RAF Carlisle

RAF Carlisle was a Royal Air Force base, the home to No. 14 Maintaince Unit (14MU).

The base was located on the northern edge of Carlisle, just past the present Asda supermarket, and split into several different sites. The main site, Harker was 0.7km North east, Heathlands was 0.5km North, Rockcliffe – 1.2km North west, and Cargo 1.5km West. It was used by the RAF to maintain various pieces of equipment ranging from engine parts to firearms.

The site consisted of the guard room, fire station, a helipad, several hangers (on all sites), the officers' mess, the station HQ, the shooting range, a water tower, and various other admin buildings. The gate guardian was a Phantom F4, which is now on display at the Solway Aviation Museam, at Carlisle Airport.

The base was closed in the mid 1990s, and stood unused for many years. The site was brought my a local investor, who has spent a lot of money developing the site into a massive regional business park, a role that continues today. The main site is as much the hub of operations today as it was when it was in service. It houses the site admin blocks, many local businesses have converted hangers into workshops, many national and international businesses have depots there. The helipad has been developed and built on by Capita Business Services who has the contract to run various services for Cumbria County Council for the next 15 years. The cargo site has been demolised and a new housing estate is being built there.

The station housing is now all occupier owned.

The Royal Air Force still has close links with the local area, with RAF Spadeadam – the only electronic warfare range in the UK, and one of two in Europe – which holds an annual thanksgiving service in Carlisle Cathedral on Battle of Britain Sunday. Other links with the area are No. 1862 (City of Carlisle) Squadron, Air Training Corps, based near the base, and the Carlisle and District Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association.