Satellite and aerial maps of Boscombe Down with nearby locations
Toggle Map
Nearby locations | Km | Bearing | |
---|---|---|---|
Solstice Park , England | 2.8 | 350 | |
Newton Tony , England | 4.0 | 069 | |
Porton , England | 4.3 | 121 | |
Bulford Camp , England | 4.6 | 009 | |
Winterbourne Gunner , England | 4.7 | 174 | |
Old Sarum , England | 6.5 | 203 | EGLS |
Boscombe Down |
1917 to present | ||
51° 9' 8'' N 1° 44' 50'' W | ||
1.5nm SE of Amesbury, Wiltshire, Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, England | ||
ICAO: EGDM | IATA: | |
Elevation: 407 feet |
Opened briefly in World War I but was closed by 1919. In the pre-WWII expansion, it was re-opened as an RAF base in 1930. At the outbreak of WWII, the Aircraft & Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) was moved here from its more vulnerable site near the East Coast at Martlesham Heath. Almost every production aircraft for the British forces passed through Boscombe Down prior to delivery to units. A Test Pilot school was formed in 1943, to become the Empire Test Pilot School (ETPS) in 1944.
Test flying became the major function of this base and after WWII, it became a UK Government airfield (rather than an RAF one). Like Fleetlands, the arrangements for managing the site have evolved. The A&AEE became DTEO and it then joined with DRA to become the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) in Apr 1995. DERA spilt into a commercial arm (QinetiQ) and a government agency (DSTL) in Jul 2001.
List of units at Boscombe Down |
Years | Unit | |
---|---|---|
2018- | 744 NAS | |
1995/01 | Defence Evaluation and Research Agency | |
1992/93 | 826 NAS | Sea King, Sea King, |
1992- | A&AEE | |
1968- | ETPS | |
1943/45 | ETPS | |
1939/92 | Aeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment | |
??/12 | BDAC | Type 171 Sycamore, Wasp, |
Boscombe Down News |
Merlin Crowsnest AEW Delayed
20-Jul-20 - The Royal Navy new Airborne Early Warning (AEW) Merlin Crowsnest helicopter for the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers is now expected to reach initial operational capability (IOC) in September 2021 #CrowsnestRoyal Navy Reactivates 744 Squadron for Crowsnet Merlin
28-Nov-18 - Royal Navy’ 744 Naval Air Squadron was reactivated at Boscombe Down to introduce the new fleet AEW platform, Crowsnest Merlin, to front-line service over the next 18 months plus the RAF’s upgraded Chinook Mk5s and Mk6s #744NASQinetiQ H125 Arrived at Boscombe Down ETPS
23-Mar-18 - QinetiQ’s first H125 / AS350B3e in the new UK MoD Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) livery arrived at MoD Boscombe DownLynx / Sea Venom Missile Compatibility Test
05-Apr-17 - QinetiQ and the Royal Navy conducted trials at Boscombe Down between a Lynx Mk8 helicopter and the MBDA Sea Venom/ANL anti-ship missileQinetiQ Orders 4 H125 for UK MoD ETPS
01-Mar-17 - QinetiQ ordered 4 Garmin G500-equipped H125 / AS350B3e helicopters to replace the Gazelle in use by the UK MoD’s Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS) from 2019Cobham Bell 412 Support for QinetiQ
02-Jun-16 - Cobham sign contract to provide Helicopter support to the UK Empire Test Pilots’ School and Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron. A Bell 412 Griffin HAR.2 will be based at MOD Boscombe DownModified Boeing Chinook Mk3 Completes 1st Test Flight
07-Jul-09 - UK Chinook Mk3 helicopter completed its first test flight Boscombe Down facility during the flight testing and evaluation phase of the Mk3 reversion program. List of aircraft and events at Boscombe Down |
By Date | By Serial | By Model
Dates | Org/Type | Unit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1951-oct | Trials | Ministry of Defence (MoD) | Skeeter 3 | WF113 | |||
1953-mar | Trials | Aeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment | Skeeter 3 | WF113 | |||
1953-mar | Trials | Aeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment | Skeeter 4 | WF114 | |||
1954-mar | Trials | Aeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment | Skeeter 5 | XG303 | |||
1954-mar-27 | Trials | Aeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment | HAR.1 | XA863 | |||
1954-sep | RAF | HAR.4 | XD164 | ||||
1955-aug | Trials | Skeeter 6 | XJ355 | ||||
1956-jun-21 | Accident | Aeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment | Skeeter 6 | XK773 | |||
1957-jun | Trials | Aeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment | HAS7 | XK906 | |||
1957-oct-17 | Trials | Aeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment | HAR.1 | XA864 | |||
1958-jan-04 | Accident | Aeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment | Sycamore 3 | WT939 | |||
1959-jun-15 | RAF | HC.4 | XB252 | ||||
1961-dec-07 | RAF | HC.4 | XB251 | ||||
1963-feb-27 | Accident | RAF | Sycamore 4 | XJ919 | |||
1965-may | Royal Aerospace Establishment | HAS.3 | XT255 | ||||
1965-sep | Aeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment | Wasp | XT414 | ||||
1965-nov-03 | Accident | Aeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment | Sycamore 4 | XE308 | |||
1966-aug-07 | RAF | Type 192 Belvedere | XG447 | ||||
1967 | RN | HAS.1 | XM834 | ||||
1968-oct | Aeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment /D | HU.5 | XS482 | ||||
1970 | RN | HAS.1 | XV651 | ||||
1971-mar-19 | ETPS | AH.1 | XP165 | ||||
1971-mar-19 | RAF | HAR.4 | XJ409 | ||||
1971-mar-19 | RN | HAS.1 | XV651 | ||||
1971-mar-19 | RN | HAS.3 | XT256 | ||||
1971-mar-19 | RN | HAS7 | XG589 | ||||
1971-mar-19 | RAF | HC.2 | XS679 | ||||
1971-mar-19 | ATS /CW | SA330E | XW201 | ||||
1974 | Dump | RN | HAS7 | XG589 | |||
1979 | RAF | SA330E | XW214 | ||||
1981-mar | RAF | SA330E | XW214 | ||||
1981-oct | G I AIrframe | RN | HAS7 | XL898 | |||
1986 | ETPS RWS | ETPS | AH.1 | XP849 | |||
1990-jun-09 | CH-47C | ZA718 | |||||
1990-jun-09 | USMC | CH-53E | 161988 | ||||
1990-jun-09 | HAS.1 | XV714 | |||||
1990-jun-09 | Ministry of Defence (MoD) | HT.3 | XZ936 | ||||
1990-jun-09 | RAF | HT.3 | XZ935 | ||||
1992 | Ministry of Defence (MoD) | AH7 | ZD560 | ||||
1992 | ETPS | HT.2 | XZ939 | ||||
1992-jun-01 | HC.2 | XT601 | |||||
1992-jun-12 | HC.2 | XS679 / WG | |||||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | 299 Squadron | 105CB | B-67 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | HFWS | 105M | 80+03 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | HFWS | 105P | 86+06 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | 206L-1 | G-OSIB | ||||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | 664 Squadron | AH.1 | XZ347 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | HFWS | CH-53G | 84+10 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | HFR25 | CH-53G | 85+08 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | 202 Squadron | HAR.3 | ZE370 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | 815 NAS | HAS.3 | ZD252 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | Aeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment | HAS.3 | ZD249 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | 2FTS | HC.2 | XS679 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | RAF | HC.2 | XT601 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | DRA | HC.2 | XR503 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | Aeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment | HC.4 | ZF115 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air tournament International | ETPS | HC.4 | ZG829 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | DRA | HC.4 | ZB506 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | 705 NAS | HT.2 | XW907 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | 705 NAS | HT.2 | ZB647 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | 705 NAS | HT.2 | XW864 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | FONA /VL | HT.2 | ZB649 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | 705 NAS | HT.2 | XW884 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | 705 NAS | HT.2 | XX441 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | ETPS | HT.3 | XZ936 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | RAF | HT.3 | XX396 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | ETPS | HU.5 | XS509 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | Marineflieger | MI-8TB | 94+12 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | Marineflieger | MK41 | 89+55 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | Kongelige Danske Marine | MK80 | S-175 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | Marine Luchtvaartdienst | MK81 | 283 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | Marineflieger | MK88 | 83+15 | |||
1992-jun-13 | MK88A | 8315 | |||||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | Flyvevåbnet | S-61A-1 | U-278 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | RAF | SA330E | XW227 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | Grasshoppers | SE3160 | A-465 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | RNLAF | SE3160 | H-20 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | Grasshoppers | SE3160 | A-453 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | Grasshoppers | SE3160 | A-398 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | Grasshoppers | SE3160 | A-324 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | Grasshoppers | SE3160 | A-390 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | Grasshoppers | SE3160 | A-350 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | RNLAF | SE3160 | A-343 | |||
1992-jun-13 | Luftwaffe | UH-1D | 71+18 | ||||
1992-jun-14 | 105M | 8003 | |||||
1992-aug-20 | accident | Ministry of Defence (MoD) | HC.4 | ZG829 | |||
1993-may | RAF | CH-47D | ZA718 | ||||
1993-jun-25 | HC.4 | ZB507 | |||||
1997-aug | Rolling Deck trials | Westland | EH101 | ZF641 | |||
1999-dec | ETPS | ETPS | AS355F | ZJ635 | |||
2001-jun-30 | AS355F | ZJ635 | |||||
2001-aug | Stored | RAF | MH-47E | ZH900 | |||
2002-jul | QinetiQ | HAS.2 | XZ236 | ||||
2002-jul | QinetiQ | HC.4 | ZB506 | ||||
2002-jul | homeport | QinetiQ | HM.1 | ZH832 | |||
2003-sep-29 | AS355F | ZJ635 | |||||
2003-oct-16 | MH-47E | ZH898 | |||||
2004-mar-16 | AH.1 | ZB673 / P | |||||
2004-mar-16 | AS355F | ZJ635 | |||||
2004-mar-16 | Lynx | ZD559 | |||||
2004-apr-14 | HC.4 | ZB506 | |||||
2004-apr-23 | RAF | HT.3 | ZB625 | ||||
2004-may-19 | Ministry of Defence (MoD) | HT.3 | XZ936 | ||||
2004-jun-07 | AH.1 | XX381 | |||||
2004-jul-13 | ETPS | AH7 | ZD560 | ||||
2004-jul-13 | RNLAF | AS532U2 | S-454 | ||||
2004-jul-13 | RAF | HAR.3 | ZA105 | ||||
2004-jul-13 | ETPS | HT.3 | XZ936 | ||||
2004-sep-03 | RN | HAS.5 | ZA166 / CU-828 | ||||
2004-oct-21 | CH-47D | ZD575 | |||||
2005-jan-28 | HC.3 | ZJ137 / W | |||||
2005-mar-11 | CH-47D | ZA709 | |||||
2005-mar-23 | 212 | ZJ969 | |||||
2005-mar-23 | RN | HAS.5 | ZA166 / CU-828 | ||||
2005-apr-27 | AH7 | ZD560 | |||||
2005-sep-27 | AS355F1 | ZH141 | |||||
2005-nov-21 | AS355F | ZJ635 | |||||
2006-jan-25 | WAH-64 | ZJ183 | |||||
2006-mar-22 | Ministry of Defence (MoD) | HT.3 | XZ936 | ||||
2006-sep-26 | RAF | CH-47D | ZA710 / BC | ||||
2007 | Stored | QinetiQ | AH.1 | XZ308 | |||
2007 | QinetiQ | AH.1 | XX453 | ||||
2007 | QinetiQ | HAS.2 | XZ236 | ||||
2010-apr | HC.3 rebuild | QinetiQ | MH-47E | ZH901 | |||
2010-jul-15 | 8 Flt | A109A | ZE410 | ||||
2010-jul-15 | homebase | QinetiQ | AH.1 | XX449 | |||
2010-jul-15 | AAC | AH.1 | ZB691 | ||||
2010-jul-15 | AAC | AH1 | ZD273 | ||||
2010-jul-15 | homebase | ETPS | AH7 | ZD560 | |||
2010-jul-15 | homebase | QinetiQ | HAS.1 | XV651 | |||
2010-jul-15 | homebase | ETPS | HT.3 | XZ936 | |||
2010-jul-15 | AAC | WAH-64 | ZJ206 | ||||
2011 | ETPS | HT.3 | ZB625 | ||||
2011-jun | ETPS | HT.3 | XZ936 | ||||
2011-jun | G I Airframe | RAF | HT.3 | XW906 | |||
2012-jun-13 | Air Tournament International | AAC | AH9 | ZG888 | |||
2012-jul-09 | AW109E | ZE416 | |||||
2012-aug-29 | Ministry of Defence (MoD) | AH7 | ZD560 | ||||
2013 | RAF | HC.3 | ZJ138 | ||||
2014-jun-02 | Accident | QinetiQ | HT.3 | XZ936 | |||
2016 | Conv HC.5 | RAF | MH-47E | ZH898 | |||
2016-apr | Spares source | QinetiQ | AH.1 | XZ308 | |||
2016-apr | QinetiQ | AH.1 | XX453 | ||||
2016-apr | Spares source | AAC | AH.1 | XX435 | |||
2016-apr | QinetiQ | AH.1 | XX449 | ||||
2016-apr | ETPS | HT.3 | ZB625 | ||||
2016-aug-06 | AAC | AH.1 | XZ340 | ||||
2016-oct | QinetiQ | HAS.2 | XZ575 | ||||
2017-jan | Sea Venom trials | 815 NAS | HAS.3S | ZF558 | |||
2017-mar | Tester 73 | QinetiQ | AH.1 | XX453 | |||
2018 | ETPS | ETPS | H125 | G-ETPF | |||
2018 | ETPS | Ministry of Defence (MoD) | H125 | G-ETPE | |||
2018 | ETPS | Ministry of Defence (MoD) | H125 | G-ETPH | |||
2018-mar | ETPS | ETPS | H125 | G-ETPG | |||
2018-oct | Conv to HC.6A | RAF | CH-47D | ZA710 | |||
2018-oct-30 | Conv to HC.6A | 18 Squadron | CH-47D | ZA670 | |||
2019-jun-20 | QinetiQ | AW109E | G-ETPJ | ||||
2019-aug | AAC | AH.1 | XZ335 | ||||
2020-may | RN | HM.1 | ZH858 | ||||
2020-may | RN | HM.1 | ZH830 | ||||
2020-may | RN | HM.1 | ZH838 | ||||
2020-may | RN | HM.1 | ZH848 | ||||
2020-may | RN | HM.1 | ZH849 | ||||
2020-may | RN | HM.1 | ZH852 | ||||
2020-may | RN | HM.1 | ZH855 | ||||
2020-may | RN | HM.1 | ZH863 | ||||
2021-jan-29 | RM | AH.1 | ZZ393 | ||||
2021-jun-09 | QinetiQ | AW109S | G-ETPN |