RAAF Base Richmond is located 50 kms north-west of Sydney.
It's best known for being home to our C-130 Hercules medium transport aircraft, and is also home to:
- No 453 Squadron Flight Richmond - Air Base Air Traffic Services
- No 37 Squadron - Hercules medium transport
- No 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron - airbase operations
- No 87 Squadron Air Mobility Tactical Intelligence Flight
- No 285 Squadron - Air Mobility Group flight simulator and technical training
- No 3 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
- No 1 Security Force Squadron Detachment Richmond
- Air Movements Training and Development Unit - aerial delivery development, training and certification
- Air Lift Systems Program Office - Defence Material Organisation medium airlift sustainment
- No 176 Air Dispatch Squadron - Army air dispatching
History
RAAF Base Richmond was the first Air Force base to be established in New South Wales and the second in Australia. The first Air Force element in New South Wales, No 3 Squadron, was formed at Richmond in 1925.
From 1923 to 1936, the base was used as a supplementary airport for Sydney, with Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith landing the Southern Cross here after his trans-Pacific flight in 1928, and Miss Jean Batten landing her solo flight from England in 1935.
At the outbreak of World War II, Nos 3, 6, 9 and 22 Squadrons and No. 2 Aircraft Depot were based at Richmond. No. 8 Squadron formed on 11 September 1939, and No. 11 Squadron two weeks later.
During World War II, Richmond became a base of major importance to Australia's defence, evolving from a combat centre to the home of Air Mobility Group, where it is now the hub of logistics support for the Australian Defence Force.
Aircraft Noise
Air Force has an honest and open approach to aircraft noise that may affect neighbours of our bases and training areas.
Our pilots and crews operate their aircraft in a way that minimises aircraft noise, and we freely distribute information about aircraft noise, such as Australian Noise Exposure Forecast (ANEF) maps.
For more information, visit the Defence Aircraft Noise website or call 1300 DEFENCE (1300 333 362).
See Flying Operations to view major training exercises and flying activities.
