Getting permission to take-off from Croydon for Australia flight

[mand26]

Hi, I’m looking to recreate Amy Johnson’s 1930 flight from London to Darwin next month. I heard that someone managed permission just a couple of years ago to actually take off from Croydon (even though it has been closed for years) – as Amy did. Before I approach them, does anyone know how/when it was done before?
Thank You
Blue skies
Amanda

[YODI]

5 minutes after reading your post, this popped up on my facebook from 'Flyer'

https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Mike-Wigg

[alex90]

I was under the impression that London Croydon had mostly been developed over. I thought the only remaining part of the runway was 120m of concrete? Perhaps I am wrong...

A flyby was held back in 2009 - but I thought that it was literally just a flyby? (Ie not touching down).

As an alternative - there is a rather long (and only slight gradient) on the playing fields to the east, I think they're called Purley Playing Fields. Which seem clear and most certainly able to land a plane there, and it is only on the other side of the road. Getting permission to do that may be tricky...!

However irrespective of that - you will be in the London zone, within controlled airspace, and abiding by the glide clear rule / 1000ft rule you may need to work something out with ATC as well...

You could always take off from Biggin, and request special clearance to do a flyby at Croydon! Perhaps the closest it can get?

[treadigraph]

Most of the runway area is a public open space and left as meadow in the summer; most of it is London Borough of Sutton, the boundary with Croydon runs parallel with and a few hundred feet from the Purley Way.

The Tiger Club twice ran airshows on the site in conjunction with LB Sutton in 1980 (celebrating 50th anniversary of Amy Johnson's flight complete with Ron Souch's Gipsy Moth) and 1988, creating a strip sufficient for Ray Hanna to get the Spitfire in! The 2009 event was a flypast by the Tiger Club and I don't think anyone has landed there since '88.

The Croydon owned playing fields on the other side of Purley Way are football pitches.

The joy riding Tigers from Redhill overfly the area regularly.

Good luck!

[2 sheds]

you will be in the London zone, within controlled airspace,

I suspect that you are thinking of the Metropolitan Control Zone!

2 s

[mand26]

I know it’s ‘almost impossible’, but keen to give it my best shot. Anyone have any unusual/interesting friends who might be able to nudge a yes out of people? It’s the most authentic start to the expedition, if it’s possible.

[treadigraph]

Amanda, you could try Tom Brake (http://www.tombrake.co.uk/) who is Lib Dem MP for Wallington and Carshalton, part of LB Sutton - my colleague who lives in the ward says Tom is very helpful and always responds. He might even like old aeroplanes and challenges.