RAAF Base Wagga

RAAF Base Wagga
Wagga Wagga Airport

RAAF Wagga Coat of Arms

Entry to RAAF Base Wagga Wagga
IATA: WGA – ICAO: YSWG
Summary
Airport type Military/Public
Owner Department of Defence
Operator Wagga Wagga City Council
Serves Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Location Forest Hill, New South Wales
Elevation AMSL 724 ft / 221 m
Coordinates 35°09′55″S 147°27′59″E / 35.16528°S 147.46639°E / -35.16528; 147.46639Coordinates: 35°09′55″S 147°27′59″E / 35.16528°S 147.46639°E / -35.16528; 147.46639
Website www.wagga.nsw.gov.au
Map
YSWG

Location in New South Wales

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
05/23 1,768 5,801 Asphalt
12/30 1,526 5,007 Clay
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart.[1]

RAAF Base Wagga (formerly RAAF Base Forest Hill)[2] is located 5.8 nautical miles (10.7 km; 6.7 mi) southeast[1] of the New South Wales town of Wagga Wagga, in the suburb of Forest Hill.

The Royal Australian Air Force no longer controls the airfield which, although still owned by the Commonwealth of Australia, is currently leased to the Wagga Wagga City Council. Although military aircraft still use it, the airfield is now called Wagga Wagga Airport.[3]

Until the start of 2008, the base belonged to the Air Force's Ground Training Wing. It is now home to Headquarters RAAF College (RAAFCOL) and to the No 1 Recruit Training Unit (1RTU), the Air Force's basic recruit training school.[4]

The base continues to be the main ground training base for airmen and airwomen of the technical, administration and logistics trades, as well as the location for initial courses for Administration and Logistics officers. The main postgraduate promotion courses are also conducted at the base. In addition, Air Force, Army and Navy personnel undertake technical airworthiness training at the RAAF School of Technical Training (RAAFSTT). Also, 3 Wing Australian Air Force Cadets uses RAAF Base Wagga to hold its biannual promotion courses (January and July).

While no flying squadrons are based at Wagga, a number of decommissioned RAAF and Army aircraft, including a GAF Nomad[5] and several Aermacchi MB-326 airframes have been allocated to RAAFSTT for use as ground training aids and remain on site.[6] The unit also acquired three Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner airframes in 1999 which were found to in 2005 contain asbestos, raising concerns about hazardous exposure by military instructors, trainees and civilian staff.[7]

Units

Unit short name Full name Force Element Group
HQRAAFCOL Headquarters RAAF College Air Force Training Group
CSU-WAG Combat Support Unit Wagga Combat Support Group
RAAFSTT RAAF School of Technical Training Air Force Training Group
RAAFSALT RAAF School of Administration and Logistics Training Air Force Training Group
SPS School of Postgraduate Studies Air Force Training Group
1RTU No 1 Recruit Training Unit Air Force Training Group

Aircraft on display

The aircraft located next to the RAAF Wagga Heritage Centre, they are not officially part of the heritage centre but are officially part of RAAF Base Wagga as gate guardians.

Gate guardians

See also

References

  1. 1 2 YSWG – Wagga Wagga (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 10 November 2016, Aeronautical Chart
  2. ↑ "RAAF Base Wagga - Brief History of RAAF Wagga". Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  3. ↑ "Effective Regional Aviation Services-An Airport perspective". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  4. ↑ 1RTU was relocated from RAAF Base Edinburgh.
  5. ↑ "ADF Serials - Army A18 GAF N22B/N24A Nomad". Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "CNAPG individual aircraft history page - Aermacchi MB326". Clyde North Aeronautical Preservation Group. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  7. ↑ "Asbestos Discovered At RAAF Base Wagga (Australian Defence Force Press Release)". Scoop Media. 3 March 2005. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  8. 1 2 Glover, Ben (29 April 2011). "Forest Hill RAAF aircraft relics get a makeover". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  9. ↑ "Wagga Wagga R.A.A.F. Museum". Tourism Internet. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
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