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Gweru-Thornhill Air Base | |||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 4,680 ft / 1,426 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 19°26′11″S 29°51′43″E / 19.43639°S 29.86194°E | ||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||
  GWE Location of the airport in Zimbabwe | |||||||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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Gweru-Thornhill Air Base (IATA: GWE, ICAO: FVTL) is one of the two main air bases of the Air Force of Zimbabwe located near the central city of Gweru.[3]
The airbase is home to air force fighter squadrons and the Pilot Training School. According to Janes Defence Weekly of 6 September 2006, a US$41.5m simulation center was being established. A range of amenities and services, which include workshops, transport fleets, equipment depots, and accommodation, sporting and entertainment facilities, support the base.
It is home to these squadrons:
- No. 2 Squadron (Cobra) - for advanced jet training and close air support. Operates 12 K-8s.
- No. 4 Squadron (Hornet) - equipped with Cessna FTB337G and O-2A
- No. 5 Squadron (Arrow) - interceptor/fighter role with Chengdu F-7 II/IIN and Chengdu FT-7BZ Trainer.
- No. 6 Squadron (Tiger) - with SF-260M, SF-260TP and SF-260W
- ^ "Airport information for FVTL". World Aero Data. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) Data current as of October 2006. - ^ Airport information for FVTL at Great Circle Mapper.
- ^ McCrea, Barbara; Tony Pinchuck (2000). The Rough Guide to Zimbabwe. Rough Guides. p. 106. ISBN 1-85828-532-1.