Air Cadets grounded?
When I did my A&B in 1959, the 18 pre-solo launches included 3 simulated cable breaks at various heights, logged at 1 minute each. That tends to push the average down.
The 3 solos added up to 14 minutes, a solo launch gets rather more launch height.
(Average solo flight time in 2017 was 4 hrs 15 or thereabouts, but all in somewhat better performance machines).
The 3 solos added up to 14 minutes, a solo launch gets rather more launch height.
(Average solo flight time in 2017 was 4 hrs 15 or thereabouts, but all in somewhat better performance machines).
In any case the Surrey GC still operate there 7 days a week.
RAFKenley says,
Surrey Hills GC only operate Monday - Friday, originally so as not to conflict with 615 operations. However when the "pause" started I understand that they had the options of flying at weekends, but not enough members wanted to fly at weekends!
The local dog walkers then considered the airfield "theirs" at weekends and let their dogs roam freely on the active airfield. The gliding club provided doggy poo bags but the dog walkers thought that as it was public land they were not deemed necessary!
Things will have to change when the fence goes up, but obviously there will be the minority snowflakes who will object.
Let's get Kenley active again with Air Cadet flying. Well done Surrey Hills for keeping a flying presence there.
Although it is referred to as Kenley Common it isn't actually common land. There is the outer perimeter taxiway and land within, which is the active airfield and owned by the MOD. The area outside of this is owned by City of London; however, the public are permitted to walk on this area as public open space.
The local dog walkers then considered the airfield "theirs" at weekends and let their dogs roam freely on the active airfield. The gliding club provided doggy poo bags but the dog walkers thought that as it was public land they were not deemed necessary!
Things will have to change when the fence goes up, but obviously there will be the minority snowflakes who will object.
Let's get Kenley active again with Air Cadet flying. Well done Surrey Hills for keeping a flying presence there.
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I suspect that OC 2FTS is raising his public profile on Facebook in the hope of a knighthood for his services to the Air Training Corps and an extension of his contract until the age of 100.
If all else fails, back to my microlights again although they have developed vastly in performance since the '90s when I flew them at Halton, partly helped by Rotax developing more powerful 4 -stroke engines.
Kenley fence
Hi Chev
Kenley Airfield was built on land that was a City of London Common.
This is one a series of 'commons' that were intended to provide an open space for those that lived and worked in built up area's.
Kenley came into use for the 'realm' as an Aircraft acceptance park during the great war and the RAF Kept it on afterwards with a lease.
During the pre WW2
'expansion' the airfield was extended towards the west and the original Hayes Lane rerouted.(runways e-pens and peri-trac built).It was understood that Kenley could stay in RAF use for as long as required and even when fixed wing power flying ceased (about 1959) the camp and airfield continued albeit with the ATC (615GS) being the only flying unit.
Fast fwd to recent times when the City of London decided to remove the original boundary fence and encourage 'walkers' around the boundary which became halfway across the peri-trac. Various useless and expensive fencing options were mooted but all proved unworkable. Surrey Hills maintained a presence midweek; however the 'great pause' removed the 'busy' w-end element and therefore the public no doubt considered it fair game to 'roam'.
Kenley is now under the auspices of 2FTS so it is up to them to restore some sort of order by dealing with the City of London to achieve a sensible situation that allows access but stops 'wandering' across the operational area. Suggest Staff Cadet 'snipers' could be a new option. The other disgrace is that Kenley 'was' the most complete Battle of Britain airfield in original condition, and should have been preserved. The City of London destroyed many historical aspects and then 'listed' the ruins !!!!. From a ATC winch launch gliding aspect the airfield dimensions limited an average Mk3 launch to about 800 feet (3 mins) and cable breaks could be 'challenging'; however flying from such a famous location within sight of the capital it protected and with Croydon and Biggin Hill as neighbours there is no finer place for a Cadet to start his aviation 'Venture Adventure'.
Kenley Airfield was built on land that was a City of London Common.
This is one a series of 'commons' that were intended to provide an open space for those that lived and worked in built up area's.
Kenley came into use for the 'realm' as an Aircraft acceptance park during the great war and the RAF Kept it on afterwards with a lease.
During the pre WW2
'expansion' the airfield was extended towards the west and the original Hayes Lane rerouted.(runways e-pens and peri-trac built).It was understood that Kenley could stay in RAF use for as long as required and even when fixed wing power flying ceased (about 1959) the camp and airfield continued albeit with the ATC (615GS) being the only flying unit.
Fast fwd to recent times when the City of London decided to remove the original boundary fence and encourage 'walkers' around the boundary which became halfway across the peri-trac. Various useless and expensive fencing options were mooted but all proved unworkable. Surrey Hills maintained a presence midweek; however the 'great pause' removed the 'busy' w-end element and therefore the public no doubt considered it fair game to 'roam'.
Kenley is now under the auspices of 2FTS so it is up to them to restore some sort of order by dealing with the City of London to achieve a sensible situation that allows access but stops 'wandering' across the operational area. Suggest Staff Cadet 'snipers' could be a new option. The other disgrace is that Kenley 'was' the most complete Battle of Britain airfield in original condition, and should have been preserved. The City of London destroyed many historical aspects and then 'listed' the ruins !!!!. From a ATC winch launch gliding aspect the airfield dimensions limited an average Mk3 launch to about 800 feet (3 mins) and cable breaks could be 'challenging'; however flying from such a famous location within sight of the capital it protected and with Croydon and Biggin Hill as neighbours there is no finer place for a Cadet to start his aviation 'Venture Adventure'.
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This website:
Explore georeferenced maps - Map images - National Library of Scotland
Allows you to fade between current satellite view and old maps which clearly show Kenley Common.
Explore georeferenced maps - Map images - National Library of Scotland
Allows you to fade between current satellite view and old maps which clearly show Kenley Common.
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By 1977 I had joined the staff, during that years Easter course a first solo flown by a young cadet managed to over shoot and then ground loop through the fence, which was a simple construction of concrete posts every couple of meters with 3 strands of wire running betwixt posts, six inches from bottom and top of posts with one in the middle. This middle strand was set at neck height for anyone sat in a T21 or T31!! Luckily our out of control first soloist managed to put the nose between the only two posts where the wire was broken. substantial damage to struts and wings but the cadets who name eludes me was unscathed.
Early Kenly Map
Nice one TM.
One wonders why they chose to build quite such a substantial unit on that site, rather than expand Croydon. Add some 16 hangars plus associated accommodation and it was quite an operation. Flintfield house and Grove survived to be used in WW2 but the location was never able to take further expansion into the 'jet age'. Quite a 'survivor' is our Kenley, and safe from the incapable hands of the RAF as they do not own it. 'Listing' did nothing to protect the classic Officers mess, however the landing area will be preserved so we have to be thankful for that. I wonder if there is a long term plan for the actual hard runways and will check to see if they are 'listed'. The location is an actual modern day battlefield, and as such considering the historic meaning of the 1940 Battle of Britain there should be more consideration to its future upkeep, and it worries me to think that the numpties at 2FTS have any part of it. If C5 sells me the Mk3 I will ensure it gets to Kenley for the RAF 100th year.
One wonders why they chose to build quite such a substantial unit on that site, rather than expand Croydon. Add some 16 hangars plus associated accommodation and it was quite an operation. Flintfield house and Grove survived to be used in WW2 but the location was never able to take further expansion into the 'jet age'. Quite a 'survivor' is our Kenley, and safe from the incapable hands of the RAF as they do not own it. 'Listing' did nothing to protect the classic Officers mess, however the landing area will be preserved so we have to be thankful for that. I wonder if there is a long term plan for the actual hard runways and will check to see if they are 'listed'. The location is an actual modern day battlefield, and as such considering the historic meaning of the 1940 Battle of Britain there should be more consideration to its future upkeep, and it worries me to think that the numpties at 2FTS have any part of it. If C5 sells me the Mk3 I will ensure it gets to Kenley for the RAF 100th year.
There's a public right of way in the undershoot for runway 24 at Fairoaks which crosses airfield property so it's not fenced off. It's naturally a favourite with dog walkers 7 days a week but we rarely get problems from dogs running on the movement area and the owners rarely keep them on leads as they cross the runway undershoot.
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That’s not what our aregion are telling us 😗 I accept that wheels are in motion to resolve, but two weekends of cancelled flying on top of no gliding