RAF Hal Far

RAF Hal Far
HMS Falcon
South Eastern District, Southern Region in Malta
U.S. Navy Grumman F9F-8P Cougars from VFP-62, flying from USS Saratoga, over RAF Hal Far in 1958.
RAF Hal Far is located in Malta
RAF Hal Far
RAF Hal Far
Shown within Malta
Coordinates35°48′59″N 14°30′29″E / 35.81639°N 14.50806°E / 35.81639; 14.50806
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Royal Navy
Controlled byFleet Air Arm
Site history
Built1923 (1923)
In use1929-1946
1965-67
1946-1965 (1965) (RN Control)
Airfield information
Runways
Direction Length and surface
09/27 1,500 metres (4,921 ft) Concrete
13/31 1,800 metres (5,906 ft) Concrete

Royal Air Force Hal Far or more commonly RAF Hal Far is a former Royal Air Force station which was the first permanent airfield to be built on Malta. It was operated by the RAF from 1 April 1929 until 1946 when it was transferred and renamed to HMS Falcon, a Royal Navy stone frigate, and was used by Fleet Air Arm crews. It was transferred back to the RAF on 1 September 1965 and returned to the Maltese Government and redeveloped from January 1979.[1] It is now closed and one of its runways is used by drag racing enthusiasts. The second runway is now a road leading to an industrial estate which was developed recently.[2] The Maltese fire service, the CPD occupy the newer building with the glass control tower on the roof. The old Royal Naval Air Station building is now occupied by the International Safety Training College who utilise part of the runway for firefighting training.

  1. ^ Startpages, Malta (31 March 2014). "Hal Far". Malta Startpages. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Forgotten airfields europe". www.forgottenairfields.com. Retrieved 22 June 2021.