Brough Airfield

[PlymouthPixie]

Came across some information on Brough Airfield last week - apparently where the Hawk's where built.

Is there any activity there anymore?

[DaveReidUK]

It was in use at least up until the middle of last year, principally for flying out newly-built Hawks to Warton, until production was run down.

Then a couple of months ago planning permission was granted to build housing and a new school on part of the airfield, so presumably any further Hawk production would be roaded out, as has been done in the past.

[pug]

It was in use at least up until the middle of last year, principally for flying out newly-built Hawks to Warton, until production was run down.

It was only used for that purpose most recently, they had been roading them out for years before. I tend to believe that the reason they reopened the runway for delivery flights was in part to cover up the managed decline of the factory production. Hawk production is to move to Salmesbury, the factory will be closed in the next few years.

Prior to 2008, the runway had not really been used since the Warton J31 shuttle flights ended in 1992. I think Humberside Police Flying Club had a C150 based there for some time (since moved elsewhere), and the Blackburn B2 used to be based in one of the hangars making the occasional flight.

The nail in the coffin for Brough was the building of a chimney at Cappa Pass on the approach in the late 60's. The airfield instantly lost its licence for civillian flights, Autair went elsewhere and the runway was never extended past its short 3400ft. I think Hawker Siddeley were the only tennants happy to allow civillian movements at Brough anyway, and BAe didnt tend to like the idea of any resident flying club being on site in later years.

BAe Systems claim that if any new tennant of the site need to use the runway (some unnamed interested parties have been interested in the airfield as part of the package) then the runway will be retained and the site not built on. I find that hard to believe though, and East Riding Council didn't help matters by granting outline planning permission to build a retail park and link road on the runway.

A shame really, as anyone who knows the area will know how accessible the site is may agree that had the local councils not lacked vision decades ago, Brough would have made an excellent airport for Hull.

[BKS Air Transport]

I'm fairly certain that I can remember looking at an Air Anglia timetable in the 1970s which had Humberside (to London?) flights split between Brough and Kirmington.
On the theme of Brough, am I right in thinking that Holme-upon-Spalding Moor had some connection with the factory? Does the airfield still exist?

[learjet50]

do you mean Humber Airways ??

They used to fly 2 Islanders from Brought to Leavesden think yjeu had about 4 flight each weekday

The A/C were met at Leavesden by a Mini Bus which took you to Watford Junction to connect with trains/Underground

I think it was run by the INFAMOUS Aurther Ramsden

and the Ops Manager was John Clutterbrook


Think the above infor is correct

Regards

[chevvron]

HOSM closed some years ago and last time I looked at satellite photos of the area, you could barely make out the site of the airfield although some hangars were visible.
Last I heard it was used for maintenance of Buccaners or Phantoms.

[pug]

I'm fairly certain that I can remember looking at an Air Anglia timetable in the 1970s which had Humberside (to London?) flights split between Brough and Kirmington.
On the theme of Brough, am I right in thinking that Holme-upon-Spalding Moor had some connection with the factory? Does the airfield still exist?

I believe Air Anglia used Leconfield before Humberside Airport opened, as did Humber Airways after Brough lost its licence.

As for Holme on Spalding Moor, just to add to what Chevron has already posted. HoSM was closed in December 1983, the runways were quickly removed, I believe to use for hardcore in various local road schemes in the late 80's. All that is left of the main runway is a narrow farm track along the full length of the former runway. I believe the tower was also pulled down soon after closure. The rest of the site survives in good condition (including two T2 hangers, now joined together, and one J-type) and is now an industrial estate.

I believe Brough was home to a PC-9 for a number of years, however not sure when it was moved to Warton? The Jetstream corporate shuttle flights ended sometime in 1992, and the radar was transfered to Humberside Airport in 1994 I believe. With the exception of the families days until the mid 90's, the airfield hadn't really been used until the recent decision to fly Hawks out on delivery flights, but these have now ended too.

[Helen49]

Does anyone know how come that the Local Planning Authority allowed construction of the above chimney, particularly as it presented an obstacle which rendered the Brough declared distances to be useless as far as airline operations were concerned?

This deprived the residents of Hull and East Riding of their local airport and, I believe, precipitated the development of Kirmington which eventually became Humberside. I do believe that Autair operated HP7s to Luton on a scheduled service from Brough?

H49

[pug]

I do believe that Autair operated HP7s to Luton on a scheduled service from Brough?

Also Jersey amongst others. I have seen archived industry press arcticles from the time suggesting Hull (Brough) was their best performing airport in terms of sales.

Does anyone know how come that the Local Planning Authority allowed construction of the above chimney, particularly as it presented an obstacle which rendered the Brough declared distances to be useless as far as airline operations were concerned?


I'm not exactly sure why it was given the go-ahead, however I believe that there was hope of Leconfield being made available full time. Afterall that airfield already had a 7500ft runway so no need for a costly extension. I believe that plan backfired after approval was given to build Cappa Pass, as the MOD severely restricted civillian passenger movements at Leconfield to just weekends and out of hours operations. I believe this was due to an increased use of the bombing and gunnery range at Cowden.

This deprived the residents of Hull and East Riding of their local airport and, I believe, precipitated the development of Kirmington which eventually became Humberside

With the plan to build the Humber Bridge in operation during the 70's, and the formation of Humberside County Council, I dont think it was such a bad idea to concentrate on Kirmington. On paper its quite well located for East Yorkshire and a large part of Lincolnshire, plus the Humber Bridge tolls have been cut by 50%, it just needs those flights back that it had a few years ago, and those passengers will return.

[BKS Air Transport]

Thanks for the replies to my questions. It looks like I may have mixed up the Leconfield operation with Brough.

With Cappa Pass imminent, am I right in thinking that Hull Council looked at the possibility of some form of 'reinforced' grass runway? I'm guessing that nothing came of this. I have a plan of the airfield dating from 1985, which in addition to the tarmac runway shows a short grass strip, 17/35. Would this have also been the alignment used in the council's plans?

One advantage that both Brough and Leconfield could have offered over Kirmington was the proximity of railway lines, though I imagine that in the 1970s such infrastructure was probably not considered very important.

[pstamp]

I seem to remember that when the main runway was being repaved in the late 1960´s or early 1070´s the company Dove (G-ARBE) used a reinforced grass runway to allow operations to other HSA factories to continue.

The Capper Pass chimney was a major mistake. Not only did it stop the use of Brough but it proved to be a health problem for local residents. Also, had the runway been extended, it would have put Brough in to a much better position to take on extra work with test flying from the Brough runway when British Aerospace was created in the 1970´s. When I worked at Brough in the days of the Buccaneer contracts, there were over 5,000 people emplyed at Brough. It is now coming down to a couple of hundred.

[Helen49]

Pug and others!

Thank you for the most interesting information about Brough and its rather sad demise. If only we had some coordinated joined up thinking on transport policy in this country!

[pug]

H49, the Government were seemingly indifferent to airports outside of London during the motorway building period. The best ideas, namely an airport for Yorkshire at Pontefract, and one at Burtonwood, were completely ignored.

A shame really.

[Milt]

Brough Taxiway ?

My first and only use of the Brough airfield? was to deliver a Beverly all the way from Edmonton in Canada. On short final I felt sure that what I was about to land on was a taxiway without a runway - short and narrow and most inadequate. Used a lot of reverse thrust during the roll out and soon found that No2 prop was refusing to come out of reverse. Was pleased to hand over the monster to the factory for rejuvination after its winterisation trials in northern Canada.

[pug]

My first and only use of the Brough airfield? was to deliver a Beverly all the way from Edmonton in Canada. On short final I felt sure that what I was about to land on was a taxiway without a runway - short and narrow and most inadequate. Used a lot of reverse thrust during the roll out and soon found that No2 prop was refusing to come out of reverse. Was pleased to hand over the monster to the factory for rejuvination after its winterisation trials in northern Canada.

Interesting story. I once saw a hawk land there, and sit at the very end of the runway for some time whilst a fire crew checked out what I believe were the brakes. I cant imagine how difficult it must have been to get a Beverley into there!

[John the Elderly]

For a glimpse of the 1968 Autair timetable that included flights to and from Brough (it's in as "HULL - Brough") go to a series of jpg images at
Index of /ttimages/complete/ou68 (http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/ou68) ;)

[John the Elderly]

Just found a new (and very good !) aerial shot of the airfield ... possibly taken in 2012 ?

The new embankment curving around the extremely pondy SE corner of the airfield is conspicuous (and land beyond that is to be sacrificed to the estuary as the waters rise... :)

The photo (by Stephen Blee) can be found at
Photos: - Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo//2081634/L/2081634.jpg)

OAP John

[John the Elderly]

I hear a rumour that the last Buccaneer to leave the Brough airfield site will do so tomorrow (Sunday Aug 18th) by road, to be taken to a museum.

BEYOND that, I have nothing: no timings, no verification, no details.

If true, I hope that someone gets a photo or 3 of this and uploads them somewhere accessible... that someone would have been me but my camera was nicked while I was at the NEC last weekend :-/

OAP John

[Big Eric]

Details here :- BBC News - Brough motorists warned of Buccaneer aircraft move (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-23724010)

[John the Elderly]

Ah ... thank-you for that, BigEric !!

So the road outside the airfield is closed to traffic from 0600 to 0800 tomorrow, and the aircraft is going to the Yorkshire Air Museum.

That's all good and at least it will be viewable from a closer distance there :)

Many thanks !

[Basil]

I flew Aztecs out of Brough for Humber Airways in 1973. Yup, Arthur Ramsden and John Clutterbuck.
I do recollect that, taking off towards the chimney in low vis, the main thing at the front of one's mind was, no matter what happens, TURN RIGHT immediately!
John Clutterbuck - "The job isn't finished till the paperwork is complete." (Accompanied by amusing cartoon of kid on potty).
Arthur Ramsden - "Lack of moral fibre!" (Upon my late return due delays at staging points)
Leavesden did a very good PAR - only one I recollect in civil aviation.
We also used Paull a lot - home made pundit and NDB.
Arrived back one night to find front seat reserved at flying club strip show (I'll draw a blind over the antics of one or two members ;)

[John the Elderly]

Timed for 7am, the Buccaneer did finally get away from Brough at around 10.10am, having been held up by a parked car on the exit road: a hired car, apparently, and for which permission was eventually received for it to be towed away.

The Buccaneer actually got away at the time it should have been arriving at Elvington ;-)

[Sir George Cayley]

Photos we need photos!

Of the Hire Car;)

SGC

[chevvron]

Basil: Leaveseden had a Plessey 424 radar and did half mile SRAs; they didn't have a PAR.

[DaveReidUK]

Photos we need photos!Courtesy of the BBC:

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/69348000/jpg/_69348842_plane.jpg

BBC News - Brough to Elvington journey for Buccaneer XV168 aircraft (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23746350)

[DaveReidUK]

And another great shot:

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/69348000/jpg/_69348966_planea63carl.jpg

[N707ZS]

Was it just a gate guard?

[DaveReidUK]

Was it just a gate guard?Not exactly. It used to sit on a hardstanding adjacent to the 12 threshold, although it was viewable from the Saltgrounds Road/Skillings Lane gate.

[N707ZS]

Thanks, was wondering if they used it for test flights, but seems not. Good to see its gone to a good home.

[thing]

I fly around that area and occasionally it's notamed for 'fast jet operations'. Anyone know what that's about?

[SpringHeeledJack]

Perhaps they still fly Hawks in for reasons technical ?



SHJ

[thing]

The notams are more of the 'fast jet operations will take place at a radius of blah around Brough' so not giving the impression of jets just arriving and departing.

[aw ditor]

Basil

Was that the Arthur that suffered a Lightning Strike' over the North Sea one night?

AD.

[Phalconphixer]

Depicted here at 45'55" XP168 arrival at Brough on 15/19/93... the only Bucc ever to have flown into or out of Brough...

Blackburn Buccaneer - Full Story - YouTube

[1DC]

Got married in 1966 and went to live in Brough left in 1969.During that time Autair started flights to Luton, don't know when they stopped. Remember coming home about 0400 from a party and suddenly finding the street blocked and being directed into the entrance to a field while an aircraft went past from the factory, I assume it was a Buccaneer and looked massive.I know it was well before the breathalyser but i was crapping myself in case the copper wanted to talk to me and would smell my breath or hear my slurred speech, fortunately they were too busy..

[paull]

Was that the Arthur that suffered a Lightning Strike' over the North Sea one night?

I think I might have been on runway lighting duty that night (i.e. pointing headlights accross the end of). Arthur or "Jock" had not yet seen the funny side as he did a quick external inspection on landing. I seem to remember that some of the cargo (divers coming in from AMS) were so pissed they did not even notice. I think it was the second approach that worried him the most, he thought they had come back to finish the job.

I just googled the man, I hope I am wrong , but I fear he passed away in 2006, hopefully somone has the full story, and don't even get me started on his short takeoff in the Islander at the air display - Even the Red Arrows commentator was running for the ladder!

[SteveRudd]

Hello - I am a newbie so please be gentle.

I joined because I found this thread in response to a google search concerning some research about a book I'm working on.

I lived in Brough from 1965 when we moved there from East Hull until 1973 when I went to University. My dad was a fitter at Blackburns and worked night shifts at Brough and HOSM (the satellite site)

When he first started, they were working on things like the Beverley, by the time he retired, he was working on the Harrier and on Airbus Wings. I remember particularly (though I was living away by then) the hoohah in 1982 when the Falklands blew up and everything went totally ****nastic with them working on Harriers 24/7.

Anyway, I remember Brough airfield. When I was a kid I used to sit on the end of the slipway (now demolished) where Blackburns used to launch the seaplanes onto the Humber to test them in the 1930s. My Mum worked ion the Flying School on Brough Airfield and that's how she met my Dad. Both Mum and Dad used to get taken up for "flips" in various aircraft, including the Beverley and a Dragon Rapide which they used to have at Brough. One day, my Mum got taken up in the Dragon Rapide and the pilot decided to "buzz" Welton church tower. When she got home that night (she lived in Welton) my Granny said to her, "Eeh, you should have been here today, some bloody fool in an aeroplane nearly flew into t'church tower". My mother replied "I know. I was in the aeroplane".

I remember as a kid/teenager seeing the Chipmunks of 1324 ATC Squadron flying over in formation, I remember seeing the Buccaneer, various others including the Vulcan, a Shackleton flying over from time to time, and of course the B2, which I gather is now at Duxford*. I also recall that my dad was there the day Sailor Parker crashed the Buccaneer at HOSM while they were practising a bomb toss manoeuvre on a low pass. We were still living in Hull then. Must have been 1963? Both Parker and the co-pilot died because although they ejected, they landed in the flames of the crashed plane.

They used to take the Buccaneers by road from the factory to HOSM on a big low loader called the "Queen Mary" - the bloke who used to drive it, Ken Boddy, lived diagonally opposite from us. He had a dog called Mandy, if that helps in any way.

I remember the Autair flights to London because I used to lie in bed and listen to them revving up their engines prior to takeoff. It was like a second alarm clock. Time to get up and go to school.

Thanks for letting me witter on. It's been like a trip down memory lane. It's a shame that Brough is no more. If I can find them, and work out how to do it, I'll post a couple of pictures of my dad a) with the Beverley and b) with the B2.

[SteveRudd]

Sad to say, owing to low intelligence and a lack of ability on my part, I have failed to upload either picture! :\

[FritzFreer]

Hi Learjet50, on your post about Brough I read your remarks and want to query the ‘infamous’ reference to Arthur Ramsden. I knew him quite well and got to this thread while I was researching Arthur. I remember him getting in trouble for flying under the Humber bridge while it was under construction. I recall he and another (never knew who) was following the river in inclement weather and went Under the span. Workers were alarmed and made a complaint. Yet I can’t find anything on it. I think he was disciplined by the CAA. Do you or any other thread readers know more?

[FritzFreer]

Hi Basil I was excited to see your post about my friend Arthur. In 1975-‘79 I flew with Arthur as often as I could while I was on Royal Navy leave. He was running NPD Aviation then and had 4 or 5 Aztecs and 1 or 2 Chieftains. I had a hoot of a time and got to hear lots of his antics. I remember a couple of the pilots he had. Namely Brent and another whose name escapes me but I remember he had a fantastic job in the RAF flying the then new Harrier around the world showing it off.
Anyway I got to this forum while I was searching for information on when Arthur flew under the Humber bridge and got in trouble with the CAA. Do you know any more on that? It would be great to fill in some of his history and maybe I could share some of the stories from then.