Science Museum, Wroughton - Events
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Swindon, Wilts,UK
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Have a look at this Creative Planet
The link has been posted earlier in the thread. The Science Museum annouced last year that they were going to tear up all the runways and plant trees all over the site.
The local cynics have pointed out that the guy in charge of this used to work for Centre Parcs so this may be the first stage in turning the place into a holiday camp!
Have a look at this Creative Planet
The link has been posted earlier in the thread. The Science Museum annouced last year that they were going to tear up all the runways and plant trees all over the site.
The local cynics have pointed out that the guy in charge of this used to work for Centre Parcs so this may be the first stage in turning the place into a holiday camp!
Here's my 10 pennorthworth:
I have read your brochure for the Creative Planet with interest. The concept of Knowledge Farms is sound but should it be the preserve of a Museum? As one of the very few largely unaltered examples of a WW2 airfield shouldn't the prervation of the site in it's present state be of greater import? Knowledge Farms can be created anywhere, preferably on an inner city brown field site where there will be greater ease of access. The Imperial War Museum happily co-exists with commercial concerns at Duxford, the Science Museum could, after some maintenance work to the sadly neglected runway, do the same. This could make the airfield a tribute to the flyers who died in service to their country as well as an asset to the local community. Before the runways are removed, shouldn't an independant survey be done to reassure the tax paying public that their money is being used in their best interest? There are Government guidleines on the removal of aviation assets and I for one would like to see independant assurance that these are being observed.
C'mon Ppruners, get stuck in.
I have read your brochure for the Creative Planet with interest. The concept of Knowledge Farms is sound but should it be the preserve of a Museum? As one of the very few largely unaltered examples of a WW2 airfield shouldn't the prervation of the site in it's present state be of greater import? Knowledge Farms can be created anywhere, preferably on an inner city brown field site where there will be greater ease of access. The Imperial War Museum happily co-exists with commercial concerns at Duxford, the Science Museum could, after some maintenance work to the sadly neglected runway, do the same. This could make the airfield a tribute to the flyers who died in service to their country as well as an asset to the local community. Before the runways are removed, shouldn't an independant survey be done to reassure the tax paying public that their money is being used in their best interest? There are Government guidleines on the removal of aviation assets and I for one would like to see independant assurance that these are being observed.
C'mon Ppruners, get stuck in.
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Abingdon, Oxfordshire, U.K.
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Have you noticed how, once people other than flyers get hold of sites like this, they always fix it so that the site can never be restored as an airfield.
Brooklands:- cut the runway in half with a public road.
Cranfield:- (only one runway I know) Put a bluddy great building on the threshold. I'm sure space could have been found 100 yards off to one side.
Greenham common:- dig the runways up. Must have cost more than the spoil was worth and it looks, from the air as though there are still runways there. Some poor lost soul will eventually write off his aeroplane doing a forced landing on it.
Wroughton:- there wre plans to build a new facility there. I don't know if it has happened. Guess where! on the end of the short runway.
There are many more.
Don't people realise that airfields are valuable assets in their own right. They are very easy to close and impossible to build from scratch.
Mike W
L&S
Wroughton was never an 'operational' airfield. ( I stand to be corrected) As far as I know, it was always a maintenance unit where aircraft were received from the factory or repair shop and fitted out prior to delivery to the operational units. Windy Militant probably knows more about this. He was more involved than I was when we opened it up for the PFA Rally for those two or three years.
M
Brooklands:- cut the runway in half with a public road.
Cranfield:- (only one runway I know) Put a bluddy great building on the threshold. I'm sure space could have been found 100 yards off to one side.
Greenham common:- dig the runways up. Must have cost more than the spoil was worth and it looks, from the air as though there are still runways there. Some poor lost soul will eventually write off his aeroplane doing a forced landing on it.
Wroughton:- there wre plans to build a new facility there. I don't know if it has happened. Guess where! on the end of the short runway.
There are many more.
Don't people realise that airfields are valuable assets in their own right. They are very easy to close and impossible to build from scratch.
Mike W
L&S
Wroughton was never an 'operational' airfield. ( I stand to be corrected) As far as I know, it was always a maintenance unit where aircraft were received from the factory or repair shop and fitted out prior to delivery to the operational units. Windy Militant probably knows more about this. He was more involved than I was when we opened it up for the PFA Rally for those two or three years.
M
skylark I avoided saying it was an 'operational' WW2 airfield as I wasn't sure that it had been one. 
With the constant increase in the need for commercial runways in the UK the closing of any runway amazes me.
PS don't forget to make your comments known to the Museum.
With the constant increase in the need for commercial runways in the UK the closing of any runway amazes me.
PS don't forget to make your comments known to the Museum.
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Swindon, Wilts,UK
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Here's the place to let them know what you think about all this!
Tell us what you think
If you look at the Main Science Museum web site you'll be hard pressed to find any mention of Wroughton.
Here's a potted
History
Tell us what you think
If you look at the Main Science Museum web site you'll be hard pressed to find any mention of Wroughton.
Here's a potted
History
