RAF Leuchars

RAF Leuchars
Leuchars, Fife in Scotland
Aerial view looking east over Leuchars.
Aerial view looking east over Leuchars.
RAF Leuchars badge
Attack and Protect
RAF Leuchars is located in Fife
RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars
Location within Fife
RAF Leuchars is located in the United Kingdom
RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates56°22′23″N 002°52′07″W / 56.37306°N 2.86861°W / 56.37306; -2.86861
Grid referenceNO460205[1]
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Area357 hectares[2]
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byRAF Fighter Command
ConditionClosed
Site history
Built1920 (1920)
In use1920–2015 (2015)
Fate
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: ADX, ICAO: EGQL, WMO: 03171
Elevation12 metres (39 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
09/27 2,589 metres (8,494 ft) Asphalt
04/22 747 metres (2,451 ft) Asphalt

Royal Air Force Leuchars or more simply RAF Leuchars (IATA: ADX, ICAO: EGQL) is a former Royal Air Force station located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. Throughout the Cold War and beyond, the station was home to fighter aircraft which policed northern UK airspace. The station ceased to be an RAF station at 12:00 hrs on 31 March 2015 when it became Leuchars Station and control of the site was transferred to the British Army. The RAF temporarily returned to Leuchars between August and October 2020 to carry out QRA (I) responsibilities while runway works were being carried out at RAF Lossiemouth.

  1. ^ Birtles 2012, p. 37.
  2. ^ "Defence Estates Development Plan (DEDP) 2009 – Annex A" (PDF). Government of the United Kingdom. 3 July 2009. p. 2. Retrieved 19 November 2017.