RAE Bedford

[Bergerie1]

Can anyone remember the designator for the main runway at Bedford in the late 1980s. Was it RW27 or RW26?

[Shackman]

In ERS for 1982 it was 09/27.

[Bergerie1]

Thanks, Shackman!

[kintyred]

IIRC mag variation was reducing then and a number of runways in the SE of England were redesignated in the 80s (including Farnborough if memory serves).

[Bergerie1]

Heathrow was too, it used to be 28L and 28R, any idea when it changed?

[Brian 48nav]

LL/LHR

I started there in '86 - still 28/10, IIRC changed in late '80s.

If you put your query on ATC Issues, Talkdown man or Heathrow Director will know.

[spekesoftly]

According to Heathrow Director, it was on the 2nd July 1987.

See his post #4 on the link below:-

Heathrow runway change from 28L to 27L

[Bergerie1]

spekesoftly,

That sounds about right. But going back to Bedford, did they change the designator there at about the same time, or was it always 09/27?

[spekesoftly]

Bergerie 1,

Sorry, I don't know if or when Bedford's runway designator changed. Like Shackman, I have an old ERS (mines dated Oct 1983) and it also shows 09/27.

[Bergerie1]

spekesoftly,

Does it, by any chance, also give the VHF tower frequency?

[spekesoftly]

Bergerie 1,

Yes, Tower VHF 130.0

I've also subsequently found an old UK AIP Aerodrome Chart for Bedford dated 22 Sep 2011, showing RWY 08/26.

[sycamore]

The runway(1170yds) remaining for Mr Palmers guests is 27 at the E end,frq. 119.025....

[Chris Kebab]

Jan 92 it was still 09/27, an impressive 10,500ft

[Shackman]

And by Jun 92 BINA it was closed!

[potter_bb]

Originally Posted by sycamore

The runway(1170yds) remaining for Mr Palmers guests is 27 at the E end,frq. 119.025....

I wish Mr Palmer's guests would use it a little more often. I live a mile from the end of the runway, and like to see the odd plane or two on finals. We're treated to a good twenty minute beat-up by a Spitfire a couple of times a year. I can't imagine how busy the skies must have been when RAE Bedford was open, but I would have loved to have lived here when it was!

[Bonkey]

Is there anything left at Bedford of the steam catapult used for trials of carrier aircraft? I seem to recall that new FAA pilots of Sea Vixen, Buccaneer, Phantom etc in the 60s and 70s would have to experience a couple of launches from the land-based steam catapult at Bedford before embarking on a carrier?

Was this true?

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by kintyred

IIRC mag variation was reducing then and a number of runways in the SE of England were redesignated in the 80s (including Farnborough if memory serves).

Farnborough didn't change any runway designators in the '80s (but Heathrow did)
Farnborough runway 12/30 changed to runway 11/29 in about 1976
I got permission to change 07/25 to 06/24 in early/mid 2001. The new 'epoch' of variations (epochs last 4 years) didn't start until the end of the year but the runway was being re-surfaced and rather than paint it 07/25 and have to change again in Mar 2002 I got permission to re-designate it about 9 months early.

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by Bonkey

Is there anything left at Bedford of the steam catapult used for trials of carrier aircraft? I seem to recall that new FAA pilots of Sea Vixen, Buccaneer, Phantom etc in the 60s and 70s would have to experience a couple of launches from the land-based steam catapult at Bedford before embarking on a carrier?

Was this true?

I think all the catapult and arrestor gear has gone as this area is now part of Jonathan Palmer's driving school.
Sea Harrier pilots were sent there to experience the 'ski jump' too.

[kintyred]

Originally Posted by chevvron

Farnborough didn't change any runway designators in the '80s (but Heathrow did)
Farnborough runway 12/30 changed to runway 11/29 in about 1976
I got permission to change 07/25 to 06/24 in early/mid 2001. The new 'epoch' of variations (epochs last 4 years) didn't start until the end of the year but the runway was being re-surfaced and rather than paint it 07/25 and have to change again in Mar 2002 I got permission to re-designate it about 9 months early.

Thanks Chevvron. I think Odiham 28/10 changed too, but I'll not embarrass myself by hazarding a date this time!

[Bergerie1]

Was the short cross runway designated 18/36?