RAAF Base Wagga

RAAF Base Wagga (formerly RAAF Base Forest Hill) is located 5.8 nautical miles (10.7 km; 6.7 mi) southeast of the New South Wales town of Wagga Wagga, in the suburb of Forest Hill.

Contents

• Abseiling at raaf base wagga 26th oct 2016
• Raaf base wagga freedom of city parade and fly past of c 17
• Aircraft on display
• References

The Royal Australian Air Force no longer controls the airfield which, although still owned by the Commonwealth of Australia, is currently leased to the Wagga Wagga City Council. Although military aircraft still use it, the airfield is now called Wagga Wagga Airport.

Until the start of 2008, the base belonged to the Air Force's Ground Training Wing. It is now home to Headquarters RAAF College (RAAFCOL) and to the No 1 Recruit Training Unit (1RTU), the Air Force's basic recruit training school.

The base continues to be the main ground training base for airmen and airwomen of the technical, administration and logistics trades, as well as the location for initial courses for Administration and Logistics officers. The main postgraduate promotion courses are also conducted at the base. In addition, Air Force, Army and Navy personnel undertake technical airworthiness training at the RAAF School of Technical Training (RAAFSTT). Also, 3 Wing Australian Air Force Cadets uses RAAF Base Wagga to hold its biannual promotion courses (January and July).

While no flying squadrons are based at Wagga, a number of decommissioned RAAF and Army aircraft, including a GAF Nomad and several Aermacchi MB-326 airframes have been allocated to RAAFSTT for use as ground training aids and remain on site. The unit also acquired three Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner airframes in 1999 which were found to in 2005 contain asbestos, raising concerns about hazardous exposure by military instructors, trainees and civilian staff.