Comments 201 to 250 of 272
Bembridge is now open all week for PPR
Bembridge is now open all week for PPR fixed wing and rotary. new website Please see vectis gliding club web site for full details.
Handling agent
A great airport for GA I used ocean sky for handling they are one of the better FBO's on site
Old pics
I was stationed at RAF Mildenhall from 1968 thru 1971 and would love to see pics of the base from that time period I cannot find any of my old pics that I made while i was there, I am planning a trip in the fall to come for a visit this fall after 40 years and I know it has changed since then. My email address is james@hcvso1officer.com, I am a veterans service officer helping veterans with their benefits.
Excellant airport
You have full services ils , fuel car hiire , landing fees reasonable. but does not operate round the clock phone to book in before you arrivfe
Leavesden Aerodrome
I grew up yards from the end of the runway! Fabulous place to grow up. We spent hours as kids with our noses pressed against the fence, watching the comings and goings of the learner pilots, executive jets, helicopters and airships!! Barry Bowles once used it to test his fast car - and we were there watching! We lived a few doors away from Rolls Royce's Press Officer and he let us in. I still remember everything shaking as Concorde did a flypast at an airshow in 1986 - simply amazing and still one of my favourite planes.
From memory - a potted history. It used to be the King George V playing fields, gifted to the people of Watford by the Crown. The land was requisitioned during the First World War and turned into an airfield. The land was then 'given' to Rolls Royce who sold it off in 1994 for profit when they closed down their Small Engine Division and moved production elswhere. The local folk fought the two Councils involved (Three Rivers and Watford Borough) to stop the land sale from going through but were unsuccessful. The deed from the original gifting from the Crown had mysteriously disappeared from County Hall and so ownership of the land couldn't be proved. Very sad.
I no longer live in Leavesden but I still expect to see aircraft landing when I come up Courtlands Drive to get to my parents' house.
Causeway Airfield location
The correct location of Causeway Airfield is N55 03 29.20 W006 35 00.46
Bembridge Airport
Bembridge is now open all week for PPR fixed wing and rotary. Please see vectis gliding club web site for full details.
My time at RAF Heyford
Would like to catch up with you gals and guys darylstew23@yahoo
My time at RAF Heyford
In 1980 I was a 18 year old from Flint, Michigan who was stationed at Heyford as a Security Police (B flt) and recalling great times and memories, would love to catch up with you gals and guys, Daryl Stewart
Runway Designation
FYI, EGSS runways have for the past 1 year plus been redesignated 04/22.
Tried to fill in the missing parts
...Seems as though some of the parts I couldn't find, anyone else care to do it, here is the official airport map for BRR/EGPR... http://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/eadbasic/pamslight-20C1DD9F3B9A28A0588112859BCAF3DD/7FE5QZZF3FXUS/EN/Charts/AD/AIRAC/EG_AD_2_EGPR_2-1_en_2010-10-21.pdf
re: Civilian carriers V Military aircraft
You refer to the DC-10 as an old airframe, and yet you prefer the VC-10, which first flew nearly 50 years ago? I'm willing to bet the DC-10 is *way* more fuel efficient and cheaper to operate. Probably safer too. And according to Wikipedia, the only flying VC-10s are tankers - the rest are there for spare parts.
Wikipedia also says that some of the Tristars passenger/tanker combos, and some of the passenger Tristars have counter measures against ground fire so they are used to fly people into possibly hostile places like Iraq and Afghanistan. So it's not that they don't use the Tristars, just that they don't waste them on moving people around in safe airspaces.
Civilian carriers V Military aircraft
Why do we use Civilian carriers (normally the cheapest bidder, like the recently bust 'Fly Globespan', or the oldest airframes, like Omni Air's DC-10s) when the sides of the runway at Brize are lined with RAF VC-10s and Tristars? What is the point having RAF passenger aircraft if we don't use them regularly?
re: Article on Ashaig Airstrip
Reply to @david:
The url of the English article, mentioned in the first comment, has changed to: aerlines.nl/index.php/2006/finding-on-ashaig-airstrip/
Cheers,
AJ
Great!
Great for spotting, and a great airport to be in while waiting for your flight to depart.. :)
Noise Abatement Procedure
The Airport is located in a very noise sensitive area and a noise and track monitoring system is in use. Pilots are advised to strictly
follow the published Noise Abatement Procedures, unless otherwise instructed by ATC.
Unfortunately there are a lot of violation reports.
I'd not try landing here!
Now a comms station
re: Bedford Castle Mill - gone
The satellite picture corroborates what you said, so I'm marking it closed.
Bedford Castle Mill - gone
This was a lovely aerodrome - now no longer; it has been developed as a gravel pit.
History
While Waltham was founded in 1928 as the de Havilland Flying School. The RAF took it over in 1938, and it served as the home base of the Air Transport Auxiliary during World War II. The field stayed in RAF hands until 1982 (Prince Philip learned to fly here in 1952), and is now home of the West London Aero Club, with ~150 light aircraft based on the field.
Helicopter tours
The airport currently seems to be a base for helicopter tours:
http://tours.pdg-helicopters.co.uk/Skye-helicopter-tours-g.asp?tour=20
A field with lots of character
This is a former RAF base from world war II which is the only one still using the original buildings. The FBO, Far North Aviation, is in the original tower. You feel very much into "Battle of Britain" here. Great service, very friendly, no hassles with the paperwork. A very nice place to land after or before crossing the pond. The approach is a LOC DME and the weather can be low, but even though it's called the Highlands there is nothing solid to hit near the airport. The local scotch (Old Pulteney) is excellent, as is the beer (the Real Mackay).
Fairoaks Airport near Chobham Surrey UK
This is a very busy GA Airport with both Fixed wing and Helicopter traffic.
For many years it Housed the London met police helicopters and recently G-SURY the Surrey
POLICE helicopter was based there but due operational problems has now moved to RAF ODIHAM.
This Airfield is very busy during the Farnborough international Airshow.
For spotters and people wanting more information:
http://fairoaks.110mb.com/unofficial.htm
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/fairoaks/about?hl=en email list open to all
please do not enter Any part of this airfield without permission .
lasham qla
hi
This is now a very busy airfield not just for gliding but for Various types of JETS .b737 757 BBJ A319
Many are for maint at ATC Lasham but there has been recently a number of airliners broken up.
Caution must be exercised at all times due to Gliders being Winch launched ,
There is no access to the ATC Site for spotters please do do stray onto the airfield
Access to the glider area is avail as is a Restuarant and public area .
for Spotters info see http://farnborough.proboards.com/index.cgi?
BLACKBUSHE EGLK
correct name HARTFORD BRIDGE FLATS but commonly known as BLACKBUSHE .Its in HAMPSHIRE Not as most people Say Surrey .Airfield has a long History used in WW2 by USAF CANMIL and
others before civil times with BEA and many others . Became a GA airfield in the 1960s after
bitter battles to keep it open.
Home to many types of GA Aircraft and Helicopters and some BIZ types .Is now the home
of BLINK CE560 Mustangs probably the easyiest place to see them .
The Natives are friendly lot and there is a spotters group as well.
security
If you visit Farnborough to view the Aircraft please be aware that there are regular police
patrols in the area. They will ask you for ID and reasons for being there that is all .
they are pretty friendly and know most of the local Spotters.
On the perimeter there are few places to view from , nothing at all north side near the
TAG Terminal or entrances. you can view near EELMOOR Bridge near the canal or from
the Site of SBAC Show entrance on the A325Road please do not stray onto the AVIATOR
HOTEL Grounds security are not Friendly to spotters. Visit at weekend the FAST Museum
olso on the A325 10AM TO 4PM Well woth the visit and FREE .
map on website
hi
First time have seen this website very good idea but a big job
The Farnborough MAP is way way out of date as it does not show the new terminal thats
been built
TONY
EGLF Local
Former airfield
This was once RAF Andover, and the remnants of the a runway are still visible in the satellite photo if you zoom out a bit. In 2008 there were plans to redevelop the site as a major Tesco warehouse.
History
During World War II, this was RAF Westhampnett. Two fighter squadrons (145 and 602) were based here during the Battle of Britain. Later in the war, the USAAF also used the field. It became a civilian airfield after the war.
Since the late 1940s, a motor racing track, the "Goodwin Circuit", has run around the airport perimeter.
Film lot
Leavesden, which hosted an important military Rolls-Royce factory during World War II, was taken over as a film lot in the 1990s:
Scars
This is obviously an old photo (pre 17Jan) as you can clearly see the scars left by the undercarriage and engines of the BA38 on the grass area. It shows as a very bright green set of 'tracks'. Could google send their satellite over LHR again soon to see them please?
June 2009 Visit - Oxford (Kidlington Airport)
Popped in using free landing voucher (Pilot Magazine). Very well equipped IFR airfield - ILS/NDB, 1552m of runway and a very smart GA terminal. Small Costa Coffee bar and another restaurant within the Oxford pilot training school. Helpful operations staff and reception who got us a taxi and gave us a guide to the city.
Normal fees for a light piston (under 2.73 tonnes) is only £15+VAT weekdays or £10 including VAT at weekends, or free if you uplift 45 litres of Avgas.
Service - 5/5, Food - 3/5, Facilities - 5/5, Runway and Nav Aids - 4/5 (no radar other than BZN), Costs - 4/5
One of the better airports in the UK
George Cardew
Sheffield Flying Club
EGNF is an active airstrip undertaking flying instruction, aircraft maintenance as well as general aviation. It has a CAA license, allowing flights for public transport of passengers as well as instruction. The flying Club opened in 1935 and is the oldest in South Yorkshire.
Peel Airports
Another one of their acquisitions. They tried closing it...like Sheffield (SCA). This time their local Council refused!
Thruxton
Friendly airfield in Boscombe Down CMATZ
RAF Honington
Spent a week here in 2002, slept in a Nuclear bunker for the whole duration!
Airport closed 30 April 2008
The airport was closed on 30 April, 2008, with plans to develop a business park. A heliport will stay open, however, for police and medevac use only.
WYTON RAF IN MY HEARTH, FOR EVER.
AT THE END OF THE FALKLANDS "AFFAIR" ( I DON´T WANT TO SAY WAR ) I WENT TO WYTON RAF FOR A TRAINING COURSE ON CANBERRAS PR9. THREE OF THESE AIRCRAFTS FLEW TO SOUTH AMERICA AND BECAME PART OF THE CHILEAN AIR FORCE FLEET.
THERE IN HUNTINGDOM, I KNEW WONDERFULL PEOPLE AND I HAVE SPECIAL RECALLS OF THAT STAY.
Article on Ashaig Airstrip
Here's a detailed English-language article about this airstrip from a Dutch site:
Landing on the beach
This airport has scheduled service from Twin Otters that land on the beach.
History
There was an airfield here from 1917 until the 1980s. It's still an active (non-flying) airbase belonging to the RAF and used by the U.S.
Schedule to close in May 2008
The Royal Navy has abandoned this field, and it is scheduled to close on 14 May 2008; however, the Lee Flying Association is challenging the closure.
re: Landing at EGXC
Jean-Paul:
You can find contact info for RAF Coningsby at their official web site:
Landing at EGXC
Dear Sirs,
On the 17th. of june I would make a flight with my PA28 (OO-JGA) from EBKT to your field, with a couple of friends who will go for Golf at Woodhall Spa. Return flight would be on the 18th. of june.
Is this possible and wich are the rules at Coningsby Airfield ?
Kind Regards.
Jean-Paul Vaes
Nopstal, 28
B 3202 Rillaar.
jp.vaes@marvel.be
Tel. 0032 479.945.944
London Ashford Airport
This airport has been officially renamed to "London Ashford", which is a bit of a stretch, since it's 60 miles from Charing Cross. There are plans to expand it and bring in airline service, with lots of local opposition.
Living in the South Terminal
An unemployed chef managed to live in Gatwick's South Terminal for almost four years before he was finally arrested:
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/open_thread/2008/02/grounded_at_gatwick.html
Filming location for Memphis Belle
In 1989, Binbrook -- a retired RAF field -- was used for the filming of "Memphis Belle".
Boeing 777 runway undershoot
On Thursday 17 January 2008, British Airways flight 38, a Boeing 777 inbound from Beijing, landed short of the runway at Heathrow with its gear not fully deployed -- there's some indication that the plane had a power loss. There were only minor injuries, and the airport continued operations using its other runway. Wikipedia is already on top of the story:
Moonrakers Soaring Club, RAFGSA
🔗 Sat, 20 Aug 2011
— @ChrisM at Upavon Aerodrome, United Kingdom
This is where I learned to fly with John Williamson (CFI) and friends, in 1961.
For more info see: http://moonrakersglidingclub.blogspot.com/