RFC Training Aerodromes
< Back to Military Aviation round the Forth in WWI
In 1914 and 1915 there were very few military pilots in existence, and the flimsy planes of the day were largely confined to reconnaissance operations over the front lines in France. As planes became more robust, they became suited to more aggressive roles as bombers and defensive fighters.
In 1916 The Royal Flying Corps built a number of training aerodromes across the country. These aerodromes provided repair and maintenance services, as well as flight facilities for pilots in training.
RFC WWI Training Stations
One of these was Turnhouse aerodrome at Edinburgh which opened in 1915, and another was Stirling Aerodrome also known as Raploch Aerodrome which opened in 1916 situated directly to the west of the famous castle, on the land of Falleninch Farm.
A present day aerial view of the site of Raploch Aerodrome
The site of Raploch Aerodrome on a modern OS map