RAF Henlow
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Thread Starter
Station is due to close in 2023 however there's a rumour the airfield alone may re-open after some 'risk management' has taken place; let 'em build the houses on the domestic site, plenty of room there..
Some of the hangars are 'listed' so cannot be demolished; the T2 on the eastside which housed some aircraft in store for the RAF Museum has already gone as has the large hangar which used to be near the 25 yd range on the west side. The 'listed' control tower (made from Hurricane packing cases) has gone too.
Only visited once; lovely long grass runways but with the demise of the gliding school (see 'Air Cadets Grounded' thread) there was only the flying club abd some privately owned aircraft.
Some of the hangars are 'listed' so cannot be demolished; the T2 on the eastside which housed some aircraft in store for the RAF Museum has already gone as has the large hangar which used to be near the 25 yd range on the west side. The 'listed' control tower (made from Hurricane packing cases) has gone too.
Only visited once; lovely long grass runways but with the demise of the gliding school (see 'Air Cadets Grounded' thread) there was only the flying club abd some privately owned aircraft.
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Nothing like giving advance notice.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...herts-51840411
A flying club has been told it can no longer train pilots or offer recreational flights from an RAF base.
Henlow Flying Club was told by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) that it could not fly from the airfield at RAF Henlow from Thursday.
The club said it would have "no option but to close" unless the issue was resolved.
A spokesperson said the government "remains committed to the phased drawdown and disposal" of the base.
The club, which was informed of the move three weeks ago, will be able to remain on the site but not to fly aircraft from it.
The decision came as the airfield's manager stepped down. The role will not be replaced and the MoD said "all civilian flying" must cease.
Henlow Flying Club was told by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) that it could not fly from the airfield at RAF Henlow from Thursday.
The club said it would have "no option but to close" unless the issue was resolved.
A spokesperson said the government "remains committed to the phased drawdown and disposal" of the base.
The club, which was informed of the move three weeks ago, will be able to remain on the site but not to fly aircraft from it.
The decision came as the airfield's manager stepped down. The role will not be replaced and the MoD said "all civilian flying" must cease.
Shame - enjoyed a stroll around the grass airfield perimeter watching a tiger moth carrying out touch and goes while I was visiting for an aviation medical. Sadly, I expect the gain from housing development will prevent any future owner keeping the airstrip (and golf-course?) open. Guess my next visit to RAFCAM will be to Cranwell. (Lets not mention the never-occupied centrifuge hall at Henlow that is still sitting there...rumour was it was built too small for the equipment?)
RAF Henlow?? More like HMP Henlow. I spent a year there in the 60's. It felt like a lifetime. Couldn't get out fast enough. It was a real throwback place. I'm amazed that we were not required to wear puttees and pith helmets.
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I underwent my RAF IOT training there, over winter of 1976-77. I didn't enjoy it much. On arrival I was one of the fastest runners on the station but I was later criticised due to my not matching their expectations of physical improvement (which in fairness, in my case was due to the RAF physical training being less regular and less strenuous than my previous job)!
Our course project was to polish (with Duraglit!) one of the Lightning prototypes (P1A and P1B) parked adjacent to the parade square, prior to the graduation of a senior course. The night before the grad parade, it was somehow decided the Lightnings needed some company. The old Vampire from the other side of the camp by the hangars was "borrowed" for the occasion. I was one of the more sober ones there and remember having to hold up the traffic around midnight while it was manhandled across the main road. Obviously, the next morning, before breakfast, the SWO, having inspected his parade square decided he might just like it moved back again - ASAP! It seemed to take a lot more pushing, by a lot more people, to get it back to its previous resting place, even though the return trip was downhill. Only then did we notice all the tyres were totally flat (and probably had been for years).
Our course project was to polish (with Duraglit!) one of the Lightning prototypes (P1A and P1B) parked adjacent to the parade square, prior to the graduation of a senior course. The night before the grad parade, it was somehow decided the Lightnings needed some company. The old Vampire from the other side of the camp by the hangars was "borrowed" for the occasion. I was one of the more sober ones there and remember having to hold up the traffic around midnight while it was manhandled across the main road. Obviously, the next morning, before breakfast, the SWO, having inspected his parade square decided he might just like it moved back again - ASAP! It seemed to take a lot more pushing, by a lot more people, to get it back to its previous resting place, even though the return trip was downhill. Only then did we notice all the tyres were totally flat (and probably had been for years).
I was at Henlow 78-80, and I recall one IOT course pushing the Vampire up the road towards the parade ground. However, they never got to the parade ground and instead pushed it tail first off the road between some trees. In fact it might even have been the last course when IOT moved to Cranwell (79?) to join the graduates.
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As this is a Henlow thread: with the currently indefinite closure of the airfield and apparent demise of Henlow Flying Club, does anyone have any recommendations of other clubs / places to fly in the reasonable locality? Thanks for any suggestions.
Thread Starter
Try Meppershall about 3nm west.
. . . or even the Pathfinder Flying Club at RAF Wyton; once they get their aircraft back from (would you believe ?) RAF Henlow !! 
Actually, I believe they were flown out of Henlow about a week ago and are in maintenance at Turweston; awaiting a return to RAF Wyton once the grass strip there is opened up again.
Actually, I believe they were flown out of Henlow about a week ago and are in maintenance at Turweston; awaiting a return to RAF Wyton once the grass strip there is opened up again.
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Many thanks for the suggestions, although I don't think there are any aircraft for rental at Meppershall. There seem to be two or three possibly based there and registered to the owner / engineering company and others which fly in for maintenance. Still worth an exploratory visit though.
The Pathfinder Flying Club states that it is for "regular Service personnel" -which I am not! So presumably not available to me. Thanks for the suggestion though and probably still worth a call.
Does anyone have any knowledge of operations at Rush Green? I did investigate that but about 12 years ago, so I guess things have probably changed.
Thanks for the responses.
The Pathfinder Flying Club states that it is for "regular Service personnel" -which I am not! So presumably not available to me. Thanks for the suggestion though and probably still worth a call.
Does anyone have any knowledge of operations at Rush Green? I did investigate that but about 12 years ago, so I guess things have probably changed.
Thanks for the responses.
ShyTorque
Were you on Blue Sqn? This is the P1A being moved to the parade square.
English Electric P1A RAF Henlow 1976
Were you on Blue Sqn? This is the P1A being moved to the parade square.
English Electric P1A RAF Henlow 1976
Last edited by Whopity; 18th Jun 2020 at 11:53. Reason: data change
Thread Starter
I'm sure there is a group there and a look at ZoomEarth satellite image shows 9 aircraft parked there.
A friend of mine had a share in a Luscombe based at Henlow; don't know where he's gone now but I doubt if it's Cranfield with the present attitude of the university management.
Last edited by chevvron; 18th Jun 2020 at 12:17.
Brinkley own Mepershall Aerodrome not Henlow. To fly into Henlow you need PPR obtainable from gavin nicholson on an mod email. Details on the MOD website: https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisat...w/flying-info/
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