🇮🇱 Tel Nof Air Base

Tel Nof Air Base (LLEK) is the oldest and main airbase of the Israeli Air Force (IAF), located 5 km south of Rehovot in central Israel. Established in 1941 as RAF Aqir during the British Mandate, it was taken over by the newly founded Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in May 1948 and renamed Ekron Airbase, then Tel Nof Airbase in 1950.

The facility is a military airbase operated by the Israeli Air Force and does not handle scheduled passenger or commercial freight services. It houses two strike fighter squadrons (106 and 133 Squadrons, operating F-15C/D Eagle aircraft), two transport helicopter squadrons (118 Squadron, operating CH-53D Sea Stallion Yas'ur), and a UAV squadron (210 Squadron, operating IAI Eitan UAVs).

Notable features include the Flight Test Center Manat, which operates examples of all IAF aircraft, including a dedicated F-35I test platform. Tel Nof is also home to several special IDF units, such as Unit 669 (heliborne Combat Search and Rescue) and the headquarters and training center for the Paratroopers Brigade. The base played a significant role in the Arab–Israeli War, with the first four fighter aircraft of the new IAF taking off from there for their first mission on May 29, 1948. Since 2019, it has hosted the "Red Baron" Squadron, a joint unit for training Israeli and German crews on the Heron TP Eitan UAV.

Tel Nof Air Base remains active and in use since 1941. It has three runways, with two being 2,750 meters long and the third 1,830 meters long.

*Sources researched: en.wikipedia.org, globalsecurity.org, globalmilitary.net, thepilotsdesk.com, freight-academy.com*