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View Full Version : Archived: RAF UPPER HEYFORD - RAPCON (RADAR APPROACH CONTROL) APRIL 2011



Tankman
03-04-2011, 11:06 PM
Just one of a series of buildings that myself and BK checked out today:thumb
The airfield is littered with small insignificant buildings, some hidden from view and others open!

The buildings that go to make up "RAPCON" are situated about 300 yards beyond the Control Tower and are of single storey design, there is a small Air Traffic Control Block/Office on its own, and to the side is a blast proof walled compound in which stands a big "fibre glass" container about 40 foot long by 50 foot wide:thumb

This container/building housed the radar approach control for Heyford, personnel were around 8-10 people who sat at radar consoles located in the central section of the container. security into this building was highly restricted and personnel worked in a very dimly lit atmosphere.
On with the pics.

http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/45104/2244248700033241453S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2244248700033241453DseJZf)

Air Traffic Control Operations Block.

http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/47182/2976282190033241453S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2976282190033241453esvaqW)

Fading "RAPCON" Wall Art, located by the entrance.

Inside the building it was pretty dry and in good condition considering its been abandoned and empty since 1994:thumb

http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/45558/2895760540033241453S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2895760540033241453jtzTMm)

Inside the Wall Art was as good as it gets:smile

Outside however, behind the Blast wall compound was where the RAPCON radar consoles were located within the Fibre Glass container!

http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/46341/2569806590033241453S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2569806590033241453qNGnjf)

http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/48258/2989851980033241453S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2989851980033241453DuyXlO)

One of two entrances into the container.

http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/48539/2739314190033241453S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2739314190033241453wSbOga)

Inside there are two corridors that run around the inside, here was located air conditioning units and electrical fittings, note the fibre glass walls! To the left is the central core.

http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/47778/2129646810033241453S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2129646810033241453MkTGny)

The central core of the container, where the radar control consoles were located, to the left and right can be seen the side fibre glass walls - corridors. Its hard to imagine that this was Radar Approach Control!

http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/48574/2295325970033241453S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2295325970033241453aSHhyy)

External power leads into the container.

http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/47999/2525661890033241453S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2525661890033241453JcRcEn)

Thanks for looking:thumb