Edinburgh Airport
Early RFC aerodrome, RAF Turnhouse, historically Britain's most northerly air defence base.
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Edinburgh Airport, Turnhouse Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH12 9DN
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Turnhouse Aerodrome was the most northerly British air defence until World War II. Opened in 1915, its grass strip was home for the DH 9As, Westland Wapitis, Hawker Harts, and Hawker Hind light bombers for 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron. Its location alongside the East Coast railway line allowed aircraft to be shipped in crates for on-site assembly. Ownership was transferred to the Ministry of Defence in 1918 and the aerodrome became RAF Turnhouse. When World War II broke out, fighter command took control over the airfield and constructed a of 1.2 km (3,900ft) concrete runway. 603 Squadron, flying Supermarine Spitfires, were joined by another six squadrons from 1940.
In 1947, British European Airways started a service between Edinburgh and London using Vickers Vikings, with the airfield now permitted to handle non-military flights. In 1952 the runway was lengthened to 1.8 km (6,000 ft), to permit operation of Vampire FB5s and a new passenger terminal was constructed four years later, to be further extended in 1960.
Ownership of the airfield was transferred to the Ministry of Aviation later that year and British Airports Authority took over the airport in 1971, immediately constructing a new terminal building, with a second runway of 2.6 km (8,400 ft) completed in 1977. The old terminal and hangars were converted into a cargo centre. A new 57 m (187 ft) high air traffic control tower was completed in 2005 and a further extension of the passenger terminal was completed in 2006.
By road: On A8 Glasgow Road, close to the M8 and M9 motorways.
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Battle of Britain - 13 Group Stations
RAF Turnhouse - Images of the disused RAF base
Secret Scotland - RAF Turnhouse