Mysterious airfield appears in the UAE

a reply to: Zaphod58

I was hoping for something saucier.

I thought there were certain flights around Australia that were hush hush.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I'd say probably hangars for larger aircraft maybe, but I'm not sure.

Well, for starters there is a long runway nearby…

my guess its probably for heavily laden aircraft (filled with war materiel) to make war in the Middle East. Why else would they hide it from prying satellite eyes?

a reply to: Iamnotadoctor

It's the Area 51 and other Facilities forum. This is a facility, therefore this is the proper location for this thread. This forum is NOT just for Area 51.

a reply to: intrptr

He is talking about a specific location on the base, not the base itself. Try reading what people post, instead of cherry picking quotes and answering them.

a reply to: Zaphod58

You "aren't sure" if those buildings house aircraft…

riiight…

a reply to: intrptr

I am not sure if those are hangars, storage areas for parts and pieces, workshops, or just shelters for large aircraft. I have no idea what they are specifically for.

So nice try, but you fail once again.

If I had to guess I'd bet it has something to do with their air warfare training center. It looks like a runway built for training to me. Since the UAE has a us airforce base I'll bet they use that for joint training. It in the middle I'd a desert can use live weapons and no air traffic to restrict.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: intrptr

It's not complete yet. Although as the article said it may be similar to the Australian bases, where they complete them, and leave them empty most of the time.

G'day Zaphod can you tell me where these airstrips / australian bases are mate , I know of a few used during world war 2 , but I don't know of any now that aren't used

Cheers

Wally

Other bases which have recently grown include a airfield that Google names as Abu Dhabi Northeast, that now features a 4,000 meter runway having grown from a mere airstrip 2,000 meters long. This airfield now appears to be home to UAE Special Forces flying the Cessna Caravan, the AT-802 Air Tractors and DHC-6 Twin Otters.

Of course US special forces also fly those aircraft. The only spook plane missing is the CN235 or maybe a PC-6.

a reply to: auswally

There were three built in Northern Australia in the 1980s and 90s apparently.

RAAF Scherger
RAAF Curtin (joint RAAF base and civilian airport)
RAAF Learmonth (joint RAAF base and civilian airport)

RAAF Tindal was originally built as a bare base, but was upgraded to base F-18s out of.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: FosterVS

It looks like it's going to be some sort of shelter, or hangar space, judging by the taxiways that end right at it. I'd say probably hangars for larger aircraft maybe, but I'm not sure.

Think you are right, nothing exciting, looks like they are pouring a huge concrete pad, as you said for hangars, etc.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I am not sure if those are hangars, storage areas for parts and pieces, workshops, or just shelters for large aircraft. I have no idea what they are specifically for.

Parts for what, theres a runway and no planes visible. These aren't hangars like we are used to, imo… just covers for prying eyes from space.

Thats how I know. Military runway (can't hide that) and "shelter" from dust in the desert. Obviously for planes.

A reply to: Zaphod58

Are these bases used for shuttle running planes to carriers?

a reply to: intrptr

The. Base. Is. Not. Complete.

Repeat after me.

The base is not complete.

You don't put planes on a base that isn't completed yet. Hence, no planes are seen there yet. Hangar space also houses shops to work on things like engines, and other systems once they're removed from the aircraft, not just aircraft themselves. Parts are stored in hangar space as well.

a reply to: EA006

No. The UAE has said for years they're concerned about how vulnerable their bases are, and has been constructing bases in remote areas, back away from their coastal areas.

We have bases manned by a skeleton crew that keep the facilities ready and that's it... Why not them.

Useful for training, useful as a staging area, useful as a fall back point.

a reply to: Irishhaf

No reason not to. But what makes it so odd is that it just showed up on Google Earth. It was a runway with no parking area for a long time, then suddenly it's this huge base under construction.

a reply to: Zaphod58

You don't put planes on a base that isn't completed yet. Hence, no planes are seen there yet. Hangar space…

Waait, so those are hangars.

…no planes are seen there yet.

Planes will never be visible through that roof.

ETA:Maintenance and other aircraft storage (little hangars) appear to the south of runway. Can't see in them either.

a reply to: intrptr

I have no idea if they're actual hangars or not, but they match the shape of hangars, and have taxiways that lead to them. The taxiways are too small to easily move aircraft across though. And they're positioned wrong to move aircraft easily across.

And the point of shelters is that you can't see into them, as well as protecting workers, aircraft and parts from weather conditions.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Well they have a butt ton of money, the general climate in that part of the world stinks of war.

They might feel or know something is about to pop so instead of hiring 1 company to build it they hired 3 or 4 to get it done with a quickness.