BAE Warton

Warton Aerodrome

Company type	Private
Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1940
Headquarters	Warton, Lancashire , England, United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom
Products	Aircraft assembly and testing (e.g. Eurofighter Typhoon)
Owner	BAE Systems
Parent	BAE Systems Military Air & Information

Warton Aerodrome Template:Airport codes is situated in the village of Warton on the Fylde peninsula, Lancashire, England. Positioned approximately 7 miles (11 km) to the west of Preston, Lancashire, its eastern boundary borders the village of Freckleton.

This airfield functions as a key assembly and testing site for BAE Systems Military Air & Information and forms part of the Lancashire Enterprise Zone.

Warton Aerodrome holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Ordinary Licence (Number P748), permitting it to conduct public passenger transport flights or provide flying instruction, under the authority of the licensee, BAE Systems (Operations) Limited.

Foundation and Military Operations

In 1940, new runways were constructed at Warton to serve as a "satellite" airfield supporting the RAF Coastal Command base at Squires Gate airfield in Blackpool.

During the Second World War, the site initially operated as an air depot for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). It processed thousands of aircraft destined for deployment across Britain, North Africa, the Mediterranean, and continental Europe. The facility housed the 402d Air Depot, later known as the 402d Base Air Depot, from 15 April 1943 until 24 November 1945.

On 14 August 1944, Major Glenn Miller performed a concert for an audience of 10,000 servicemen on a stage erected before No. 4 Hangar. Subsequently, on 23 August 1944, a tragic accident occurred when a USAAF Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber crashed near Freckleton. This incident, known as the Freckleton Air Disaster, resulted in the deaths of 61 individuals, including 38 children and two teenagers.

Following this period, Warton transitioned into a Royal Air Force station.

Aircraft manufacturers

Prototype BAC TSR2 at Warton in 1966

In 1947, the site was acquired by English Electric, which relocated its primary design office there from the Strand Road location in Preston in 1948.

Following the 1960 consolidation of English Electric Aviation with other major British aircraft divisions, the facility became part of the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC). BAC was subsequently nationalised and merged with Hawker Siddeley and Scottish Aviation in 1977 to establish British Aerospace (BAe). British Aerospace underwent privatisation in 1981 and was rebranded as BAE Systems in 1999. Throughout this period, the airfield served as the flight test hub for numerous frontline military aircraft including the English Electric Canberra, English Electric Lightning, BAC TSR-2, Sepecat Jaguar, Panavia Tornado, BAE Hawk (formerly Hawker Siddeley Hawk), and most recently, the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Eurofighter Typhoon

An RAF Typhoon F2 maneuvering through the Mach Loop

Warton has functioned as the central base for all British development aircraft (DA) and Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA) within the Eurofighter programme. It also hosted the initial Typhoon squadrons of the Royal Air Force, specifically No. 17 Squadron and No. 29 Squadron. This arrangement falls under the "Case White" initiative, where BAE assumes greater responsibility for training and support of the new fighter compared to earlier RAF introductions, which were managed more internally. BAE asserts that this approach facilitates rapid resolution of issues by having its personnel on site, and intends to extend this on-location support to export clients.

Nimrod

The airfield was also employed for development flights of the Nimrod MRA4 Maritime Reconnaissance and Attack aircraft until its cancellation in the Strategic Defence and Security Review of 2010.

Tornado

The last newly built Tornado departed Warton in 1998, a GR.1 model destined for Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, the main assembly hall was converted to serve as the final assembly line for the Eurofighter Typhoon. BAE estimates that advancements in manufacturing processes will reduce assembly time from 30 weeks for a Tornado to approximately 16 weeks for a Typhoon.

Private airfield

Overview of airfield runways and facilities looking WSW in 2006

View from the River Ribble

Warton serves as the base for BAE Systems' Corporate Air Travel division, which operates scheduled flights for employees and partner organisation staff to destinations including Farnborough, Munich, Cambridge, RAF Coningsby, and RAF Marham. The Farnborough and Munich routes are flown using Corporate Air Travel's own Embraer 145 jets, while other services are outsourced to third-party operators. Additionally, numerous ad hoc passenger flights are conducted by various VIP operators.

The facility is closed to public access. Historically, limited sections were opened during open days held every four years on a rotating basis with Samlesbury. These events were intended for employees' families, friends, and local residents, offering free admission along with demonstrations, tours of simulation centres, and notable flying exhibitions. The final Families' Day took place in 2006.

Police helicopter

Starting in November 1994, the Lancashire Constabulary operated a Eurocopter AS355 helicopter based at Warton. This aircraft was subsequently succeeded by the more advanced EC135 model.

The police helicopter service was discontinued in January 2018 and its responsibilities have since been assumed by the National Police Air Service, which operates from Barton.

Lightning XS928

The airfield permanently exhibits an English Electric Lightning F.6 XS928 as a static display.

Protests

Main article: Seeds of hope

In January 1996, four women known as the Ploughshare Four inflicted damage exceeding £1.5 million on a Hawk warplane located at the site. At Liverpool Crown Court, they were acquitted of criminal damage charges after the jury accepted their defense that their actions were justified under the Genocide Act 1969. The targeted Hawk was intended for export to Indonesia, where the women contended it would likely be employed against civilians in East Timor.

On 29 January 2017, Rev Dan Woodhouse, a Methodist minister from Leeds, and Sam Walton, a Quaker, were detained at the location for allegedly attempting to disable warplanes destined for Saudi Arabia. The Lancashire Constabulary confirmed they were held on suspicion of criminal damage. Woodhouse stated that preventing these aircraft from being operational "would save lives". Walton mentioned that they possessed one of the hammers originally used by the Ploughshare Four, which had previously been seized by police. In October 2017, both Walton and Woodhouse appeared before Burnley Magistrates Court facing criminal damage charges; they were acquitted after successfully arguing their actions served a greater moral purpose.

Enterprise zone

Since 2012, this airfield has functioned as one of two locations comprising the Lancashire Enterprise Zone, with the other site situated at BAE Systems' Samlesbury Aerodrome. The Warton site encompasses approximately 72 hectares (180 acres). Development and management of this zone are jointly overseen by BAE Systems, Lancashire County Council, and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership.

See also

• List of aerospace flight test centres

External links

• BAE Systems Typhoon
• 967 ATC Sqn

Video clips

• British Aerospace promotional film from the 1980s
• Eurofighter assembly at Warton featuring an apprentice, March 2010