Boscombe Down
From Air Cadet Central Wiki
MoD Boscombe Down (IATA: N/A, ICAO: EGDM) is an aircraft testing site located south of Amesbury, Wiltshire. It is run and managed by QinetiQ, the Public-private partnershipcompany created as part of the break up of DERA in 2001 by the UK Ministry of Defence.
Formerly the Aircraft and Armament Evaluation Establishment (A&AEE) - previously the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment - the site has witnessed many significant developments in the British aviation industry including trials of many aircraft flown by the British armed forces since World War II notably the first flights of the English Electric P1 forerunner of the English Electric Lightning and the BAC TSR.2. It was also formerly home to the School of Aviation Medicine. Responsibility for the site passed from the MoD Procurement Executive to the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation (DTEO) in 1993, and subsequently to the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency in 1995.
With the creation of QinetiQ in 2001 Boscombe Down was handed over on a 25 year Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA) with responsibility for testing all future MoD aircraft. There are still military personnel stationed at Boscombe Down who work with QinetiQ as part of the testing and development processes, including flying the aircraft themselves.
The site has two runways, one approximately three kilometres in length and the second 1.8 kilometres, and is located at 51.155 N, 1.750 W. It is also currently home to 2 AEF and the Southampton University Air Squadron [1] and Empire Test Pilots School [2].
Boscombe Down has been associated with rumours concerning US black projects. One notable incident is reported to have occurred there in 1994, although evidence is patchy and very unreliable. [3].
Main Units
The main units of Boscombe Down are:
- Royal Air Force Support Unit (RAFSU) , Provides quality administrative, organisational, security, medical and welfare support to Service personnel on the strength of parented organisations.
- Joint Test and Evaluation Group (JTEG) , a Strike Command unit. A tri-service organisation whose personnel carry out essential trials functions that satisfy the military imperative. Testing of all aircraft types is conducted under the control of the Fast Jet Test Squadron, Heavy Aircraft Test Squadron and the Rotary Wing Test Squadron.
- Directorate of Flying , provides the regulatory authority and operational and flight safety arrangements for the UK military registered aircraft involved in Test & Evaluation.
- Empire Test Pilot School (ETPS) . The Test Pilots School formed in 1943 and renamed ETPS in 1968 Boscombe Down remains the home of the distinguished Test Pilots School . Since its inception many famous names have passed through the course and today it attracts Test Pilots from around the world.
- RAF Handling Squadron . The Squadron reports directly to Director Joint Capability in MoD and provides advice on the normal and emergency handling procedures for the aircraft of the 3 services. The Squadron produces and is the delegated Publication Authority for some 250 publications principally Aircrew Manuals and Flight Reference Cards.
- Harrier Software Maintenance Unit (HSMU) , provides support to the Mission Computer Operational Flight Program used by the RAF's Harrier GR7 and T10 aircraft.
- Tornado In-Service Software Maintenance Unit (TISMT) . Formed in the early 1980's to support the operational software of the Tornado IDS navigation and attack system.
- Southampton University Air Squadron (SUAS) . Formed in 1941 under the Oxford Wing to provide pre service training to undergraduates destined for the RAF. Membership comprises of a cross section of society with the common theme of academic achievement.
- Material Flow Project Team (MFPT) . Part of the Defence Logistics Organisation formed in 2002. The team is tasked to introduce a step change to the flow of material through the supply chain.
