RAF Jurby

The primary reason for closure was the major post-World War II military drawdown. RAF Jurby's main purpose was as a large-scale training facility for aircrews. With the end of the war, the massive demand for new navigators, bomb aimers, and air gunners ceased, rendering the station surplus to the peacetime requirements of the Royal Air Force.

The former airfield site has been extensively repurposed and is now a hub for various activities. Key uses include:
- **Jurby Industrial Estate:** A significant portion of the site is a commercial and industrial park.
- **Isle of Man Prison:** The island's modern prison facility was built on part of the former airfield and opened in 2008.
- **Motorsport:** The original runways and perimeter tracks form the Jurby Airfield Circuit, a popular venue for motorcycle and car racing, track days, and karting.
- **Museums:** Several former hangars have been preserved and now house the Jurby Transport Museum and the Isle of Man Motor Museum.
- **Limited Aviation:** While no longer a licensed airport, the runways are occasionally used by microlights and light aircraft with prior permission, often in connection with motorsport events. The ICAO code IM-0002 is an unofficial identifier used by aviation enthusiasts and for flight simulators.

RAF Jurby was a vitally important Royal Air Force training station during World War II. Opened in 1939 as part of the UK's re-armament program, it was primarily home to the No. 5 Air Observers School, which later evolved into the No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School and the No. 5 Air Navigation and Bombing School. The station's crucial role was to train thousands of aircrew from across the Commonwealth (Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and others). These personnel were then posted to operational units, particularly within RAF Bomber Command. Its location on the Isle of Man offered a relatively safe training environment, away from the primary combat zones and enemy bombing raids. The station operated a variety of training aircraft, most notably the Avro Anson, Fairey Battle, and later the Vickers Wellington. At its peak, it was one of the busiest airfields in the British Isles and played an indispensable role in supplying the constant stream of skilled personnel required for the Allied air campaign.

There are no known plans or realistic prospects for reopening RAF Jurby as a licensed commercial or general aviation airport. The Isle of Man is well-served by its primary airport at Ronaldsway (IOM/EGNS). The extensive and permanent redevelopment of the Jurby site for industrial, correctional, recreational, and museum purposes makes any future conversion back to a fully operational airport logistically and economically unfeasible.