With the ever growing new breed of light GA aircraft ideally needing a hard surface runway to operate from the central South Coast area is in dire need of not only keeping Lee, but may be even opening another airfield in the area, not close one. For a conurbation the size of Portsmouth and Southampton not to have access to a GA field is unbelievable.
Bournemouth is far to the west but we are picking up members to our group there who live in the Gosport area and it would be a great help to be able to position our group plane there from time to time to help them out.
I know of no other airfield that could offer potential fly-in visitors so much naval heritage on its doorstep, which if the airfield remains open should be promoted to the full.
I am a member of the International Grumman owners club and it can sometimes be a challenge to find a suitable venue for our Annual European Convention. What a venue Lee would make, so many attractions to entertain our guests. It’s excellent position on the coast allowing fly in visitors from abroad to route along the south coast avoiding any lowish cloud all the way from Lydd or Dover. It could be a big draw for many other association fly-ins also.