaluation activities on the Range.
Historical
The centre line of the airfield was surveyed by Len BeadellLen Beadell
Leonard Beadell OAM BEM FIEMS was a surveyor, roadbuilder , bushman, artist and author, responsible for opening up the last remaining isolated desert areas of central Australia from 1947 to 1963. Len is sometimes called "the last true Australian explorer"...
in early 1947.
The first aircraft (two DC-3s) to use the field, landed at Woomera on 4 July 1947.
External links
- Blast from the Past - New article on the Woomera Test Range from the Adelaide Adertiser 25 July 2009