Originally Posted by
safetypee
Bedford late 1970s
09/27
06/24
18/36 - inactive due to adjacent ‘hover pit’ for Harrier.
There was a secondary 24 runway displaced north; used for arrestor system trials and latter as HMS Bedford - full night lighting mock up of an aircraft carrier for Harrier night operations at sea.
The catapult was also aligned 24, again north of the arrestor runway, and as AFAIR the ski jump run up runway was parallel to the catapult overrun area.
There was a northerly sled track at some time but rarely used. Also a ‘rolling deck’ representation of ships motion for helicopter tests.
A helicopter manoeuvrability / agility test course was marked out between 06/24 and the arrestor 24 runway.
The defunct Naval Air Department - NAD, towards the northern boundary became RRE.
The 'hover pit' was put in for the SC1 although the Harrier did use it later.
On a visit to Bedford in 1974 I was told that the Devons would still use 18/36 in a strong north or south wind in spite of the VTOL pit.
Twinwoods was still used occasionally by the ferry in those days.(At least it was still available according to the Farnborough FOB).