Eastchurch-Isle of Sheppey

[Alvin Steele]

Looking at the quarter mil England South chart I see Eastchurch has an aerodrome marked on there, anyone got any info on the place?....is it possible to fly in there?
After a bit of a search I can't as yet track down any details.
As Eastchurch is a rather historical location in UK aviation history it would be nice to fly in there.
Any info gratefully received.
Thanks

Tim

[TheKentishFledgling]

I've seen an aeroplane park there a few times when flying over, so I guess it's "active".

Can't find my Lockyears at the moment, may be something in that.

tKF

[Jodelman]

The airstrip at Eastchurch is active but the owner, who operates a business from there, is reluctant to allow visitors in order to maintain his good relations with the local people.

The present airstrip is not on the site of the original Eastchurch aerodrome where so much of early aviation in the UK took place.

[Genghis the Engineer]

Best bet is to speak to Medway Microlights, who operate out of Stoke on the Isle of Grain next door. They'll be up to speed on the local restrictions and contacts.

There is a pub, I think at Eastchurch, where the Wright brothers used to drink with the Short brothers - a few interesting bits of memorabilia in there. But, I've only been there by road (and with somebody else who knew the way, so can't remember which pub it was).

G

[007helicopter]

You can get permission to land there, I will dig out a tel number for you in next few days.

Also correct me if wrong but I believe the first flight in the UK was there and they are planning a bash in 200? to celebrate the centenary and getting some sort of council / lottery funding for a museum.

Most of the old aerodrome aera is now a prison - convenient of you have any relatives to visit !!

[Red Top Comanche]

Guys

I spoke to guy a while back. He is OK with landing there but likes you to visit by car first for a briefing as its not the easiest place to get into (so he says).

Safe landing

RTC

:ooh:

[robinpiper]

Anybody know the length of the strip?
Contact name & number?

[pistongone]

I whent in there by car once and was told that due to the proximity of the prison visitors were not welcome. A company called Island Air run a small air taxi service with an aoc i believe. This is a map of the place, the arrow is pointing right at the runway. Maybe calling Rowetts farm would be a start.


http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=598105&y=171065&z=3&sv=598105,171065&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

[robinpiper]

For details of the project being planned for Eastchurch the home of british aviation can be seen at: http://www.theflyingstart.co.uk

Visited Eastchurch on many occasions by road but did not know british aviation started there. Hopefully access by air will be made available if the project gets the go ahead.

Support for what I can see is a worthwhile project is needed from any aviation related businesses.

Maybe BA could put a few quid in their pot, 150 million for the London Eye, hardily a monument to the start of aviation in the UK.

[cashstrappedpilot]

Some more information on aviation history at Eastchurch.

http://web.bethere.co.uk/colinfparsons/eastchurch/default.htm

[Genghis the Engineer]

There's without doubt a huge and rich aviation history at Sheppey - but to call it the home of British aviation seems a bit arrogant on somebody's part.

If any single place deserves that honour (which is very debateable) it would probably be Farnborough.

G

[cashstrappedpilot]

It would probably be better described as the “birth place of British Aviation”.



Some more history for you
http://www.royalaeroclub.org/history.htm