Aldergrove Flying Station

Aldergrove Flying Station, also known as Aldergrove or formerly RAF Aldergrove, is a British military base located south of Antrim, Northern Ireland, adjoining Belfast International Airport. The military flying units share runways with Belfast International Airport but maintain separate facilities and a helipad. The site was originally RAF Aldergrove, operating from 1918 to 2009, before transitioning to British Army control in 2009.

RAF Aldergrove opened in 1918 and became an operational RAF station in 1925. During the interwar period, it hosted various squadrons including No. 4, No. 2, No. 502, No. 214, No. 9, and No. 85 Squadrons, operating aircraft such as the Bristol F2B, Vickers Vimy, Handley Page Hyderabad, and Hawker Hurricane.

During World War II, Aldergrove served as an important RAF Coastal Command station in the Battle of the Atlantic, with long-range reconnaissance aircraft patrolling the Eastern Atlantic for U-boats. Squadrons like No. 224, No. 235, No. 102, No. 143, and No. 206 operated aircraft including the Lockheed Hudson, Bristol Blenheim, Whitley V, Bristol Beaufighter, and Consolidated Liberator.

In the post-war period, Aldergrove was designated as a dispersal airfield for the RAF's V bomber force in the 1950s. It also became a main servicing and reconditioning station for the English Electric Canberra. No. 23 Maintenance Unit RAF was responsible for the maintenance of McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs. Various squadrons, including No. 518, No. 502, No. 202, and No. 240, operated aircraft such as the Halifax, Mosquito, Spitfire, Vampire, and Avro Shackleton.

From 1981, No. 72 Squadron operated Westland Wessex HC.2 helicopters until its disbandment in 2002. No. 230 Squadron RAF, operating Westland Puma HC.1 helicopters, was based here from 1992 until 2009. No. 18 Squadron RAF also operated detachments of Boeing Chinook helicopters.

The Army Air Corps operated Westland Lynx, Westland Gazelle, and Britten-Norman Islander aircraft in support of operations. No. 655 Squadron AAC moved to Aldergrove in 1991 with Westland Lynx AH Mk 7 helicopters. On 1 October 1993, the Northern Ireland Regiment Army Air Corps was retitled 5 Regiment Army Air Corps.

After Operation Banner, the base came under the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) and was known as Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove. On 1 April 2013, it became Aldergrove Flying Station under the command of 38 (Irish) Brigade. 5 Regiment Army Air Corps continued to operate Gazelle, Defender, and Islander aircraft in support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and military units for Operation Helvetic. No. 651 Squadron's Britten-Norman Islander and Defender aircraft were retired in June 2021. No. 665 Squadron, the final Army Air Corps squadron based at Aldergrove, operated the Gazelle helicopter until its retirement in October 2023, and subsequently moved to Middle Wallop Flying Station by November 2024.

Currently, units based at Aldergrove include the British Army's 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment and 321 Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Search Squadron. The Police Service of Northern Ireland Air Support Unit operates Eurocopter EC135 and EC145 helicopters. Royal Air Force units include No. 1 Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing (with No. 3 ISR Squadron), No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force), and No. 6 Flying Training School (with Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron and No. 13 Air Experience Flight RAF) operating Grob Tutor T1 aircraft. The base is also used for University Air Squadron and Air Training Corps cadets for training activities.