Ramat David Airbase
Ramat David Israeli Air Force Base | |||||||||||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
Airport type | Military | ||||||||||||||||||
Operator | Israeli Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 138 ft / 42 m | ||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 32°40′0″N 35°11′0″E / 32.66667°N 35.18333°E | ||||||||||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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Ramat David Israeli Air Force Base (ICAO: LLRD) is one of three principal airbases of the Israeli Air Force and is located southeast of Haifa, close to kibbutz Ramat David and Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley. It was originally built as a Royal Air Force station in 1942 under the British Mandate and was known as RAF Ramat David. On May 26, 1948 it was turned over to the newly created Israel Defense Forces, who currently base 3 F-16 C/D squadrons and a Hughes 500MD squadron. Ramat David hosted the 117th Hasilon Harishona or First Jet squadron, which was founded June 7, 1953. It operated Israel's first jet aircraft, which included the Gloster Meteor T7, F8, and FR9.[1]. Roald Dahl mentions landing his RAF Hurricane at Ramat David in 1941 in his World War two autobiography 'Going Solo'. At the time it was a hastily prepared grass airstrip rolled out in a cornfield by the residents of the Kibbutz nearby.
Units
- 109 Squadron (Israel) F-16D
- 110 Squadron (Israel) F-16C/D Block 30
- 117 Squadron (Israel) F-16C/D Block 30
- 157 Squadron (Israel) Electrical Warfare
- 190 Squadron (Israel) AH-64A
- 193 Squadron (Israel) AS-565