im amazed. thought i knew the area pretty well, (worked in esher). but ive never seen that runway before!
nor even heard of it.

Please remember also that Wisley is most definatly Private Property.

THe Runway is in amazing condition for something that has not been maintained for 30+ years. The length of the runway taken from a document I have in front of me is 6,690ft. This document details one of the test that our BAC 1-11 at Brooklands was going to do in 1970 whilst it was the 500 series prototype. The gravel test conducted was to see the stone trajectories before the aircraft was converted to the 475 series prototype.

Off topic but anyone coming down to the Dunsfold airshow on Sunday 27th ?? .

M5DND

An aside on events at Wisley.
1963?
One afternoon( I think during the school holiday period), I was overlooking the airfield at the Martyr's Green end.
BAC One Eleven G-ASHG turned finals, came very close as a/c did at that end, landed, reverse thrust was selected, the a/c swung off the runway to stbd and disappeared in a cloud of dust.
Port thrust reverser failure?
Does anyone have any info about this incident?
Will look at my log book for the period to determine the date.

Kieron - first observation - you are an older git than me. But no shame in that, I wish I'd been born a few years earlier!

Second is, just dis-intered a book from loft - G-ASHG appears to be BAC's prototype 1-11, c/n 4. FF 29/8/63 -eh? also says 20th Aug? - W/O Chicklade 22/10/63. Presumably the Mike Lithgow deep stall accident?

March '64, c/n 6 G-ASJB w/o Wisley. No details in my book (spotters production list), could this be the Lithgow prang?

Details please oh my knowledgeable brethren...

There is an excellent book available called "Silent Swift Superb, The Story of the Vickers VC10". The text details the development and building of the VC10 at Brooklands and flight testing from Wisley. There are many good photos from both locations to support the text. The book also describes route proving and in-service experiences from various operators. Well worth a read.

Thanks Treadigraph.

Yes I am older than you, blame my parents for that!

G-ASHG was indeed the prototype BAC One Eleven. I have the most vivid memory of the event, but my log book does not indicate which day, except that I saw G-ASHG three times at Wisley: 28th September 1963, 12th October 1963 and 19th October 1963.
Can anyone shed any light on this incident?

The crash which killed Mike Lithgow involved G-ASHG on 22nd October 1963.

From a BAC 1-11 website:

G-ASJB was involved in the accident in March 64 when the flight crew got into the pilot induced oscilation problem 3 times but the ground got in the way all 3 times.
The aircraft was seriouly damaged but the crew were all OK (show how strong the 1-11 is ! If You have seen the pictures You will know what I mean!!). It was then transported to Weybridge (Brooklands) for rebuild but wasn't completed.

I have spoken to some of the crew who were onboard and it sounded quite an event..

At Brooklands Museum We have part of the port wing of SJB on display.

M5dnd
Do you know how much of Victor Mike is going to Brooklands from Cosford?
Originally I heard it was the cockpit section, then the tail as a spare for the Brooklands Standard VC10, now I hear more spares are wanted.
It's tragic to see VM broken up. Can you cheer us up with any news that more will be saved?

<<G-ASHG BAC 1-11-200AB
Flying Prototype.
Rolled out 28-7-63.
F/F 20-8-63.
Time in air 27 mins.
Pilot G.R.Bryce.
Cr at Stonehill Copse ,Chirklade,nr Tisbury ,Wilts .22-10-63. Seven on board killed. >>

This surely cannot be correct? "Jock" Bryce was still alive and kicking in 2001. Or could there be two similarly named test pilots?

Flt.Lt. G.R.Bryce OBE was CTP Vickers Armstrongs until 1964 so could not possibly have died in the prototype One Eleven crash in 1963.

Lt.Cdr. M J Lithgow RN OBE DSC was piloting the ill fated One Eleven in 1963.

Do not believe everything you see on the internet, even on this forum!

Weybridge and TSR.2
 

I have childhood memories of the area around Weybridge as my father worked on the design of the TSR.2 (and previously the DH110).

He saw the cancellation coming and left first (in 1966), moving back to his native Scotland. From there I moved to Australia but I'm planning on visiting the UK this Christmas and I hope to see one of the preserved examples. The question is, Cosford or Duxford?

History of Wisley & One-Eleven accidents
 

Wisley was first discovered by Vickers' CTP Mutt Summers in 1941 and developed as a flight test centre for use by the firm in 1943 with a grass runway and large hangar.
In the War years and its aftermath a number of unusual types were based there for trials of "Highball" a smaller version of the Barnes Wallis "Upkeep" Dambuster bomb. Post-War for the development of Vickers guided missiles various non-Vickers aircraft including Meteors, Canberras and a Washington were based at Wisley. The Washington was written off in a spectacular accident in 1955 when a Valiant collided with it.
Some Vickers types made their maiden flights from there including the Valiant (on grass!) and the Viking and the Viscount. However generally in later years Vickers types made their maiden flights from Brooklands into Wisley.
The prototype One-Eleven made its first flight from Hurn on August 20, 1963 with BAC's CTP Jock Bryce at the controls. A few flights later it relocated to Wisley but crashed killing all seven on board on October 22, 1963 with Mike Lithgow (by then Vickers Deputy CTP) at the controls. The aircraft had entered a deep stall from which it was unable to recover.
The second production One-Eleven G-ASJB crashed at Wisley on March 18, 1963 as a result of a loss of control by the pilots . The undercarriage came off and one of the engines was virtually severed from its pylon. There were fortunately only minor injuries. The aircraft was dismantled and the fuselage returned to Hurn with the intention of rebuilding it but this was abandoned.
Wisley continued in use for the VC10 and One-Eleven trials but as these came to an end there was nothing to replace them and Wisley closed on April 14, 1972.

For those interested in Wisley, this is a good start:)

WISLEY
the story of Vickers' own airfield
an AIRFIELD FOCUS special
by Stephen Skinner
ISBN 1-904514-30-8
£9.99

Hope that helps.............:)
cracking read, makes one realise what we had..........lost:ugh:

Also for those mourning all things Vickers/BAC, the authorised biography of Sir George Edwards OM, by Robert Gardner is a compelling read.
ISBN 0-7509-4389-0
Whatever must he be thinking - casting his eye from a far - as BAe sells off the last vestige of the once proud/innovative civil a/c industry:hmm: Shocking:*

I managed to visit Brooklands last Saturday 11 Nov 2006. Hadn't been there for about eight years and especially wanted to view the Concorde G-BBDG.

The weather was kind so took quite a few photos!

http://firestorm.smugmug.com/photos/110367075-L.jpg

http://firestorm.smugmug.com/photos/110367077-L.jpg

http://firestorm.smugmug.com/photos/110367092-L.jpg

http://firestorm.smugmug.com/photos/110367082-L.jpg

http://firestorm.smugmug.com/photos/110367095-L.jpg

http://firestorm.smugmug.com/photos/110367115-L.jpg

http://firestorm.smugmug.com/photos/110367125-L.jpg

http://firestorm.smugmug.com/photos/110367129-L.jpg

http://firestorm.smugmug.com/photos/110367145-L.jpg

http://firestorm.smugmug.com/photos/110367149-L.jpg

http://firestorm.smugmug.com/photos/110367158-L.jpg

http://firestorm.smugmug.com/photos/110367165-L.jpg

http://firestorm.smugmug.com/photos/110367193-L.jpg

http://firestorm.smugmug.com/photos/110367203-L.jpg



The restoration project seems to be coming on well; I hope they manage to build a suitable building to house her in the near future!

ps. Other exhibits can be viewed here

OOT :ok:

I was also out and about on Saturday - the other airfield near Weybridge...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/Shefftim/Wis.jpg

Tim, were you perchance leaning out the back of a Chinook to take that?

Hey it's a good runway still, sort of... when I win the Euro Millions on Friday I could realise my dreams, buy it and turn it into a Duxford rival... Or Airborne Artiste could make me do a parachute jump and realise my nightmares...

...more like sitting on a freezing cold ramp of a Chinook brrrrr!

Poor ol' Wisley is doomed, thanks to the local Nimby population that evidently thwarts any attempt to conduct any aviation activity on the site:(

It might look in good condition, but as I said before, those footpaths crossing it have ARMCO barriers either side; I know if at least one guy who had engine failure nearby, landed safely on the runway, then wiped off his undercarriage on the said barrier.

WISLEY
Chevvron, which incident was that then, landing and hitting the barriers?
There is a big bus rally held on there around early April each year associated with the nearby Cobham Bus Museum.
I know they only just scraped by to get approval for that for a day.

Also, just opened on part of the former Brooklands site is "Mercedes Benz World", did anyone else see the searchlights in the sky last night?
The site opened to the public recently and is mostly owned by Mercedes Benz.
Brooklands is majorly re-developed now, shops, offices, warehouses, car parks etc etc.