36.Tiree. (NL 969 401)

NATS radar 'golfball' at Tiree

The RAF established a base on Tiree during the Second World War, and the ROTOR radar station at Scarinish was built in 1953. It was closed when the ROTOR system became obsolete but the RAF maintained the site in case it was required to reopen. Pictures and further information about RAF Scarinish can be found at www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/s/scarinish_rotor/index.html. Also on Tiree is a 'golf ball' style National Air Traffic Services radar on Ben Hynish, pictured below, which was built between 1983 and 1986. The radar provides air coverage for civilian air traffic approaching from the Atlantic but like all NATS radars built in the early 1980s, the radar on Tiree is compatible with military radars and can be linked to the UK Air Defence Ground Environment.