RAF Weston-on-the-Green

RAF Weston-on-the-Green is a former Royal Flying Corps station that was redeveloped after the Great War period. Much demolition took place (including the original 1916/1917 hangars). The former RFC Officers and Sergeant's messes are located on the opposite side of the road, and are now in commercial use. The station is located near the village of Weston-on-the-Green in Oxfordshire, England.

RAF Weston-on-the-Green is one of the few remaining active RAF bases with some original pre-RAF buildings.

History
The airfield was used for the launch of the first modern hot air balloon in the UK in 1967, called the Bristol Belle.

Current use
The station comes under the control of the nearby RAF Brize Norton. It is used for parachute training for the UK military. The No.1 Parachute Training School RAF is based at RAF Brize Norton and uses Weston-on-the-Green regularly as a drop zone.

Basic military parachute jumping takes place at RAF Weston-on-the-Green from civilian aircraft that are based on the airfield and more advanced jumping takes place from C-130 Hercules aircraft based at RAF Brize Norton.

No military aircraft are based at RAF Weston-on-the-Green. The airfield is only manned part-time by RAF personnel.

There was a commercial parachute club, Skydive, however that has moved its base of operations away from Weston. Some of the original buildings still stand, and the Skyvan aircraft originally used is now used during weekdays.

Oxford Gliding Club
Among the various organisations that use the airfield, Oxford Gliding Club use it now. They operate on the weekends with various club gliders, and about 30 private gliders. The club owns 2 Schleicher ASK 13s, 2 K 8s, one Grob Astir, one DG-505 and a Slingsby T.21. The club uses the hangar in the northern side of the airfield, however the launch point varies according to the wind. The club will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2012. It is one of the oldest clubs in the country.