Benbecula (Balivanich)
Did you know?
"Two of Benbecula’s hangars were moved to Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands in 1949 and resided there as a noted local landmark for many years afterwards.
"Also known as: | Balivanich Aerodrome / Balivanich Airport / Benbecula Aerodrome / Benbecula Airport / RAF Benbecula / RAF Station, Benbecula |
County: | Western Isles |
Current Status: | Aviation |
Date: | Opened March 1936 |
Current Use: | Active |
Used By: | RAF / RAF (Polish) / Civil / RAAF |
Landing Surface Types: | Unpaved, later paved |
Aircraft Roles: | Airliner (main role) / Air-sea rescue / General aviation / Maritime patrol (main role) / Naval aviation |
The following organisations are either based at, use and/or have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield (as at 01/07/2013):
- An Radio
- Benbecula Community Council
- Benbecula Historical Society
- Car Hire Hebrides
- Custom Prints
- Highlands and Islands Airports Limited - operator
- QinetiQ - Hebrides
- Verisimilitude
Main unit(s) present:
- No 36 Sqn
- No 179 Sqn
- No 206 Sqn
- No 220 Sqn
- No 279 Sqn
- No 280 Sqn
- No 304 Sqn
- No 455 Sqn
- No 814 Sqn
- No 819 Sqn
- No 838 Sqn
- No 842 Sqn
- No 2841 Sqn RAF Regiment
- BEA
- British Airways
- Flybe
- Greylag GC
- Loganair
- Northern and Scottish Airways
- Scottish Airways
Benbecula's airfield runway is extended, 1957. Courtesy of British Pathé
Footage of Benbecula in the 1980s. Courtesy of HuntleyFilmArchives