RAF's largest base reopens after £180m runway upgrade

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 02:14 · Archive

RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire has reopened following a £180m project to replace its 1.9-mile runway.

RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire has reopened following a £180m upgrade centred on replacing its runway. The base closed in July for a project the Ministry of Defence said would ensure it remained fully operational and fit for the long term. Over four months, the entire 1.9-mile runway was dug up and relaid, with upgrades also made to taxiways, lighting and drainage.

RF Voyager Vespina, which is often used to transport VIPs including the royal family, became the first aircraft to land on the new runway on Friday. Wing Commander Graham Prager, piloting the aircraft, said it was an 'absolute privilege' to bring the plane back to Brize Norton after four months away. 'I've missed being home... so it's nice to be back where home is and where all your support is,' he added.

Brize Norton is home to the RAF's air-transport and refuelling aircraft, which is responsible for moving military hardware and troops around the world whilst also supporting disaster relief and evacuations efforts. About 5,800 service personnel are usually based at the site, with about 1,600 stationed at different bases during the upgrade works.

Group Captain Kate Macartney, Station Commander at RAF Brize Norton, said it was a 'proud day to welcome our people and aircraft back'. 'It's really, really important to have all of our people back and it's a really good day at Brize Norton today,' she added. Air Commodore Phil Reid, Air Head Infrastructure, said the project was 'more than just a runway construction project', describing it as renewing 'the critical capability here that supports the RAF's strategic air mobility capability, enhancing the readiness and resilience for defence for the future'.

How it is being reported

• First plane lands at Oxfordshire airbase in 16 weeks as runway reopensRAF Brize Norton has been officially reopened and the first plane has landed on its newly replaced runway, after a £180 million, 16-week project.Oxfordshire Guardian · 13 Nov, 20:01
• First plane lands at Oxfordshire airbase in 16 weeks as runway reopensRAF Brize Norton has been officially reopened and the first plane has landed on its newly replaced runway, after a £180 million, 16-week project.Oxford Mail · 13 Nov, 19:48
• Planes back at RAF's largest base after runway repairsWork to relay the runway at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire began in July.BBC Oxford · 13 Nov, 17:40

In this story: RAF Brize Norton · Oxfordshire · RAF Voyager Vespina · Graham Prager · Kate Macartney · Phil Reid · Ministry of Defence

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