Aircraft testing at the airfield started when the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (AAEE) moved from RAF Martlesham Heath in August 1939, as World War II hostilities commenced, when the airfield was known as RAF Boscombe Down.[1]
The site has witnessed many significant developments in the British aviation industry, including trials of many aircraft flown by the British armed forces since the Second World War, such as the first flights of the English Electric P 1, forerunner of the Lightning, and the BAC TSR.2. It was also formerly home to the School of Aviation Medicine.
In 1992 the site was renamed the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment when experimental work moved to the Defence Research Agency. Responsibility for the site passed from the MoD Procurement Executive to the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation (DTEO) in 1993, and subsequently to the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency in 1995.
Following the creation of QinetiQ in 2001, a 25 year Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA) was established with the MOD. Boscombe Down remains a government airfield but operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the MOD. The Joint Test and Evaluation Group was established under the control of RAF Air Command and together with QinetiQ forms the Aircraft Test and Evaluation Centre (ATEC). This unique partnership is charged with the test and evaluation of future and in-service military aircraft. The military personnel of the JTEG play a central role in the test and evaluation process alongside their QinetiQ colleagues.
[edit] Today
The site has two runways, one of 3.2 km in length and the second 1.9 km. It is home to Rotary Wing Test Squadron, Fast Jet Test Squadron, Heavy Aircraft Test Squadron, The Empire Test Pilots' School, Handling Squadron and is also currently home to the Southampton University Air Squadron [1].
Boscombe Down has been associated with rumours concerning U.S. black projects. One notable incident is reported to have occurred there in 1994, although evidence is patchy and unreliable.
In October 2007 it was announced that RAF Boscombe Down will become a quick reaction alert airbase from early 2008, offering around the clock fighter coverage for the South and South West of UK airspace.[2] Contrary to media reports QRA aircraft will only be based at Boscombe Down if and when a specific threat to the region is deemed to exist.
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Google Earth Military Boscombe Down RAF
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Comments :
To the RAF it will always be RAF Boscombe Down.
Actually the site belongs to DSTL not the RAF. There is a small admin unit that is referred to as RAF Boscombe Down. Prior to that it was part of QINETIQ before that MOD(PE). Thats why its title was AAEE Boscombe Down and not RAF Boscombe Down
HAS's were built for the F111 NATO reinforcement role around 78-80
Go past on a weekday, busier then...
Yer dude i picked the wrong anthem... had a bad ear that day, Sorry If you Want ill Rebuild it but ill have to film a different video as all the clips was lost in a tragic master reboot
whats with the american anthem thats wrong 5 stars now down to 3
Nope but i Drive past it technically Every single Saturday.. You'll see how it is... Its massive but ery secretive..,
It isnt a RAF base for a start!!!! it is a MoD base!!!!!
It is a RAF Base... Its Shared with the MOD.. Basically only decent mod thing there is the K-9 Unit...
2 : 23 
To the RAF it will always be RAF Boscombe Down. 
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