View source for RAF Cranwell

{{Short description|Royal Air Force training station in Lincolnshire, England}}
{{about|the Royal Air Force station|the officer training establishment which lodges at RAF Cranwell|Royal Air Force College Cranwell}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = RAF Cranwell
| ensign = Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
| ensign_size = 90px
| native_name =
| partof =
| location =
| nearest_town = [[Cranwell]], Lincolnshire
| country = England
| image =Graduates front of College Hall.jpg
| caption =College Hall at [[Royal Air Force College Cranwell]]
| image2 = RAF Cranwell badge.png
| image2_size = 150px
| caption2 = {{Language with name/for|la|Alitum Altrix|Nurture the Winged|break=yes}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pine|first1=L.G.|title=A dictionary of mottoes|date=1983|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul|location=London|isbn=0-7100-9339-X|page=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/9 9]|edition=1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/9}}</ref>
| pushpin_map = Lincolnshire
| pushpin_label = RAF Cranwell
| pushpin_label_position = top
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Lincolnshire
| coordinates = {{Coord|53|01|49|N|000|29|00|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| type = Training station
| code =
|site_area= {{convert|700|ha|acres}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-estates-development-plan-dedp-2009|title=Defence Estates Development Plan 2009 – Annex A|date=3 July 2009|website=GOV.UK|publisher=Ministry of Defence|page=18|access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref>
| height =
| ownership = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]
| operator = [[Royal Air Force]]
| controlledby = [[No. 22 Group RAF|No. 22 Group (Training)]]
| open_to_public =
| condition = Operational
| built = {{Start date|1916}}
| builder =
| used = 1916–1918 ([[Royal Naval Air Service]])<br>1918 – present (Royal Air Force) <!--{{End date|1946}} -->
| materials =
| fate =
| battles =
| events =
| current_commander = [[Wing Commander]] Matthew "Chocka" Thornton<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-cranwell/news/new-station-commander-raf-cranwell/|title=New Station Commander RAF Cranwell|website=Royal Air Force}}</ref>
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison =
| occupants =
* [[Royal Air Force College|RAF College Cranwell]]
* [[Central Flying School]]
* [[No. 3 Flying Training School|HQ No. 3 Flying Training School]]
* [[No. 45 Squadron RAF|No. 45 Squadron]]
* [[No. 57 Squadron RAF|No. 57 Squadron]]
* [[703 Naval Air Squadron|No. 703 Naval Air Squadron]] (operates from RAF Barkston Heath)
* [[No. 6 Flying Training School|HQ No. 6 Flying Training School]]
* [[University Air Squadron|East Midlands Universities Air Squadron]]
* [[No. 7 Air Experience Flight RAF|No. 7 Air Experience Flight]]
''See [[#Based units|Based units]] section for full list.''
| elevation = {{Convert|67.7|m|0}}
| IATA =
| ICAO = EGYD
| FAA =
| TC =
| LID =
| GPS =
| WMO = 03379
| r1-number = 08/26
| r1-length = {{Convert|2082|m|0}}
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]]/[[concrete]]
| r2-number = 01/19
| r2-length = {{Convert|1462|m|0}}
| r2-surface = asphalt/concrete
| r3-number = 08N/26N
| r3-length = {{Convert|761|m|0}}
| r3-surface = grass
| r4-number = 08S/26S
| r4-length = {{Convert|761|m|0}}
| r4-surface = grass
| website = {{Official website|https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-college-cranwell/ }}
|footnotes='''Source''': UK MIL AIP Cranwell<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aidu.mod.uk/aip/pdf/ad/EGYD-Cranwell-Combined.pdf|title=Cranwell AD 2 - EGYD - 1 - 1|date=28 March 2019|website=UK MIL AIP|access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref>
}}

'''Royal Air Force Cranwell''' or more simply '''RAF Cranwell''' {{Airport codes||EGYD}} is a [[Royal Air Force station]] in [[Lincolnshire]], England, close to the village of [[Cranwell]], near [[Sleaford]]. Among other functions, it is home to the [[RAF College Cranwell|Royal Air Force College]] (RAFC), which trains the RAF's new [[commissioned officer|officers]] and aircrew. The motto, ''Altium Altrix'', meaning "Nurture the highest" appears above the main doors of the Officers Mess.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artsnk.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Heritage-Lincolnshire-Research.pdf|page=30|title=Ridges and Furrows|access-date=7 July 2019}}</ref> Since January 2025, RAF Cranwell has been commanded by [[Wing Commander]] Matthew "Chocka" Thornton.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-cranwell/news/new-station-commander-raf-cranwell/|title= Station Commander|access-date=2025-04-13}}</ref>

==History==
{{main|Royal Air Force College Cranwell}}
[[File:Target Dossier for Cranwell, Lincolnshire, England - DPLA - ff91986d7ad2e4c0c8e8c6aae45a194e (page 1).jpg|thumb|right|RAF Cranwell on a target dossier of the German [[Luftwaffe]], 1941]]
The history of military aviation at Cranwell goes back to November 1915,<ref name=AS2-74 >Halpenny (1981), p.74</ref> when the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] requisitioned 2,500&nbsp;acres (10&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of land from the [[Frederick Hervey, 4th Marquess of Bristol|Marquess of Bristol]]'s estate.<ref name="AS2-74"/> On 1 April 1916, the "Royal Naval Air Service Training Establishment, Cranwell" was officially born.<ref name="AS2-74"/>

In 1917 a dedicated railway station was established for the RNAS establishment on a [[Cranwell branch|new single track branch line]] from Sleaford, the train being known as The Cranwell Flyer.<ref name = ludlam>A J Ludlam, ''The RAF Cranwell Railway'', Oakwood Press, Headington, 1988, {{ISBN|0 85361 379 6}}</ref>

With the establishment of the Royal Air Force as an independent service in 1918, the RNAS Training Establishment became RAF Cranwell.<ref name=AS2-75>Halpenny (1981), p.75</ref> The [[Royal Air Force College Cranwell]] was formed on 1 November 1919 as the RAF (Cadet) College.<ref>Phillips-Evans, J. ''The Longcrofts: 500 Years of a British Family'' (Amazon, 2012)</ref>

==Role and operations==

=== Royal Air Force College ===
Cranwell is home to the [[Royal Air Force College Cranwell|Royal Air Force College]] (RAFC), which oversees all RAF phase 1 Training. The RAF Officer Training Academy (RAFOTA) is the sub organisation of the RAFC which trains the RAFs new [[commissioned officer|officers]] on a 24-week [[Modular Initial Officer Training Course|Modular Initial Officer Training Course (MIOTC)]], after which they are dispersed to their Phase II training for specific branch instruction.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Officer Training |url=https://recruitment.raf.mod.uk/training-and-development/officer-training |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=RAF Recruitment}}</ref> It is thus the RAF equivalent of the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]] or the [[Britannia Royal Naval College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcranwell/aboutus/oactu.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314222457/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcranwell/aboutus/oactu.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 March 2008|title=OACTU|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=7 July 2019}}</ref>

=== RAF Recruitment ===
The station is home to the [[Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre]] (OASC), where all applicants to the RAF as officers or [[noncommissioned officer|non-commissioned]] [[aircrew]], are put through a rigorous selection process.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm198889/cmhansrd/1989-03-07/Writtens-6.html |publisher=Hansard  |title=Questions to Secretary of State on move to RAF Cranwell from RAF Biggin Hill|access-date=7 July 2019}}</ref>

===Headquarters Central Flying School===
HQ CFS has been located at RAF Cranwell since 1995 when it moved from [[RAF Scampton]]. The Central Flying School currently trains all RAF [[Qualified Flying Instructor|QFI]] flying instructors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcranwell/aboutus/cfs.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320115847/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcranwell/aboutus/cfs.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 March 2008|title=Central Flying School|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=7 July 2019}}</ref>

=== No. 3 Flying Training School ===
Cranwell is home to the headquarters of [[No. 3 Flying Training School RAF|No. 3 Flying Training School]] (No. 3 FTS). The school provides elementary flying training for fixed wing and multi-engine student pilots from the RAF and [[Fleet Air Arm]] through [[No. 57 Squadron RAF|No. 57 (Reserve) Squadron]] and [[703 Naval Air Squadron|No. 703 Naval Air Squadron]]. The [[UK Military Flying Training System]] (UKMFTS) operates the [[Grob G 120TP|Grob Prefect T1]] in this role. Although nominally based at Cranwell, elementary training largely takes place at nearby [[RAF Barkston Heath]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://raf-beta-public.org/aircraft/120tp-prefect/|title=120TP Prefect|website=Royal Air Force (Beta)|access-date=12 February 2018}}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> After elementary training, aircrews streamed to fly multi-engine aircraft and rear-seat roles are trained by [[No. 45 Squadron RAF|No. 45(R) Squadron]], which operate five [[Embraer Phenom 100]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/|title=Royal Air Force|website=Royal Air Force|language=en-gb|access-date=2020-01-21}}</ref>

On 16 January 2018, the Sykes Building was opened at Cranwell by [[Sean Reynolds (RAF officer)|Air Marshal Sean Reynolds]], the Deputy Commander Capability and [[Senior responsible owner|Senior Responsible Owner]] of the UKMFTS. The building acts as a UKMFTS operational support building and is used to train new RAF pilots. It was named after [[Frederick Sykes|Air-Vice Marshal Sir Frederick Hugh Sykes]], a British military officer and politician who served during the [[World War I|First World War]].<ref>{{Cite journal|date=February 2018|title=Cutting-edge milestone for UKMFTS programme|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/678953/desider_115_Feb2018-Web.pdf|journal=Desider|publisher=Ministry of Defence / Defence Equipment & Support|volume=115|pages=12}}</ref>

=== Air Cadets ===
Since the mid-1990s, Cranwell has been home to Headquarters, [[Air Training Corps|Air Cadets]], and the [[Air Cadet Organisation]]'s Adult Training Facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/who-we-are/contact-us/|title=HQ Air Cadets|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=7 July 2019}}</ref>

== Based units ==
[[File:45 (R) Squadron, Embraer Phenom 100 MOD 45164824.jpg|alt=|thumb|An Embraer [[Embraer Phenom 100|Phenom 100]], operated by [[No. 45 Squadron RAF|No. 45 Squadron]]'s based at RAF Cranwell]]
The following notable flying and non-flying units are based at RAF Cranwell.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RAF College Cranwell - Who's Based Here |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-college-cranwell/ |access-date=16 June 2024 |website=Royal Air Force |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=No 22 Group |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/groups/no-22-group/ |access-date=16 June 2024 |website=Royal Air Force}}</ref>

=== Royal Air Force ===
[[No. 22 Group RAF|'''No. 22 Group (Training) RAF''']]
* [[Royal Air Force College Cranwell|RAF College Cranwell]]
** RAF Officer Training Academy
**Recruitment and Selection
**Tedder Academy of Leadership
*Directorate of Flying Training
**[[Central Flying School]]
*** Central Flying School Headquarters
** [[No. 3 Flying Training School RAF|No. 3 Flying Training School]]
*** No. 3 Flying Training School Headquarters
*** [[No. 45 Squadron RAF|No. 45 Squadron]] – [[Embraer Phenom 100|Embraer Phenom T1]]
*** [[No. 57 Squadron RAF|No. 57 Squadron]] – [[Grob G 120TP|Grob Prefect T1]]
** [[No. 6 Flying Training School RAF|No. 6 Flying Training School]]
*** No. 6 Flying Training School Headquarters
*** [[University Air Squadron|East Midlands Universities Air Squadron]] – Grob Tutor T1
*** [[No. 7 Air Experience Flight RAF|No. 7 Air Experience Flight]] – Grob Tutor T1
*Robson Academy of Resilience
**Robson Academy of Resilience Headquarters
**Aircrew SERE Training Centre
**Defence Aviation Human Factors Training School
**Stress Management and Resilience Team
*[[Royal Air Force Air Cadets|RAF Air Cadets]]
**RAF Air Cadets Headquarters
[[No. 2 Group RAF|'''No. 2 Group (Air Combat Support) RAF''']]
*Air Security Force
**No. 1 RAF Police & Security Wing
*** Defence Serious Crime Unit
**** [[Special Investigation Branch|Defence Flying Complaints Investigation Team]]
**** Engagement Team
**** Serious Crime Flight (B Flight)
** No. 2 RAF Police & Security Wing
*** No. 1 Tactical Police Squadron (No. 22 Group Security Squadron)
** [[Royal Air Force Music Services|RAF Music Services]]
*** [[Band of the Royal Air Force College|Band of the RAF College & the RAF Swing Wing]] (RAF College Cranwell)
*** The Band of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
[[Air Warfare Centre|'''RAF Air and Space Warfare Centre''']]
*Air Warfare School
'''Other RAF Units'''
*RAF Disclosures

=== Civilian ===
* RAF Cranwell Flying Club
* Cranwell Gliding Club

== Future ==
The [[RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine]], which consists of three wings: Aviation Medicine Wing, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Wing, and Support Wing, will re-locate from [[RAF Henlow]] to RAF Cranwell by 2026. The equipment being relocated includes: "aircraft cockpit rigs; hypobaric chambers, which simulate the effect of high altitude on the body; hypoxia training rigs; and helmet-testing gear."<ref>{{cite web |last=Dunton |first=Jim |date=2021-10-05|title=RAF readies £45m medicine centre plans for take-off |url=https://www.building.co.uk/news/raf-readies-45m-medicine-centre-plans-for-take-off/5114026.article |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Building }}</ref>

The Recruit Training Squadron, which delivers the Basic Recruit Training Course (Phase 1) to all Royal Air Force recruits, is planned to relocate from RAF Halton, which is due to close in 2027, to RAF Cranwell in December 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=20220330 FOI2021 14852 15250 Response.pdf |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/815328/response/2009288/attach/html/3/20220330%20FOI2021%2014852%2015250%20Response.pdf.html |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=www.whatdotheyknow.com|date=11 December 2021 }}</ref>

==List of station commanders==
Wing Commander Matthew Thornton January 2025–present<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-cranwell/|title=RAF Cranwell|publisher=RAF|access-date=12 June 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of Royal Air Force stations]]
*[[Cranwell Light Aeroplane Club]]
*[[RAF Harlaxton]] – satellite airfield of Cranwell during the 1940s and 1950s

==References==

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* [[Bruce Barrymore Halpenny|Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore]]. 1981. Action Stations Vol.2: Wartime Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands {{ISBN|978-1-85260-405-9}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|RAF Cranwell}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.cranwellgc.co.uk/ Cranwell Gliding Club]
* [https://www.aidu.mod.uk/aip/pdf/ad/EGYD-Cranwell-Combined.pdf UK Military Aeronautical Information Publication – Cranwell (EGYD)]

{{Royal Air Force}}
{{Royal Air Force stations}}
{{RAF stations in Lincolnshire}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cranwell}}
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Lincolnshire]]
[[Category:Airports in Lincolnshire]]
[[Category:Military airbases established in 1916]]