Boscombe Down

Boscombe Down , Wiltshire , England

united kingdom United Kingdom










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Nearby locationsKmBearing
Solstice Park , England 2.8350
Newton Tony , England 4.0069
Porton , England 4.3121
Bulford Camp , England 4.6009
Winterbourne Gunner , England 4.7174
Old Sarum , England 6.5203EGLS



  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.



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  List of units at Boscombe Down




Years Unit
2018-    744 NAS
1995/01Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
1992/93826 NASSea King, Sea King,
1992-    A&AEE
1968-    ETPS
1943/45ETPS
1939/92Aeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment
??/12BDACType 171 Sycamore, Wasp,



  Boscombe Down News


Merlin Crowsnest AEW Delayed

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 #Crowsnest
Royal Navy Reactivates 744 Squadron for Crowsnet Merlin

Royal 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 #744NAS
QinetiQ H125 Arrived at Boscombe Down ETPS

QinetiQ 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 Down
Lynx / Sea Venom Missile Compatibility Test

Lynx / 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 missile
QinetiQ Orders 4 H125 for UK MoD ETPS

QinetiQ 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 2019
Cobham Bell 412 Support for QinetiQ

Cobham 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 Down
Modified Boeing Chinook Mk3 Completes 1st Test Flight

Modified 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

DatesOrg/TypeUnit
1951-oct TrialsMinistry of Defence (MoD) Skeeter 3 WF113

1953-mar TrialsAeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment Skeeter 3 WF113
1953-mar TrialsAeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment Skeeter 4 WF114

1954-mar TrialsAeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment Skeeter 5 XG303
1954-mar-27 TrialsAeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment HAR.1 XA863
1954-sep RAF HAR.4 XD164

1955-aug Trials Skeeter 6 XJ355

1956-jun-21 AccidentAeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment Skeeter 6 XK773

1957-jun TrialsAeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment HAS7 XK906
1957-oct-17 TrialsAeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment HAR.1 XA864

1958-jan-04 AccidentAeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment Sycamore 3 WT939

1959-jun-15 RAF HC.4 XB252

1961-dec-07 RAF HC.4 XB251

1963-feb-27 AccidentRAF Sycamore 4 XJ919

1965-may Royal Aerospace Establishment HAS.3 XT255
1965-sep Aeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment Wasp XT414
1965-nov-03 AccidentAeroplane & 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 DumpRN HAS7 XG589

1979 RAF SA330E XW214

1981-mar RAF SA330E XW214
1981-oct G I AIrframeRN HAS7 XL898

1986 ETPS RWSETPS 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 International299 Squadron 105CB B-67
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalHFWS 105M 80+03
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalHFWS 105P 86+06
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament International 206L-1 G-OSIB
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament International664 Squadron AH.1 XZ347
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalHFWS CH-53G 84+10
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalHFR25 CH-53G 85+08
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament International202 Squadron HAR.3 ZE370
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament International815 NAS HAS.3 ZD252
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalAeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment HAS.3 ZD249
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament International2FTS HC.2 XS679
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalRAF HC.2 XT601
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalDRA HC.2 XR503
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalAeroplane & Armaments Experimental Establishment HC.4 ZF115
1992-jun-13 Air tournament InternationalETPS HC.4 ZG829
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalDRA HC.4 ZB506
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament International705 NAS HT.2 XW907
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament International705 NAS HT.2 ZB647
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament International705 NAS HT.2 XW864
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalFONA /VL HT.2 ZB649
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament International705 NAS HT.2 XW884
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament International705 NAS HT.2 XX441
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalETPS HT.3 XZ936
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalRAF HT.3 XX396
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalETPS HU.5 XS509
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalMarineflieger MI-8TB 94+12
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalMarineflieger MK41 89+55
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalKongelige Danske Marine MK80 S-175
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalMarine Luchtvaartdienst MK81 283
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalMarineflieger MK88 83+15
1992-jun-13 MK88A 8315
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalFlyvevåbnet S-61A-1 U-278
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalRAF SA330E XW227
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalGrasshoppers SE3160 A-465
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalRNLAF SE3160 H-20
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalGrasshoppers SE3160 A-453
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalGrasshoppers SE3160 A-398
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalGrasshoppers SE3160 A-324
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalGrasshoppers SE3160 A-390
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalGrasshoppers SE3160 A-350
1992-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalRNLAF SE3160 A-343
1992-jun-13 Luftwaffe UH-1D 71+18
1992-jun-14 105M 8003
1992-aug-20 accidentMinistry of Defence (MoD) HC.4 ZG829

1993-may RAF CH-47D ZA718
1993-jun-25 HC.4 ZB507

1997-aug Rolling Deck trialsWestland EH101 ZF641

1999-dec ETPSETPS AS355F ZJ635

2001-jun-30 AS355F ZJ635
2001-aug StoredRAF MH-47E ZH900

2002-jul QinetiQ HAS.2 XZ236
2002-jul QinetiQ HC.4 ZB506
2002-jul homeportQinetiQ 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 StoredQinetiQ AH.1 XZ308
2007 QinetiQ AH.1 XX453
2007 QinetiQ HAS.2 XZ236

2010-apr HC.3 rebuildQinetiQ MH-47E ZH901
2010-jul-15 8 Flt A109A ZE410
2010-jul-15 homebaseQinetiQ AH.1 XX449
2010-jul-15 AAC AH.1 ZB691
2010-jul-15 AAC AH1 ZD273
2010-jul-15 homebaseETPS AH7 ZD560
2010-jul-15 homebaseQinetiQ HAS.1 XV651
2010-jul-15 homebaseETPS 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 AirframeRAF HT.3 XW906

2012-jun-13 Air Tournament InternationalAAC AH9 ZG888
2012-jul-09 AW109E ZE416
2012-aug-29 Ministry of Defence (MoD) AH7 ZD560

2013 RAF HC.3 ZJ138

2014-jun-02 AccidentQinetiQ HT.3 XZ936

2016 Conv HC.5RAF MH-47E ZH898
2016-apr Spares sourceQinetiQ AH.1 XZ308
2016-apr QinetiQ AH.1 XX453
2016-apr Spares sourceAAC 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 trials815 NAS HAS.3S ZF558
2017-mar Tester 73QinetiQ AH.1 XX453

2018 ETPSETPS H125 G-ETPF
2018 ETPSMinistry of Defence (MoD) H125 G-ETPE
2018 ETPSMinistry of Defence (MoD) H125 G-ETPH
2018-mar ETPSETPS H125 G-ETPG
2018-oct Conv to HC.6ARAF CH-47D ZA710
2018-oct-30 Conv to HC.6A18 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



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