Interesting airfield with things to see/do nearby

[PelicanSquawk]

Hi all,

As the title suggests I'm looking for recommendations for interesting airfields to fly to, and by interesting I mean more that there is something to see/do other than "a great Cafe". I am currently doing hours building for my ATPL and I have a couple of friends who want to come for a ride, but we would like to make a day of it and either go to the beach, or go somewhere of interest, so far a lot of the airfields I've looked into are in the middle of no where, so ideally somewhere close to something. Also don't want to be flying up to Scotland...so something in the region of 1.5 hours - 2 hours one way max really, and I'm based in Elstree North London.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

PS

[ChampChump]

Sandown, a short walk to the beach. Bembridge, a slightly longer walk.

Clacton, five minutes from the beach.

Old Warden, because it is.

If you're short strip capable and comfortable, I have other suggestions.

[Forfoxake]

Hi all,

As the title suggests I'm looking for recommendations for interesting airfields to fly to, and by interesting I mean more that there is something to see/do other than "a great Cafe". I am currently doing hours building for my ATPL and I have a couple of friends who want to come for a ride, but we would like to make a day of it and either go to the beach, or go somewhere of interest, so far a lot of the airfields I've looked into are in the middle of no where, so ideally somewhere close to something. Also don't want to be flying up to Scotland...so something in the region of 1.5 hours - 2 hours one way max really, and I'm based in Elstree North London.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

PS

Astounded/disappointed that you don't want to fly to the wonderful scenery in Scotland!

However, down south, as we call it up here, I can recommend Duxford and Old Warden (Shuttleworth). Breighton is also nice if you do venture a bit further north!

[Forfoxake]

PS By excluding Scotland, you are missing the chance to actually LAND on the beach at Barra or Sollas!

[pulse1]

Apart from a reasonable restaurant, Old Sarum has the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection which comprises a large selection of the cockpits of many jets plus a few whole ones. You can sit in most of the cockpits.

[Grummaniser]

Alderney? Don't know how it is these days but went there years ago, hired bikes near the airfield and found a nice restaurant a short cycle ride away. Has that special cache of being somewhere you can't do on a day trip by any other means of transport too.
Dave

[Forfoxake]

Stow Maries, if you are interested in WW1 airfields (and the Montrose fly-in on 25th/26th August if you do get north of the border).

Damyns Hall probably worth a visit now that the Tiger Club is based there and Elvington for the Yorkshire Air Museum. And East Kirkby for the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre.

And, above all, why not fly into the LAA rally at Sywell on August 31st to Sept. 2nd? (Remember to book a slot and read the NOTAM!)

[Forfoxake]

PS Also watch out for the date of the Northern Aviators annual fly-in at Druridge Bay, literally a stone's throw away from a lovely beach.

[strake]

Le Touquet, Calais, Oostende....beaches, food, drink, supermarkets etc

[Sam Rutherford]

Dependent your ability, a whole world of private strips!

[chevvron]

Farnborough.
F.A.S.T. museum adjoining the airfield.
Tomb of Emporer Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie in Farnborough Abbey (and the French want them back)
Several Army Museums in nearby Aldershot plus the RAMC museum including the Dental Museum at Mytchett, near the house where Rudolf Hess was incarcerated.
Cody's House at Ash Vale (not open to the public)
Astronomical landing/mandatory handling fees. :*

[Piper.Classique]

Land at Blackbushe.... Is the other side of the road.

[strake]

Farnborough.
F.A.S.T. museum adjoining the airfield.
Tomb of Emporer Napoleon 111 and Empress Eugenie in Farnborough Abbey (and the French want them back)
Several Army Museums in nearby Aldershot plus the RAMC museum including the Dental Museum at Mytchett, near the house where Rudolf Hess was incarcerated.
Cody's House at Ash Vale (not open to the public)
Astronomical landing/mandatory handling fees. https://www.pprune.org/images/smilies/bah.gif

......and my house. Which is rented out or I'd invite you in for a strong cup of tea to help you recover following the small mortgage you'll pay in landing fees..:eek:

[TheOddOne]

Perranporth, in Cornwall. Stunning cliff-top location. Beautiful cliff path walk down to Perranporth town, with one of the top 10 beaches in the World. Most folk get a cab back up if they've had a substantial lunch.

TOO

[Jan Olieslagers]

Dependent on your plane's performance (did you tell us the type, or at least the speed?) EBAW Antwerpen might be nice: the Stampe & Vertongen museum is worth a visit from every aviator. Restaurant, too, fuel, customs, what more do you want? Especially if staying overnight, any females would love shopping downtown (very near!) and/or visit the fashion exhibitions or the diamond museum.

[Jan Olieslagers]

Emporer Napoleon 111 Sorry for nitpicking, but in the way of emperors France never got beyond a handful, never more than ten let alone a hundred.

[BigEndBob]

The museum airfields, Duxford, Kirkby, RNAS Yeovilton, RAF Cosford. One of the airfields near York, taxi to railway museum.
Skegness water park. Blackpool for the chocolate sea.

[Planemike]

Sorry for nitpicking, but in the way of emperors France never got beyond a handful, never more than ten let alone a hundred.
Should be Napoleon III.............!!

[Gault]

Old Warden goes without saying, Wellesbourne to have a look at the Vulcan, St mary's for the stunning scenery when imbound and interesting view on final...many more but I'm off to go rife me bike

[PelicanSquawk]

Thank you all so much for these replies! I am going to be referring back to this list for some time!

to answer some of the questions:

Plane type is an AA5.

I would love to go to Scotland, but feel its best to do that for a weekend, when I have more time to appreciate it!

I love the look of some of the islands, and trips to Europe, unfortunately I don't have life jackets/PLB handy, so I'm going to keep it simple and stick to UK.

I'm going to take a better look this evening at all of the options.

Thanks again!

[PelicanSquawk]

Caernarvon in North Wales is quite an interesting destination being close to Snowdonia and the Town has it's Castle. On a nice summers day you could almost imagine you are landing at a Greek airfield. On the way you could pop into Welshpool and then over the Mountains to the cost. If the National Trust is your cup of tea then Powis Castle is a twenty minute walk from Welshpool aerodrome.

Thanks for this, I was considering it. I've not yet flown in "mountainous" regions, apart from keeping an eye on the weather, is there much more I need to be aware of for a flight to Caernarvon?

[A and C]

Sandtoft........ trollybus museum within walking distance.

[Pilot DAR]

If you can venture as far as Munich, Germany, I recommend Oberschleißheim airport, just north of Munich. There is a great air museum there, with a number of one of a kind aircraft. Airfield, museum, food and accommodation are all within walking distance.

[Forfoxake]

If we are now talking airfields in Germany with great aircraft museums, I can thoroughly recommend Speyer. And it's nearer to Elstree than Dornoch in Scotland, another airfield with a nice beach nearby.

Sinsheim has a similar museum to Speyer but is a little further away from the airfield, I understand. For a more modest aviation, but very friendly family, museum on an airfield in the Black Forest, try Schwenningen (EDTS).

[Jan Olieslagers]

@Pilot DAR: That museum is great indeed, and there is a nice country house just to the North, too. But T/S mentioned 1,5-2 hours from Elstree; depending on plane performance that might get him to Antwerp, perhaps, but not to Bavaria.

@Forfoxake: I never heard of a museum in Schwenningen, will definitely have a look, thanks!

[Forfoxake]

@Forfoxake: I never heard of a museum in Schwenningen, will definitely have a look, thanks!Internationales Luftfahrtmuseum


Spittelbronner Weg 62, 78056 Villingen-Schwenningen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany


You can access this museum direct from the airfield and there is also a nice (Italian) restaurant overlooking the airfield.

[3wheels]

Stow Maries, if you are interested in WW1 airfields !)

Arent they terribly restricted nowadays?

[sharpend]

Perranporth, in Cornwall. Stunning cliff-top location. Beautiful cliff path walk down to Perranporth town, with one of the top 10 beaches in the World. Most folk get a cab back up if they've had a substantial lunch.

TOO
I flew in to Perranporth in June. Not impressed. PM me if you wish to know why.

However, Solent is now a little treasure. Glenforsa to, but a long way.

[Coda]

Great thread, should be a sticky! I'm going to bookmark it in any case, for when I move to the UK.

[PelicanSquawk]

Thanks all for the replies! I ended up flying into Swansea, and we went to the beach! Unfortunately they had ran out of Avgas just as we arrived, and then Pembrey the machine was broken..so I ended up having to fly to Haverfordwest to get some! All in all, chocks to chocks I logged 5 hours! A friend met us at Swansea and we drove to the beach, which was nice. Not many facilities at Swansea, and the landing fee is expensive £18 (x2 as I had to go off to find fuel and come back), the staff though were very friendly. I feel it could be a great airfield as its located in the beautiful Gower, all it would need is a nice cafe and some bike rentals or something...we were lucky to have a friend with a car.

Thanks again all for your help.

PS

[Jan Olieslagers]

for when I move to the UK
Are you sure you want that? At least for private flying it seems clear to me that you are much better off where you are now!

[Coda]

Are you sure you want that? At least for private flying it seems clear to me that you are much better off where you are now!
Nope. Don't have a choice I'm afraid. :(

[Dan Winterland]

St Mary's, Isles of Scilly. Very pretty, the whole Island can be walked in about 2 hours. Lots of nice places to gab a bite to eat.

[papa_sierra]

Weybourne Camp, Norfolk, home of the The Muckleburgh Collection, the UK's largest privately owned working Military Collection of tanks. Quite a while since I visited, but I doubt if it has changed much. Interesting approach and landing and parked by the 'signing in caravan'. Was then picked up and driven to the Museum by Squadron Leader Berry Savory the founder of the Museum, a lovely character no longer with us. Always took a picnic to enjoy on the beach.

[Forfoxake]

PelicanSquawk, you might be interested in this:Dear LAA Co-ordinator/Chairman,Please pass this email onto your fellow strut members.This coming Saturday 4th August is the LAA Duxford Bonus Day. This promotion between ourselves and The Imperial War Museum at Duxford allows you to fly into the aerodrome, so you and a passenger can look around the museum and airfield for only £8.00. This offers a huge saving to one of the best ex wartime airfields in the UK. If you wish to go by car/bike, the offer also applies. Simply show your LAA membership card or use the voucher that was printed in the July edition of LAA magazine Light Aviation in both cases. Both are allowed, as Duxford are aware. LAA Pilots - Please call the tower to book a slot during the week on ; 01223 833376. Airfield open from 10.00 local. Our LAA Suffolk Coast Strut will he on hand to collect fees at £8 per aircraft in the briefing room, underneath the control tower.LAA drive-ins, To pay at main admissions entrance by car park, Please show voucher or membership card at £8 per car, max two people.Briefing room will be shared with Classic Wings who are running Spitfire flights as well as their normal ops.Tea and coffee available when booking in at the tower.Fingers crossed for some great weather. We hope you enjoy your day. RegardsNeil WilsonMarketing & Advertisingwww.laa.uk.com (http://www.laa.uk.com/) • +44 (0)7512 773 532

[Forfoxake]

I understand there is an airshow at East Kirkby this Saturday (August 4th) but you can still fly-in- check details on lincsaviation.co.uk

[Jan Olieslagers]

As I hear on the radio news, Scotland and Ireland might have a bit of cool and perhaps even rain on offer - interesting to see, for many in Europe, these days!

Seriously, though: next Sunday I'll be off to Brienne le Chateau LFFN for the yearly RSA meeting.

[PelicanSquawk]

Thanks all again...Duxford offer looks good, although I flew there a few weeks ago with my dad. I'm going to be flying to Isel of Wight this weekend, as there is the Cowes regatta thing. Any one recommend which airfield to fly into?

[pulse1]

Any one recommend which airfield to fly into?

Sandown has by far the better facilities, fuel, cafe etc.

[chevvron]

Thanks all again...Duxford offer looks good, although I flew there a few weeks ago with my dad. I'm going to be flying to Isel of Wight this weekend, as there is the Cowes regatta thing. Any one recommend which airfield to fly into?
Back in the '50s there was an airfield at Cowes; west bank about a mile inland; could be where the Plessey Radar factory used to be..