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RAF Saxa Vord was a radar station operated by the Royal Air Force. It was situated on the island of Unst, part of the Shetland Islands off Scotland. Its radar provided long-range coverage of the airspace to the North of Scotland.

RAF SAXA Vord is futher north than Leningrad and on the same latitude as Anchorage in Alaska. The climate in winter however is comparable to that of Kew gardens in London, the reason for this is the famous Gulf Stream. Saxa Vord is the highest hill on Unst standing at 935 ft.

The island of Unst has played an important part in the defence of the UK since the outbreak of the Second World War. By 1945 there were two radar sites in exsistance - one on saxa vord hill and the other at Skaw on the east coast. This latter is the older being built in 1941 as part of the defences of the Sullom Voe flying boat base. After the warSkaw fell into disuse.

The present station was officially opened on 27th September 1957, and in 1960 was honoured by a vist from HRH Queen Elizabeth II. In the early days the site was shared with the Royal Navy which worked in the Admiltary building. In the following years RAF Saxa Vord was a vital part of Britain's air defence during the Cold War. RAF Saxa Vord consisted of three sites the domestic site, the technical site and the married quarters called Setters Hill Estate (SHE).

The technical site was home home of the huge Type 80 radar, which was unfortunately lost when it was blown out of the radome and down the cliff side. In 1979 a 649 search radar and Height Finder 200 and these were planned to be replaced by the Type 93 in the eary 90's as part of the new IUKADGE system.

From around 2000 until 2 April 2004 the station operated as RRH Saxa Vord, an unmanned Remote Radar Head operated from a parent station (RAF Buchan). On 2 April 2004 RAF Saxa Vord was upgraded from a Remote Radar Head to a full manned station, taking over control of the radar defences in the area. RAF Buchan will be downgraded to a Remote Radar Head. RAF Saxa Vord closed in April 2006.

The station was named after Saxa Vord, the highest hill on Unst. The station holds the unofficial British record for wind speed, which in 1962 was recorded at 177 mph (285 km/h) —just before the measuring equipment blew away.

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 '''RAF Saxa Vord''' was a [[radar]] station operated by the [[Royal Air Force]]. It was situated on the island of [[Unst]], part of the [[Shetland]] Islands off [[Scotland]]. Its radar provided long-range coverage of the airspace to the North of Scotland.
+RAF SAXA Vord is futher north than Leningrad and on the same latitude as Anchorage in Alaska.  The climate in winter however is comparable to that of Kew gardens in London, the reason for this is the famous Gulf Stream. Saxa Vord is the highest hill on Unst standing at 935 ft.
-'''Saxa Vord''' had been a radar station since [[1957]], and was a vital part of Britain's air defence during the [[Cold War]]. From around [[2000]] until [[2 April]] [[2004]] the station operated as '''RRH Saxa Vord''', an unmanned  '''R'''emote '''R'''adar '''H'''ead operated from a parent station ([[RAF Buchan]]). On [[2 April]] [[2004]] RAF Saxa Vord was upgraded from a Remote Radar Head to a full manned station, taking over control of the radar defences in the area. [[RAF Buchan]] will be downgraded to a Remote Radar Head. RAF Saxa Vord closed in April [[2006]].
+The island of Unst has played an important part in the defence of the UK since the outbreak of the Second World War.  By 1945 there were two radar sites in exsistance  - one on saxa vord hill and the other at Skaw on the east coast.  This latter is the older being built in 1941 as part of the defences of the Sullom Voe flying boat base. After the warSkaw fell into disuse.
-The station was named after Saxa Vord, the highest hill on Unst. The station holds the unofficial British record for [[wind speed]], which in [[1962]] was recorded at 177 [[mph]] (285 km/h) &mdash;just before the measuring equipment blew away. During one of these storms the Type 80 radar housed in its dome was blown out of the dome and down the cliff.
+The present station was officially opened on 27th September [[1957]], and in 1960 was honoured by a vist from HRH Queen Elizabeth II. In the early days the site was shared with the Royal Navy which worked in the Admiltary building. In the following years RAF Saxa Vord was a vital part of Britain's air defence during the [[Cold War]]. RAF Saxa Vord consisted of three sites the domestic site, the technical site and the married quarters called Setters Hill Estate (SHE).
+The technical site was home home of the huge Type 80 radar, which was unfortunately lost when it was blown out of the radome and down the cliff side.  In 1979 a 649 search radar and Height Finder 200 and these were planned to be replaced by the Type 93 in the eary 90's as part of the new IUKADGE system.
+From around [[2000]] until [[2 April]] [[2004]] the station operated as '''RRH Saxa Vord''', an unmanned  '''R'''emote '''R'''adar '''H'''ead operated from a parent station ([[RAF Buchan]]). On [[2 April]] [[2004]] RAF Saxa Vord was upgraded from a Remote Radar Head to a full manned station, taking over control of the radar defences in the area. [[RAF Buchan]] will be downgraded to a Remote Radar Head. RAF Saxa Vord closed in April [[2006]].
+The station was named after Saxa Vord, the highest hill on Unst. The station holds the unofficial British record for [[wind speed]], which in [[1962]] was recorded at 177 [[mph]] (285 km/h) &mdash;just before the measuring equipment blew away.
 ==See also==