Disused Airfield

[bowly]

Can anyone help me with determining the previous use (and name) of the disused airfield at this Lat/Long:

51 18' 24.09" N
0 27' 29.78" W

Many thanks

[Bo Nalls]

Wisley airfield (Vickers Armstrong/BAC test site) (http://jct001.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/page5.html)

[Arclite01]

Wisley is vast - and 1 end of the runway virtually touches the A3. I know because I drove along the whole length one day on my way back from Guilford.

It was actually killed off by loads of wealthy NIMBY's who insisted that the runway be broken up (it has speed barriers made of arnco embedded in the concrete at 50 yard intervals to stop boy racers) and wanted no aviation activity at all there.

A rumour was that local politicians flexed muscle in Whitehall to make sure nothing ever developed there with wings on it.

very sad.

Arc

[airborne_artist]

Here it is on Google Maps (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=wisley&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF-8&client=firefox-a&ll=51.306311,-0.461168&spn=0.014488,0.039139&t=k&z=14&om=0) - about 6,000 feet long :{ and there are several footpaths that cross it, and one that goes about half-way along its length. Footpaths map (http://www.multimap.com/maps/#t=l&map=51.30507,-0.46049%7C15%7C4&dp=841,823,801&loc=GB:51.323:-0.47605:14%7Cwisley%7CWisley,%20GU23%206). Ockham VOR is sited on the SE corner of the plot.

When was the runway disabled? Some PPruners (http://www.pprune.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-48535.html) made a visit in 2002, and found it intact.

Edited for rw length

[Out Of Trim]

airborne_artist

I measure the runway at Wisley to be more like around 6700 ft on google earth - which seems more likely as it used to have VC-10s and Valiants operating from there!

[airborne_artist]

OoT - good point - 4,000' might be challenging for a Vickers FunBus :}

The GE imagery is recent and high quality, and there's no sign of the Armco that Arclite mentions.

[The Helpful Stacker]

The armco runs either side of the footpaths that cross the runway.

[airborne_artist]

Thanks THS, that makes sense.

No sign of speed barriers made of arnco embedded in the concrete at 50 yard intervals to stop boy racers on Google though, Arclite?

[6Z3]

Alternative to developing Stansted mayhaps?

[airborne_artist]

With that rw orientation, length and location it'd make a perfect Bizjet/GA airfield for SW and C London. Quick access to/from Waterloo. Pretty handy for the business districts close to LHR as well.

[bowly]

Thanks all. I was amazed to discover this airfield the other day whilst out cycling. It certainly is in an ideal location for ease of travel into London. It is right next to the A3 and M25 and a rail link is very close. The runway has about 3 sets of barriers across its length but apart from that looks in reasonable nick. Such a shame to see somewhere like this left to fester.

[Arclite01]

Nothing will ever fly out of there again for 'political' reasons - trust me - and I'm as irritated by that as anyone - and I think it's a real waste of 6000' of runway too !

Actually approaches would be interesting though 'cause the trees are high and there is no overshoot/undershoot area.

Dunno where the rest of the Arnco has gone though - was last there about 5 years ago.

Arclite

[chevvron]

About 15 or 20 years ago(possibly longer), a guy in a Jodel had engine failure near there, put it down safely on the runway, then got his undercarriage ripped off by the Armco.

[airborne_artist]

Of course it's also a brownfield site, but don't expect Broon's enthusiasm for house-building to result in new homes on the plot..

All flying is now very bad, you understand, so politicians can not be seen to be allowing new runways/airfields to be opened :ugh:

[Al R]

I often go rallying near Colsterworth, just off the A1 in S Lincs. It used to be RAF North Witham and it was from this quiet and crumbling wood that D Day really began when the PF Force took off from there, on June 5th. We have forgotten the vital role this place played in our heritage and history, which is almost shameful. Why do we do this? Do we have no pride or sense of continuity for our future generations? Can we not at least, preserve the tower and 25 metres of runway?

I'll post some fots later if anyone is interested (well, I'll post them anyway, even if you're not) but as this is about to drop off the bottom, I thought I'd better at least preserve a thread about the place before it too, dissapears.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_North_Witham