RAF Brize Norton

RAF Brize Norton
Near Carterton, Oxfordshire in England
A400M Atlas at RAF Brize Norton
Transire Confidenter (Latin for 'Move with confidence')[1]
RAF Brize Norton is located in Oxfordshire
RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton
Shown within Oxfordshire
Coordinates51°45′00″N 001°35′01″W / 51.75000°N 1.58361°W / 51.75000; -1.58361
TypeMain Operating Base
Area481 hectares (1,190 acres)[2]
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byNo. 2 Group (Air Combat Support)
ConditionOperational
Websitewww.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-brize-norton/ Edit this at Wikidata
Site history
Built1935 (1935)
In use1937 – present
Garrison information
Current
commander
Group Captain Claire O'Grady
Occupants See Based units section for full list.
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: BZZ, ICAO: EGVN, WMO: 03649
Elevation87.4 metres (287 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
07/25 3,050 metres (10,007 ft) Asphalt
Source: RAF Brize Norton Defence Aerodrome Manual[3]

Royal Air Force Brize Norton or RAF Brize Norton (IATA: BZZ, ICAO: EGVN) in Oxfordshire, about 75 mi (121 km) west north-west of London, is the largest station of the Royal Air Force.[4] It is close to the village of Brize Norton, and the towns of Carterton and Witney.

The station is the base for air transport, air-to-air refuelling and military parachuting, with the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, Airbus A400M Atlas and Airbus Voyager operating from the station.

Major infrastructure redevelopment began in 2010, ahead of the closure of RAF Lyneham in 2012, and Brize Norton became the sole air point of embarkation for British troops.[5]

  1. ^ Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 236. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. ^ "Defence Estates Development Plan 2009 – Annex A". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 3 July 2009. p. 32. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  3. ^ "RAF Brize Norton Defence Aerodrome Manual". Royal Air Force. Military Aviation Authority. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  4. ^ "RAF Brize Norton". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  5. ^ Hearn, Dan (4 February 2011). "RAF Brize Norton to double in size". This is Oxfordshire. Retrieved 5 March 2011.