OK, here's a thing. I hereby register a claim to have conducted the last ever take-off of a fixed-wing aircraft from Westcott having flown a PA28 (G-BRXC) out of there on 22 Aug 1996. The aircraft had been landed on the remains of the north easterly runway by an Oxford student following an 'engine failure' - oddly enough, by the time the engineer and I got there the engine performed perfectly (perhaps the ice had melted in the summer sun - who knows?). Anybody care to claim a later take-off?
I shudder to think how many hours I've spent with students practising holds and NDB approaches on the WCO beacon - you'd think I'd have got it right by now!!
Otmoor was also used by Oxford for helicopter low-level and confined area training - but only when the rifle range was inactive. It was then acquired as an RSPB reserve and we had to go elsewhere, Cornbury Park as I recall.
Edited to add - The terminus of the Brill Tramway is now the site of a rather fine micro brewery. Vale Pale Ale mmmmmmmmmm!
Last edited by XX514; 17th Jul 2011 at 21:32.