Home > RAF Carlisle
RAF Carlisle was a Royal Air Force base, the home to No. 14 Maintaince Unit (14MU), and was located on the northern edge of Carlisle, just past Asda supermarket.It was split into several different sites, the main site, Harker - 0.7km NE, Heathlands - 0.5km N, Rockcliffe - 1.2km NW, and Cargo - 1.5km W.
The site was used by the RAF to maintain various pieces of equipment ranging from engine parts to firearms.
The site included the guard room, the fire station, the helipad, several hangers (on all sites), the officers mess, the station HQ, the shooting range, the water tower, and various other admin buildings.
The gate guardian was an Phamton F4, which is now on display at the Solway Aviation Museam, at Carlisle Airport.
The base was closed in the mid 1990s, and stood idol for many years. The site was brought my a local investor, who has spent a lot of money developing the site into the massive regional business park it is today.
The main site is as much the hub of operations today as it was when it was in service. It houses the site admin blocks, many local businesses have converted hangers into workshops, many national and international businesses have depots there. The helipad has been developed and built on by Capita Business Services who has the contract to run various services for the county council for the next 15 years. The cargo site has been demolised and a new housing estate is being built there.
The station housing is now all occupier owned.
The Royal Air Force still has close links with the local area, with RAF Spadeadam - the only electronic warfare range in the UK, and one of two in Europe - which holds an annual thanksgiving service in Carlisle Cathedral on Battle of Britian Sunday.
The other links with the area are No. 1862 (City of Carlisle) Squadron, Air Training Corps, based near the base, and the Carlisle and District Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association.
Carlisle, RAF
