Satellite and aerial maps of RAF Gibraltar with nearby locations
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Nearby locations | Km | Bearing | |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | 2.2 | 199 | |
![]() | 2.8 | 355 | |
Algeciras Heliport , Andalusia | 8.7 | 259 | LEAG |
![]() | 9.3 | 242 | |
La Almoraima , Andalusia | 16.9 | 333 | LEAA |
Ceuta Heliport , Ceuta | 28.9 | 172 | GECE |
RAF Gibraltar |
1915 to present | ||
36° 9' 0'' N 5° 21' 0'' W | ||
1nm N of Gibraltar - North Front, Gibraltar | ||
ICAO: LXGB | IATA: GIB | |
Elevation: 15 feet |

Opened in 1915 on the old Gibraltar racecourse, it became an RAF base after WWI.
Following concern over Italian activity in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) work began on an emergency landing ground to operate in concert with the racecourse, on 3 Sep 1934. It transferred briefly to RN adminstration in Sep 1940 under HMS Cormorant until Aug 1941, when it was handed back to the RAF and by mid Dec 1941 intensive work to enlarge the facility and extend the runway into Gibraltar Bay had begun. Impetus was given by the bombing of Malta and the need to complete a further extension to 1800 yards (ready by Jul 1943) for Operation Torch.
Shortly after the last permanently based RAF unit withdrew, RAF North Front was renamed RAF Gibraltar on 30 Nov 1966 and came under Coastal Command direction. RAF aircraft still stage through and RN Ships Flights often alight here, while the parent ship is visiting the nearby naval base. Between 1982 and 1991, the Royal Navy based a Flight for maritime surveillance of the narrows between here and Tangiers.
Following concern over Italian activity in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) work began on an emergency landing ground to operate in concert with the racecourse, on 3 Sep 1934. It transferred briefly to RN adminstration in Sep 1940 under HMS Cormorant until Aug 1941, when it was handed back to the RAF and by mid Dec 1941 intensive work to enlarge the facility and extend the runway into Gibraltar Bay had begun. Impetus was given by the bombing of Malta and the need to complete a further extension to 1800 yards (ready by Jul 1943) for Operation Torch.
Shortly after the last permanently based RAF unit withdrew, RAF North Front was renamed RAF Gibraltar on 30 Nov 1966 and came under Coastal Command direction. RAF aircraft still stage through and RN Ships Flights often alight here, while the parent ship is visiting the nearby naval base. Between 1982 and 1991, the Royal Navy based a Flight for maritime surveillance of the narrows between here and Tangiers.

List of units at RAF Gibraltar |
Years | Unit | |
---|---|---|
1982 | ![]() | Sea King, Sea King, Sea King, |
1966 | ![]() | |
List of aircraft and events at RAF Gibraltar |
By Date | By Serial | By Model
Dates | Org/Type | Unit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1969-jan | Accident | RN | Type 81 Tribal class | F119 HMS Eskimo | |||
1981-oct | RN | Ikara Leander class | F39 HMS Naiad | ||||
1982-apr-16 | 1982-apr-20 | RN | Hecla class | A133 HMS Hecla | |||
1983-jun | 815 NAS | HAS.2 | XZ735 | ||||
1984-aug | RN | HAS.3 | ZD258 | ||||
1989-apr-21 | RN | HAS.2 | XZ577 | ||||
1989-apr-21 | RN | HAS.3 | ZD258 | ||||
1989-apr-21 | RN | HAS.5 | ZA131 | ||||
1998-dec-01 | Visiting | 815 NAS /410 | HAS.3 | ZD253 | |||
2014-sep-29 | Dolphin 1 | RN | HM.1 | ZH864 | |||
2015-mar | RN | HAS.3S | ZF560 | ||||
2015-oct-10 | RAF | SA330E | XW209 | ||||
2016-jan-10 | RN | HC.3 | ZJ121 | ||||
2016-jan-10 | RN | HC.3 | ZJ129 | ||||
2016-may-05 | RN | HMA.2 | ZZ522 | ||||
2016-may-05 | Royal Fleet Auxiliary | Bay class | L3008 RFA Mounts Bay | ||||
2016-aug-09 | Deployment | 846 NAS | HC.3 | ZJ121 | |||
2019-apr-23 | AW169 | P4-ICE | |||||
2019-apr-28 | SASEMAR | AW139 | EC-KXA | ||||
2019-jul-04 | Grace 1 interception | RN | HMA.2 | ZZ381 | |||
2020-apr-14 | Hélity Copter Airlines | AW139 | EC-NEP | ||||
2021-feb-28 | AW139 | VP-CMF | |||||
2021-may-24 | AW109E | I-POWE |