RNAS Yeovilton

Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, or RNAS Yeovilton, is an airfield of the Royal Navy and British Army, sited a few miles north of Yeovil, Somerset. It is one of two active Fleet Air Arm bases and is currently home to the Royal Navy Wildcat HMA2 and Army Air Corps Wildcat AH1 helicopters as well as the Royal Navy's Commando Helicopter Force Merlin HC3/3A/i3 and Wildcat AH1 helicopters.The site consists of 1000acre of airfield sites plus ranges and minor estates. Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton is a large multi-role air station with an annual budget of some £61 million. The airfield is also home to the Fleet Air Arm Museum and the station hosts an annual Air Day in July.HistoryIn 1938, the potential of the land at Yeovilton for use as an airfield was spotted by Westland Aircraft's chief test pilot Harald Penrose and an offer was made to buy the land. The owners, howeverthe Ecclesiastical Commissioners of the Church of Englandrefused to sell it. In 1939, the Admiralty Air Division commandeered 417acre of the land and work began on the construction of the site. The runways being completed in 1941 despite problems with poor drainage. A main runway of 3645ft and three subsidiary runways each of 3000ft had been constructed.