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Overlooking the most beautiful stretch of Welsh coastline, Caernarfon Airport is an immensely popular destination for aviation enthusiasts in the North of Wales to enjoy some time thousands of feet up in the air with our range of flying days and experiences at FlyDays.
Situated close to the most northerly point of Wales, Caernarfon Airport began life in World War II, when it was a base for the Royal Air Force known as RAF Llandwrog. Opened at the beginning of 1941, it was initially the main base for the No. 9 Air Gunnery School.
They were equipped with a number of Avro Anson training aircraft and Armstrong Whitworth Whiteley bomber planes. However, just two days after opening, a strafing from a German Junker Ju 88 plane saw to it that one of these was written off.
Later on that same year, some of the No. 11 Service Flying Training School, who were Airspeed Oxford trainers, were deployed to RAF Llandwrog in order to complete their students’ requirements for night flying.
Military activities at the site ceased in June 1945, following the end of WWII. It was to be over twenty years later, in 1969, when private civil aviation recommenced and the air base changed over to the name we know it as today, ahead of the investiture of HRH Prince Charles of Wales at the nearby castle.
Many of the wartime buildings still remain on site at Caernarfon to this day, along with two of its original Asphalt runways; the first, an unlicensed one, measuring 1080 x 4 metres, and the second measuring 932 x 4 metres.
As well as being home to the North Wales Flying Academy, a Microlight school and one of three Wales Air Ambulance helicopters, the airport is also the home of the Airworld Aviation Museum. Formerly known as the Caernarfon Airworld Museum, it was first opened in 1988.
Open from March to October annually, the museum houses a vast collection of wartime aircraft - including Hunters, Seahawks, Javelins and Vampires, and a Westland Whirlwind helicopter - that are all on display here, as well as an exhibit focussing on RAF Llandwrog’s role as a base for one of the RAF’s first ever Mountain Rescue teams.
The museum is run as a charitable organisation, and has a dedicated team of volunteers who help out, as well as a helicopter simulator, a gift shop and on-site cafe which is run by the staff of the Wales Air Ambulance.
Microlighting at Caernarfon
Being close to the Irish sea, and along the most northerly stretch of Welsh coastline, there’s no better aircraft suited to taking in all that sea air at Caernarfon than a Microlight, one of the lightest but surprisingly powerful fixed wing aircraft around.
With a selection of introductory ‘taster’ sessions and Microlight lessons to choose from, once you get up and away in these mini but mighty machines you’ll soon discover just what great fun they are to fly.
First Flights Above North Wales
The North Wales Flying Academy is based at Caernarfon Airport, which offers fantastic opportunities to get airborne and realise those aviation dreams or tick off an item on your bucket list with our range of Flying Lessons packages.
With an expert, CAA approved instructor joining you in the cockpit of a two-seater aeroplane, your first 30 or 60 minute lesson piloting and flying a plane for the first time will also count towards the experience you need to obtain your Private Pilot’s Licence.
Booking to Fly at Caernarfon Airport
Finding a perfect gift idea for the flying enthusiast in your life is so easy to do with FlyDays. Our open gift vouchers can be put towards any of the experiences we have available at Caernarfon, to be used at a later time or date to suit them or treat yourself with.
Our Events calendars for each of the experiences are also regularly updated with new availability from our suppliers, so if there’s a forthcoming date you like the look of you can also book directly onto it, and get ready for the flight of your life above North Wales.