| RAAF Woomera Airfield RAAF Base Woomera |
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|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: UMR – ICAO: YPWR | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military | ||
| Owner | Aerospace Operational Support Group, DoD | ||
| Operator | RAAF | ||
| Serves | RAAF Woomera Test Range | ||
| Location | Woomera, South Australia | ||
| Built | 1947 | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 548 ft / 167 m | ||
| Coordinates | 31°08′39″S 136°49′01″E / 31.14417°S 136.81694°ECoordinates: 31°08′39″S 136°49′01″E / 31.14417°S 136.81694°E | ||
| Map | |||
 YPWR
|
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| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| m | ft | ||
| 12/30 | 1,614 | 5,295 | Gravel |
| 18/36 | 2,372 | 7,782 | Asphalt |
| Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart[1] | |||
RAAF Woomera Airfield (IATA: UMR, ICAO: YPWR) is an operational Royal Australian Air Force airfield located 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) north[1] 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, Woomera Test Range (which is located approximately 450 km (280 mi) 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 (WTR) provides for Australia. There are full-time operational staff at Woomera supporting airfield operations, but access to the field is controlled through the WTR headquarters in Adelaide.
Normally, civilian aircraft are not given permission to use the airfield unless such use is related to Defence activities at Woomera.
RAAF Woomera is able to operate all current types of aircraft used by the Australian Defence Forces (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.
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Historical [edit]
The centre line of the airfield was surveyed by Len Beadell in early 1947.[2]
The first aircraft (two DC-3s) to use the field, landed at Woomera on 4 July 1947.[3]
The control tower at RAAF Base Woomera originally came from RAAF Base Uranquinty, New South Wales. The tower was disassembled by No. 2 Airfield Construction Squadron in the late 1940s and shipped to Woomera where it was re-erected and reopened in the early 1950s. It is still active at RAAF Woomera and is likely to remain so for many years to come.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b YPWR – Woomera (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 7 March 2013, Aeronautical Chart
- ^ Beadell, Len (1975). Still in the Bush. Rigby Limited,Adelaide. ISBN 0-7270-0020-9.
- ^ Source: Fire Across the Desert Peter Morton (AGPS) page 117.
External links [edit]
- RAAF Base Woomera museum
- Blast from the Past - News article on the Woomera Test Range from the Adelaide Adertiser 25 July 2009
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