Hey,


Does any one know of a contact number for the strip. Its literally 200m east of the aviation museum!


Cheers

Why not give the Aviation Museum a call - they will know! It might even belong to them.....

01790 763207

Ripline

Why not simply use the Museum's grass/concrete strip (http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/flying-in-to-east-kirkby/)?

callum

The 'concrete strip' is all that remains of the old RAF East Kirkby runways. The museum runs tours around the perimeter track of the old airfield as it all belongs to them. As Talkdownman says, the museum has a new grass strip and make visiting pilots very welcome (so long as you obey their rules).

Dave

There is a 500m grass strip at Loxley (1.5nm SE of East Kirkby) here are the last details I had for them, may be worth a try...

COORDINATES : 53:07:36 N, 0:01:43 E
RUNWAY 30/12 - 500 METRES.
WIRES AT THE END OF 30.
PPR ON THE DAY.
TEL 01790 763252

GW

The concrete strip belongs to a farmer (not the Pantons) and used to be used for motor bike training. Until a few years ago it was also the landing strip for the museum until they opened up the current one.

I think i'll just use the museum strip. I'm flying up on saturday. Talkdownman, is the strip pretty smooth or does it have lumps and bumps ect?


Thanks

A hundred or so of us used the museum strip a couple of years ago for Project Propeller. The big square grass field is part of their runway, with transition to the concrete if you need it.

Nearly everybody managed to use the grass bit only, which was in excellent condition. The concrete and transition looked OK too.

Although they have a runway, I think you could just land into wind in any direction on the grass, subject to permission of course.

Callum,

You'll have a great time at East Kirkby. Super place. I've been there a few times and the grass strip has always been in good condition (I'd recommend staying on the grass and avoiding the concrete). I've had no problem getting in and out, even with a heavy C182. It's been a bit wet recently, so I'd talk to them in the week about the condition of the field. In flight, I'd recommend talking to Coningsby inbound (and don't call them conington or cottesmore as I am prone to doing) and then announce your intentions on safetycom as you enter the circuit.

They have plenty of bacon and an awesome collection of tea-towels (to placate the lady pilot in my life).

Elvington is also worth a trip if you enjoy East Kirkby.

Great, ill try and keep on the grass! I'm flying there in a Slingsby so the runway length is ample. Cheers for the help guys! Can't wait to see the DC-3, never seen one in the flesh before!

tea-towels (to placate the lady pilot in my life)Blimey! If I tried to placate the lady in my life by buying her a tea towel, I'd be lucky to get out of the house alive!!

Talkdownman, is the strip pretty smooth or does it have lumps and bumps ect?
It's a couple of years since I flew in there. As a precaution I landed on the immaculate grass but later checked the transition during taxy outbound and found it to be very smooth during the subsequent take-off. I found the museum to be very evocative. Allow plenty of time, there's loads to see, everybody very friendly. Enjoy.

Billie - try melting her heart with one of these. If it doesn't work I shan't be surprised.

http://http://britishheritage.biz/Coastal_Command_Tea_Towel.htm (http://britishheritage.biz/Coastal_Command_Tea_Towel.htm)

P.s. I omitted to point out that yours truly is P1 on the tea towel.

Flew into East Kirkby a few weeks ago. In general, a rather simple approach (not above 500ft (H) on the Coningsby QFE). Blind calls within the circuit on SafetyCOM. Coningsby also requested ‘report letting down East Kirkby’.
Runways, although stated as 240-06 are not designated. I flew a PA28 Warrior and must admit to needing nearly the full length of the grass strip to come to a full stop on damp grass on the 240 degree Spitfire path. This was due partly to light winds and a slightly faster approach than desired. It is well worth checking the condition of the strip before departing to East Kirkby. (Also worth notifying Coningsby of your intentions and to check on flight operations).
The official Lincs Aviation websites recommends landing entirely on the concrete strip or the grass strip however if I were to return to EK I would be looking to round out over the concrete paving, touching down immediately after the transition between paving / grass to give maximum stopping distance. Grass was short and in good condition during my visit (however a concerted effort to keep the stick aft and weight off the nose wheel to prevent it digging in was made at all times).
I inspected the concrete paving before departure, noting that the concrete paved section was starting to break up in parts. Long weeds also growing up through the joints. I would avoid landing on this area unless you need the full stopping distance of the full airfield.
Incidentally, nobody came out to escort us from the parking area, so you could be waiting indefinitely if you follow the instructions on the Lincs Aviation website.
For departure I chose to line-up right at the far end of the concrete strip (240deg) and follow the Spit path. Join between concrete/grass is good (I smoothly hit the transition at 40 Ikts performance take-off). Coningsby then required me to maintain not above 500ft (H) on the Coningsby QFE until clear of the pan handle. The East Kirkby wind sock is not situated in the best position and is mainly obstructed from view when taxing.
I would approach the 06 landing direction with caution; there are high trees at the threshold end (I'd say up to 50ft) right at the airfield boundary. These obviously pose an obstruction and would significantly complicate the final decent and required stopping distance after touch down.
Hope this is of some use. Apologies if long winded.
POL1W

Great,

I didn't make it there this weekend but hope to go there in a few week's before my trip around Europe!

Nice helpful post POL1W. Did you contact Coningsby immediately after becoming airborne (ie no safetycom) or before take off?
Do you know the approximate length of each section of runway (ie the length of the concrete section, and the length of the grass?)

Flying in to East Kirkby - Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre (http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/flying-in-to-east-kirkby/)

Flybymike:


Lincs aviation website states:

Landing Strip Length- Grass-590m, Concrete-360m
Combined length of 950m (3000ft)

However 950m is nearer 3116ft if we want it bang on.

After departure I routed north over head Lincoln.

My only RT call on Safetycom during departure was 'GBXXX rolling runway24'. The next call once above 300ft(H) was the standard free call to Coningsby. kept us not above 500ft(H) until clear of the stub, then not above 1500ft(H) until clear of their MATZ. Was then kindly handed over to Waddington.

I did not speak to Coninsby until airborne.

Waddington was quite busy that day with heavies inbound during my crossing.

Many thanks to POL1W and FM!