RAF Weston-on-the-Green

RAF Weston-on-the-Green is a Royal Air Force station located near Weston-on-the-Green in Oxfordshire, England. It was built in 1916 and has been in continuous use since then. The station was redeveloped after the Great War, with much demolition occurring, including the original 1916/1917 hangars. Some original pre-RAF buildings remain active. The airfield is currently under the control of RAF Brize Norton and is used as a drop zone for military static line and free-fall parachute training by the Airborne Delivery Wing for the British Armed Forces. Military parachute training utilizes Skyvan and A400M Atlas aircraft from RAF Brize Norton. While no military aircraft are permanently based at RAF Weston-on-the-Green, and the airfield is only part-time manned by RAF personnel, it serves as a crucial training facility. The airfield is also used by Oxford Gliding Club for civilian gliding activities on weekends and by the Royal Air Force Sports Parachute Association for sport skydiving using civilian aircraft. Historically, the airfield was used for the launch of the first modern hot air balloon in the UK in 1967 and was previously associated with Hotspur gliders and Bristol Aircraft. It is noted as the third largest grass airfield still in operational use in the UK.