RoAF 71st Air Base
| RoAF 71st Air Base | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baza 71 Aeriană "General Emanoil Ionescu" | |||||||
| Luna, Cluj County Near Câmpia Turzii in Romania | |||||||
The Control Tower building at the 71st Air Base | |||||||
Coat of arms of the 71st Air Base | |||||||
| Site information | |||||||
| Owner | Ministry of National Defence | ||||||
| Operator | Romanian Air Force | ||||||
| Location | |||||||
RoAF 71st Air Base RoAF 71st Air Base | |||||||
| Coordinates | 46°30′08″N 23°53′09″E / 46.5023°N 23.8859°E | ||||||
| Site history | |||||||
| Built | 1952 | ||||||
| In use | 1953 – Present | ||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||
| Current commander | General de flotilă aeriană Cătălin "Miki" Micloș | ||||||
| Occupants |
Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force:
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| Airfield information | |||||||
| Identifiers | ICAO: LRCT | ||||||
| Elevation | 324 metres (1,063 ft) AMSL | ||||||
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The Romanian Air Force 71st Air Base "General Emanoil Ionescu" (Romanian: Baza 71 Aeriană "General Emanoil Ionescu"), also known as Câmpia Turzii Air Base, is located in the commune Luna near the city of Câmpia Turzii, in Cluj County. The 71st Air Base was founded on 1 June 2002 from the previous 71st Fighter and Bombardment Base, according to the Romanian Armed Forces reorganization program. It is named after Emanoil Ionescu, a general who commanded the 1st Air Corps of the Royal Romanian Air Force during World War II.
The base is home to the 48th Fighter Squadron, operating F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters, and the 713th Helicopter Squadron, operating IAR 330 helicopters, while also hosting the 571st Fighter Squadron of the 57th Air Base until its base upgrades are completed. The 712th Helicopter Squadron is located at the Giarmata Airport. The base also hosts MQ-9 Reaper drones of the United States Air Force 31st Operations Group, maintained by the 731st Expeditionary Attack Squadron and operated remotely by the 25th Attack Group. Another two Reapers belonging to the Royal Netherlands Air Force No. 306 Squadron are also deployed at the base.
The current base commander is General de flotilă aeriană Cătălin "Miki" Micloș.