Volkel Air Base (Dutch: Vliegbasis Volkel) (IATA: UDE, ICAO: EHVK) is a military airbase used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) - Dutch: Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu), and is located near the town of Uden, Noord-Brabant, in the Netherlands. It is home to two F-16 Fighting Falcon squadrons, 312 and 313. A third squadron formerly present at the base, 311, was officially disbanded on 27 September 2012. It also houses a maintenance, logistical, a base Squadron for the RNLAF, and also the 703rd Munitions Support Squadron, part of the 52d Fighter Wing from the United States Air Force. Besides military use, a traumahelicopter operated by ANWB Medical Air Assistance on behalf of the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre is based here. The Dienst Luchtvaart Politie also makes use of Volkel Air Base.
Volkel Air Base is one of several military airfields in the Netherlands, and one of the three major operational bases of the RNLAF, the other two being Leeuwarden Air Base and Gilze-Rijen Air Base. Together with these, it also hosts the public viewing days of the RNLAF, held annually at one of these three airfields, having both an airshow and static display of various military and civilian aircraft.
The airport has two parallel runways, both in the 06/24 direction, and both being just over 3,020 metres (9,900 ft) long. 06L/24R is 45 m (148 ft) wide, and is capable of handling larger aircraft. It is also equipped with an instrument landing system (ILS). 06R/24L is narrower at only 23 m (75 ft) wide.
Read more about Volkel Air Base: History, Nuclear Weapons, Units
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