RAF Silverstone

RAF Silverstone
Silverstone, Northamptonshire in England
RAF Silverstone in 1945.
RAF Silverstone Shown within Northamptonshire Show map of Northamptonshire RAF Silverstone RAF Silverstone (the United Kingdom) Show map of the United Kingdom
Coordinates	52°04′19″N 001°00′44″W
Type	Royal Air Force station
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Controlled by	RAF Bomber Command
Site history
Built	1942 (1942)
In use	1943-1947 (1947)
Battles/wars	European theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation	156 metres (512 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 02/20 1,672 metres (5,486 ft) Asphalt 06/24 1,170 metres (3,839 ft) Asphalt 14/32 1,087 metres (3,566 ft) Asphalt

Royal Air Force Silverstone or more simply RAF Silverstone is a former Royal Air Force (RAF) station, built during the Second World War, and used by the RAF from 1943 until 1947. It straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border 10 miles (16 km) south west of Northampton, and is named after the nearby village of Silverstone.

In 1948 the Royal Automobile Club hosted the first British Grand Prix at this location, and the site is now a racing circuit known simply as 'Silverstone'.

RAF use 1943–1947

The station was the base for No. 17 Operational Training Unit RAF operating the Vickers Wellington bomber.[1][2]

Since 1948

Today the airfield is a major racing circuit known as Silverstone.[3] Private aircraft and helicopters have continued to use this location, particularly in 2009 for the World Aerobatic Championships,[4][5] but mostly it is now helicopters in connection with motor racing events. The airfield's three runways, in a standard World War II era triangle, lie within the outline of the classic racetrack, but have either been removed, or re-purposed and are no longer available as dedicated runways. In 2010 the main straight between turn 5 and turn 6, following the line of one of the runways, was renamed the 'Wellington Straight'.[6][7][8]

The circuit is also home to the Silverstone Heliport.

See also

• List of former Royal Air Force stations

References

1. Sturtivant 2007, pp. 198-206
2. "Silverstone". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
3. "Our History". Silverstone.co.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
4. "World Aerobatic Championship Concludes In Great Britain". International Aerobatic Club (iac.org). Retrieved 19 September 2024.
5. "25th FAI World Aerobatic Championships 2009, Silverstone (Final Day)". Flightline UK (airshows.org.uk). Retrieved 19 September 2024.
6. "Silverstone unveils new GP layout". 29 April 2010.
7. "What's in a name? The history behind Silverstone's iconic corners". formula1.com. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
8. "Silverstone Circuit: Guide to F1 track - including corner names and history". Motorsport Network (autosport.com). Retrieved 19 September 2024.

• Sturtivant, Ray (2007). RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912. Air-Britain. ISBN 0-85130 365 X.