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RCAF Station Vulcan

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Coordinates: 50°19′55″N 113°21′28″W / 50.33194°N 113.35778°W / 50.33194; -113.35778
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RCAF Station Vulcan
Near Vulcan, Alberta in Canada
RCAF Station Vulcan is located in Alberta
RCAF Station Vulcan
RCAF Station Vulcan
Coordinates50°19′55″N 113°21′28″W / 50.33194°N 113.35778°W / 50.33194; -113.35778[1]
Site information
OwnerDept of National Defence (Canada)
Site history
In use1942-5
Garrison information
OccupantsNo. 2 FIS(1942-3); No. 19 SFTS (1943-5)
Airfield information
Elevation3,400 feet (1,036 m)[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
2/20 3,125 feet (952 m) Hard Surface[1]
8/26 3,100 feet (945 m) Hard Surface[1]
14/32 3,100 feet (945 m) Hard Surface[1]
Airfields
Jacket patch from No. 19 Service Flying Training School

RCAF Station Vulcan, also referred to as RCAF Aerodrome Vulcan, was a Second World War flying training station located southwest of the town of Vulcan, Alberta, Canada. It was one station of many that were established in Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

History

The Vulcan aerodrome was officially opened on October 30, 1942[citation needed] and hosted No. 2 Flying Instructor School (FIS), which had moved to Vulcan from Claresholm on 3 August 1942. The aircraft used were Cornells, Cranes, Fawns, Finches, Harvards, Oxfords, Tiger Moths and Ansons. On 3 May 1943, No. 2 FIS moved to the Pearce aerodrome near Fort Macleod and No. 19 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) took over the facilities, training future bomber pilots using the Anson. No. 19 SFTS ceased operation on April 14, 1945. Relief or auxiliary landing fields were located at Ensign and Champion.[2]

Aerodrome

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 50°20′N 113°21′W / 50.333°N 113.350°W / 50.333; -113.350 with a Var. 23 degrees E and elevation of 3,400 feet (1,036 m). 3 runways were listed as follows:

Runway Name Length Width Surface
2/20 3,125 feet (952 m) 150 feet (46 m) Hard surfaced
8/26 3,100 feet (945 m) 150 feet (46 m) Hard surfaced
14/32 3,100 feet (945 m) 150 feet (46 m) Hard surfaced

[1]

Relief landing field – Ensign

The primary Relief Landing Field (R1) for RCAF Station Vulcan was located east of the community of Ensign, Alberta. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 50°29′N 113°20′W / 50.483°N 113.333°W / 50.483; -113.333 with a Var. 23 degrees E and elevation of 2,434 feet (742 m). 3 runways were listed as follows:

Runway Name Length Width Surface
3/21 3,175 feet (968 m) 150 feet (46 m) Hard surfaced
12/30 3,175 feet (968 m) 150 feet (46 m) Hard surfaced
15/33 3,175 feet (968 m) 150 feet (46 m) Hard surfaced

[3]

Relief landing field – Champion

The secondary Relief Landing Field (R2) for RCAF Station Vulcan was located approximately southwest of the community of Champion, Alberta. In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at 50°13′N 113°11′W / 50.217°N 113.183°W / 50.217; -113.183 with a Var. 23 degrees E and elevation of 3,200 feet (975 m). The aerodrome was listed as "Turf" and "All-way field" with 2 runways listed as follows:

Runway Name Length Width Surface
3/21 6,200 feet (1,890 m) 500 feet (152 m) Turf
12/30 3,600 feet (1,097 m) 500 feet (152 m) Turf

[4]

Postwar

For a period of time the old station operated as the Vulcan Industrial Airport. Although the runways still exist, the aerodrome has seen many aircraft since the war. Six of the original seven hangars remain standing. The remaining hangars are used for storage and for private industrial purposes.Three of the building owners are working to restore their hangars.

In 2009 new ownership began re-invigorating the airport and in 2011 was reopened as Vulcan/Kirkcaldy Aerodrome and is being operated by Wheatland Industries.[5] The aerodrome is currently being used by private aircraft and one commercial operator, Vertical Extreme Skydiving.[6] One of the main runways is being resurfaced.

This is the main HQ for the Southern Alberta Gliding Centre of the Air Cadet Gliding Program.[citation needed]

  • Remaining hangars.
    Remaining hangars.
  • Historical marker commemorating the former RCAF Aerodrome.
    Historical marker commemorating the former RCAF Aerodrome.
  • Ground level view of a runway at the Vulcan/Kirkcaldy Aerodrome.
    Ground level view of a runway at the Vulcan/Kirkcaldy Aerodrome.
  • A former pistol range located at the airfield.
    A former pistol range located at the airfield.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 115.
  2. ^ Hatch, F. J. (1983). The Aerodrome of Democracy: Canada and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, 1939-1945. Ottawa: Directorate of History, Department of National Defence. ISBN 0660114437.
  3. ^ Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 92.
  4. ^ Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 85.
  5. ^ Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
  6. ^ Vertical Extreme Skydiving Retrieved: 2011-03-11
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