History
A bit of history taken from the RAF’s site.
RAF Spadeadam's first connection with modern defence came in the late 1950s when it was chosen as the site of the test establishment for the 'Blue Streak', Britain's intended Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM). Until then, the area had no activity at all and was referred to as the Spadeadam Waste.
The initial site was built by the Ministry of Aviation and was managed on their behalf by Rolls-Royce. It is their name that is most often associated with the early years of the Station.
In 1960 the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile programme was cancelled but the project was immediately replaced by the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO), in which Britain joined with France and Germany to provide a European alternative to the American and Russian monopoly on satellite launchers.
In 1972 Britain withdrew from the European Launcher Development Organisation and the consortium withdrew from Spadeadam. At that point the site was handed over to the Proof and Experimental Establishment, for static firing and range activities.
In 1976 Spadeadam became a RAF Station and the location for Western Europe's first full scale Electronic Warfare Tactics Range, in January 1977.
The explore
As you will see from other reports of here…..an absolute slog to get here. It’s on the middle of nowhere! Started off with me and my non-member mate getting our feet well and truly soaked in the massive bogland that surrounds the area checking out what he thought was a tank! Before having to literally push some cows off the road.
When we parked the car at our pre planned location and set off to navigate the route I’d planned to the planes it quickly became a apparent that the nice clear paths I’d seen to the planes turned out to be massively uneven, boggy and quite often filled with dense pine trees that went on for miles. It’s the first explore I’ve been on were I’ve stopped for lunch before actually getting to the location!
After a couple of hours walk we finally made it…..and oh was it worth it!
Mil Mi 24 attack chopper
We then proceeded to walk about another mile to where a dummy airfield has been set up presumably for test flights and weapons targeting. About a dozen planes, a tank, a refilling truck, various missiles and some shipping containers set up to mimic a control tower are dotted around the airfield In an impressive way.
Sukhoi 22M which was a Soviet fighter although this one appears to have flown for the East German air force (when Germany was two countries).
Dassault Mystere bombers which were French fighter jets. There are 8 on the airfield.
American Lockhead TT-3’s nicknamed shooting stars.
Lastly a tank that I believe was a dummy.
I‘m not sure if the paths are patrolled at all, we did see a fleet of military vehicles on the main roads heading back to the base but we didn’t see anyone else whilst we were here and there are signs advising not to enter the site…..although we only saw them on the way out as we decided to take a longer route back to avoid the bogland, the dry even paths were really appreciated!
Never done an explore like this before but it was well worth the 3 hour drive. Thanks for looking.
A bit of history taken from the RAF’s site.
RAF Spadeadam's first connection with modern defence came in the late 1950s when it was chosen as the site of the test establishment for the 'Blue Streak', Britain's intended Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM). Until then, the area had no activity at all and was referred to as the Spadeadam Waste.
The initial site was built by the Ministry of Aviation and was managed on their behalf by Rolls-Royce. It is their name that is most often associated with the early years of the Station.
In 1960 the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile programme was cancelled but the project was immediately replaced by the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO), in which Britain joined with France and Germany to provide a European alternative to the American and Russian monopoly on satellite launchers.
In 1972 Britain withdrew from the European Launcher Development Organisation and the consortium withdrew from Spadeadam. At that point the site was handed over to the Proof and Experimental Establishment, for static firing and range activities.
In 1976 Spadeadam became a RAF Station and the location for Western Europe's first full scale Electronic Warfare Tactics Range, in January 1977.
The explore
As you will see from other reports of here…..an absolute slog to get here. It’s on the middle of nowhere! Started off with me and my non-member mate getting our feet well and truly soaked in the massive bogland that surrounds the area checking out what he thought was a tank! Before having to literally push some cows off the road.
When we parked the car at our pre planned location and set off to navigate the route I’d planned to the planes it quickly became a apparent that the nice clear paths I’d seen to the planes turned out to be massively uneven, boggy and quite often filled with dense pine trees that went on for miles. It’s the first explore I’ve been on were I’ve stopped for lunch before actually getting to the location!
After a couple of hours walk we finally made it…..and oh was it worth it!
Mil Mi 24 attack chopper
We then proceeded to walk about another mile to where a dummy airfield has been set up presumably for test flights and weapons targeting. About a dozen planes, a tank, a refilling truck, various missiles and some shipping containers set up to mimic a control tower are dotted around the airfield In an impressive way.
Sukhoi 22M which was a Soviet fighter although this one appears to have flown for the East German air force (when Germany was two countries).
Dassault Mystere bombers which were French fighter jets. There are 8 on the airfield.
American Lockhead TT-3’s nicknamed shooting stars.
Lastly a tank that I believe was a dummy.
I‘m not sure if the paths are patrolled at all, we did see a fleet of military vehicles on the main roads heading back to the base but we didn’t see anyone else whilst we were here and there are signs advising not to enter the site…..although we only saw them on the way out as we decided to take a longer route back to avoid the bogland, the dry even paths were really appreciated!
Never done an explore like this before but it was well worth the 3 hour drive. Thanks for looking.
