Kingstown Municipal Airport/RAF Kingstown/RAF Carlisle

The closure was a result of military downsizing and the strategic realignment of the Royal Air Force following World War II. Its primary function as a massive aircraft Maintenance Unit was no longer required on such a scale, leading to its gradual drawdown and eventual disposal.

The site has been completely and comprehensively redeveloped. It is now the **Kingstown Industrial Estate**, one of Carlisle's primary commercial, retail, and industrial zones. The former runways, hangars, and military buildings have been demolished and replaced with warehouses, distribution centers, offices, retail outlets (including a large Asda superstore), and car dealerships. While the general outline of the former airfield can be discerned from an aerial view, no aviation infrastructure remains.

RAF Kingstown was a critically important Royal Air Force station with significant historical value.

- **Opening and Role:** It opened in 1936 and became the home of No. 14 Maintenance Unit (MU).

- **WWII Operations:** During World War II, it was one of the largest aircraft storage and preparation depots in the UK. Its primary mission was to receive new aircraft from manufacturers, store them safely dispersed around the airfield, prepare them for operational service, and issue them to frontline squadrons. It also handled aircraft repairs and modifications.

- **Scale of Operations:** The unit processed tens of thousands of aircraft throughout the war, including iconic types like the Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire, and Avro Lancaster. Its contribution to maintaining the RAF's operational strength was immense.

- **Post-War:** It continued its role as a Maintenance Unit after the war, handling jet aircraft like the Gloster Meteor and de Havilland Vampire, before its operational role was wound down in the late 1950s.

Zero. There are no plans or prospects for reopening the site as an airport. It is fully developed with commercial and industrial infrastructure, making any return to aviation use impossible. The active airport serving the Carlisle region is the **Carlisle Lake District Airport (ICAO: EGNC)**, located several miles to the east at Crosby-on-Eden.