Leeuwarden Air Base (Dutch: Vliegbasis Leeuwarden) is a military airbase used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force(RNLAF) — Dutch: Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu), (IATA: LWR, ICAO: EHLW). The airbase is one of the two F-16 Fighting Falcon bases of the RNLAF. The airbase lies northwest of the capital of Friesland, Leeuwarden.

Leeuwarden Air Base is also one of the three military airbases (together with Gilze-Rijen Air Base and Volkel Air Base) that organise the twice-in-three-years Luchtmachtdagen (‘Air Force Days’) of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, consisting of air shows and static exhibits. In 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2016 Leeuwarden Air Base hosted these public demonstration days.

Leeuwarden Air Base Vliegbasis Leeuwarden
Exterior sign for Vliegbasis Leeuwarden
Map
IATA: LWR ICAO: EHLW
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Military of the Netherlands
Operator	Royal Netherlands Air Force(RNLAF) Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu)
Location	Leeuwarden, Friesland, Netherlands
Elevation AMSL	1 m / 3 ft
Coordinates	53°13′43″N 05°45′38″E
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 05/23 2,957 9,701 Asphalt 09/27 1,999 6,559 Asphalt

History

Leeuwarden Air Base.

Sud-Aviation SE3160 Alouette III. These were used in the Search and Rescue (SAR) role at Leeuwarden until 1994. The aircraft is preserved at Soesterberg AF Museum.

The airport of Leeuwarden was built in 1938, and was used as an airport between Schiphol and Eelde. The airport was used only infrequently at first, but that changed after the Germans had invaded the Low Countries in 1940. The Germans used the airport as a base for their fighter aircraft (including the Messerschmitt Bf 109) and bombers. From the airbase the Germans could reach Great Britain. During World War II, and especially on the 16th and 17th of September, 1944, the airbase was heavily bombed by the British.

After the liberation of the Netherlands the airbase was repaired, and during the first post-war years it was used as a civil airport, and the KLM ran a commercial line to Schiphol. In 1949, Leeuwarden became a dedicated military airbase.

During the 1970s Vliegbasis Leeuwarden was used as a temporary home of the 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron of the US Air Force. Normally stationed at Soesterberg airbase, they needed to move temporarily in order to allow repairs to the runway.

Current role

Two F-16 squadrons are based at Leeuwarden Air Base: the «swing-role» 322 Squadron RNLAF and the Tactical Training Evaluation and Standardisation (TACTES) 323 Squadron RNLAF. 323 Squadron stood down as an F-16 Squadron on October 31, 2014 (passing the TACTES task to 322 Squadron on the same day) before being reinstated as the F-35A Test Squadron on November 5, 2014 at Eglin Air Force Base.

In addition, Leeuwarden Air Base was the home base of 303 Squadron RNLAF (Search and Rescue), part of the newly formed Defence Helicopter Command (DHC). It employed three Agusta Bell AB 412SP helicopters before its stand-down on January 1, 2015.

The airport is the location of the Fighter Weapons Instructor Training (FWIT) and the annual multinational NATO exercise «Frisian Flag». On March 31, 2015, six F-15C’s from the 125th Fighter Wing Florida Air National Guard landed at Leeuwarden Air Base to take part in Frisian Flag 2015.

In 2016, a squadron of MQ-9 Reapers will be based at Leeuwarden Air Base, scheduled to become fully operational as of 2017. The flight of four MQ-9 Reapers with a Ground Station will be fully air-deployable and self-supporting for global operations. Future use by public services related to homeland security and surveillance (including the National Police; and customs, naval and environmental surveillance) is also planned.

Units

Leeuwarden Air Base.

A Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon «J-135». Note the depiction of the Frisian flag and the mascot Polley Grey on the tail.

• 303 Squadron Agusta Bell AB 412SP until 1 January 2015
• 322 Squadron F-16 (TACTES)
• Squadron MQ-9 UAV as of 2016
• 920 Maintenance Squadron
• 921 Logistics Squadron
• 922 Support Squadron
• 931 Squadron

Leeuwarden Air Base. 2001.

Leeuwarden Air Base. F-16.

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General Info
Country	Netherlands
ICAO ID	EHLW
Time	UTC+1(+2DT)
Latitude	53.228611 53° 13' 43.00" N
Longitude	5.760556 005° 45' 38.00" E
Elevation	3 feet 1 meters
Type	Military
Magnetic Variation	000° W (01/06)
Operating Agency	MILITARY
Operating Hours	SEE REMARKS FOR OPERATING HOURS OR COMMUNICATIONS FOR POSSIBLE HOURS
Daylight Saving Time	2300Z last Saturday in March to 2300Z last Saturday in October

Communications
TWR Prim freq outside HO ctc Dutch Mil Info 132.350 MHz.	120.7 247.675 122.1 257.8
GND HO	281.55
ARRIVAL	122.1 279.525
RAPCON NORTH HO	122.1 337.0

Runways
ID	Dimensions	Surface	PCN	ILS
06/24	9701 x 164 feet 2957 x 50 meters	ASPHALT	-	YES
09/27	6559 x 164 feet 1999 x 50 meters	ASPHALT	-	YES

Navaids
Type	ID	Name	Channel	Freq	Distance From Field	Bearing From Navaid
TACAN	LWD	LEEUWARDEN	094X	-	At Field	-

Supplies/Equipment
Oil	O-133, 1010, jet Engine Oil (MIL l 6081) O-147, MIL L 6085A Lubrication Oil, Instrument Synthetic O-148, MIL L 7808 (Synthetic Base), Turboprop/Turboshaft Engine O-149, Aircraft Turbine Engine Synthetic 7.5c St O-155, MIL L 6068C, Aircraft Medium Grade O-156, MIL L 23699 (Synthetic Base)Turboprop/Turboshaft Engine
Other Fluids	PRESAIR, Air Compressors rated 3,000PSI or more DE-ICE, Anti-icing/De-icing/Defrosting Fluid (MIL A 8243) LHOX, Low and high pressure oxygen servicing LOX, Liquid oxygen servicing OX, Indicates oxygen servicing when type of servicing is unknown
JASU	DSA 150 28v DC 25 amp, 115/208v AC 15kva 400hz 3 phase 4 wire

Remarks
CSTMS/IMG	CSTMS - 45 min PN.
FLUID	PRESAIR LHOX LOX OX
FUEL	A1+, J8
JASU	1(DSA 150), 1(JAS)
MISC	No practice apch.
OIL	0-133-147-148-149-155-156
OPR HOURS	Opr 0700-1545Z++ Mon-Fri.
RSTD	PPR.

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