Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield airport History

Doncaster Airport started its life named Finningley Airfield, and was used as a Royal Flying Corps base in 1915 being the base for BE.2c fighters used to intercept Zeppelin bombers destined for UK targets during the First World War.

In 1936 Finningley Airfield was transferred to the RAF and became known as RAF Finningley and played a vital role in the military providing training for bomber pilots and crew. From 1946 to 1954 a variety of different training units were deployed at the base, and trained on a variety of aircraft types. In the late 1950's RAF Finningley became the base for Avro Vulcans, Handley Page Victors, and Vickers Valliants.

In addition to the nuclear bomber aircraft, RAF Finningley also stored nuclear weapons such as the Yellow Sun and Violet Club. The airfield is also famous for being featured in the BBC film Threads in which it is destroyed by a Soviet nuclear weapon.

In the 1970's RAF Finningley was tasked with the training of all RAF navigators through the Air Navigation School, and into the 1980's the airfield was involved with the provision of targets for training for surface to air missiles. RAF Finningley also housed the bright yellow Westland Whirlwind helicopers that formed part of the RAF search and rescue wing during this period.

RAF Finningley was also famous for its airshows that were first held in 1945. For many years the airfield played host to the Battle of Britain Air Display that was the largest single-day airshow in the UK and in 1976 RAF Finningley hosted the Queens Silver Jubilee Airshow.

In 1994 it was announced that the airfield was to cease operations and close down. In 1996 RAF Finningley completely closed down and Peel Holdings purchased it in 1999 upon which it was transformed into Robin Hood Doncaster Airport.

Robin Hood Doncaster Airports first commercial flight was in 2005 and passenger numbers are expected to steadily increase as it becomes more established.