Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, air base used by the Republic of China Air Force in Taichung, Taiwan
Ching Chuan Kang Air Base is a military airfield in Qingshui District with one of the region's longest runways. It hosts the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing with multiple fighter squadrons and is also used by army units for airborne and special operations missions.
The base was established in 1957 after tensions between Taiwan and Mainland China increased in the 1950s. It was renamed Ching Chuan Kang in 1966 and subsequently hosted various aircraft types, including American F-104 Starfighters and KC-135 tankers during the Vietnam War.
The base's name derives from the surrounding locality. The site displays the blend of military infrastructure and civilian air travel, as Taichung International Airport shares the runway and visitors can regularly see both commercial and fighter aircraft operating side by side.
The base shares its runway with Taichung International Airport, so visitors can see both commercial and military aircraft at any time of day. The site is large and the extended runway allows both massive and high-speed aircraft to take off and land safely.
In 1972, a special aircraft flew over 14,000 km (8,700 miles) from this base to Illinois without landing, setting a record for turboprop aircraft. This remarkable long-distance achievement showcases the aviation capabilities of that era.
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