RAF Cosford (IATA: N/A, ICAO: EGWC) is a Royal Air Force station in Shropshire, just to the northwest of Wolverhampton and next to Albrighton. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier or simply a location identifier [1], is a three-letter code designating many airports around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). ... The ICAO (IPA pronunciation: ) airport code or location indicator is a four-letter alphanumeric code designating each airport around the world. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Albrighton could refer to either one of two places in Shropshire, England Albrighton, near Wolverhampton (Bridgnorth district) or Albrighton, near Shrewsbury (Shrewsbury and Atcham district) ... The term above mean sea level (AMSL) refers to the elevation (on the ground) or altitude (in the air) of any object, relative to the average sea level. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The metre or meter is a measure of length. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The metre or meter is a measure of length. ... Base layer of asphalt concrete in a road under construction. ... An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier or simply a location identifier [1], is a three-letter code designating many airports around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). ... The ICAO (IPA pronunciation: ) airport code or location indicator is a four-letter alphanumeric code designating each airport around the world. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Shropshire (alternatively Salop or abbreviated Shrops) is a county in the West Midlands of England. ... Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. ... Albrighton is a large village (population 3369 in the 2001 census) in the Bridgnorth district of Shropshire, England. ...

RAF Cosford opened in 1938 as a joint aircraft maintenance, storage and technical training unit. It has remained mainly a training unit to this day. Schools currently stationed there include: No. 1 School of Technical Training, No 1 Radio School, the Defence School of Photography and the RAF School of Physical Training. Flying units include the University of Birmingham Air Squadron, No 8 Air Experience Flight and No 633 Volunteer Gliding Squadron. The Wales and West regional headquarters and West Mercian Wing headquarters of the Air Training Corps are based there. Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... No 1 School of Technical Training (No 1 SoTT) is the Royal Air Forces aircraft engineering school. ... Number 1 Radio School is currently based at RAF Cosford and forms part of the Defence College of Communications and Information Systems. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

There is also the Aerospace Museum at the site, which is a branch of the RAF Museum. Amongst the large collection of military aircraft is a unique collection of research and development aircraft, including one of two existing examples of the TSR2 a multi-role combat aircraft, conroversially scrapped by the Wilson Govenment and still a point of discussion within the RAF. There are also collections of missiles and airliners. The Cold War Exhibition , opened in early 2007 by Princess Anne, includes the only collection of three V bombers (Valiant, Victor and Vulcan) in the same place in the World. The annual Cosford Air Show takes place here, normally in June. An Avro Lancaster in the main hangar of the RAF Museum London The Royal Air Force Museum (RAF Museum) is a museum dedicated to the history of aviation, and the British Royal Air Force in particular. ... The BAC TSR-2 was an ill-fated cold war project developed by the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) in the early 1960s. ...

RAF Cosford is now part of the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering (DCAE), which was formed on 1st April 2004. Other units located at Cosford include DCCIS,(DCCIS - Defence College of Communications and Information Systems.) Formed on 1 April 2004), DSOP (Defence School of Photography) and the RAF School of Physical Training The Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering (DCAE) was formed on 1 April 2004 and is one of five Federated Defence Colleges. ...

It was recently announced that RAF Cosford will close in 2011 and all tri-service technical training will be moved to RAF St Athan, with the bulk of the technical training being undertaken by civilian contractors.

There is also an active RAF Cosford Flying Club, consisting of two PA 28 Piper Warriors and a PA28 Piper Archer

Trivia

The Fulton Mess barrack block was constructed just before WW2 as the largest single building barrack block in the UK. It is now used for technical training.

External links

• Official Cosford site
• RAF Museum Cosford
• Official 633 Gliding School site
• World Aero Data airport information for EGWC
• National Cold War Exhibition site
• Cosford Flying Club Home Page