Interesting Airfields

[Kolibear]

By definition, there is no such thing as a un-interesting airfield, as airfields have aircraft which are, of course, interesting.

But aircraft are only interesting if you are interested in aircraft, so although I can cheerfully stay at an airfield all day, Mrs K doesn't neccessarily agree.

Most airfields are also in the middle of nowhere too, so what I need are a few suggestions for airfields that are near enough to 'civilization' and have good public transport links.

For example, Shoreham comes into the 'interesting' category, as Brighton is just a bus-ride down the road. Skegness is too, for the same reason and the fact that her parents live just up the road. Old Buckenham, although very attractive, is in the middle of nowhere and falls into the 'not interesting' category.

All suggestions gratefully recieved.

[Penguina]

Errrrrrrrrrm Clacton, for the sea? Wellsbourne, for Stratford - u - A? Anywhere not in the UK, for obvious reasons! And can't you get a bus from Norwich to the city centre? (Never been there myself, so not sure.)

Currently my native Elstree, for buzzing the Big Brother house and hopefully making it an interesting programme for a few seconds at least by having an aeroplane in it! Though Mrs. K might not agree with that I guess.

Will let you know if I think of any others.

[Squadgy]

Barton : 2 Mins from Trafford Centre (shopping heaven!) and 5 Mins from Manchester City Centre

[Monocock]

I can see exactly where you're coming from with regard to some airfields being "interesting" and others not but I wouldn't agree with your example.

I would personally say that Old Buckenham is VERY interesting for the following reasons:

1. It has an incredible history.

2. Somebody has recently given it a complete new lease of life with a huge investment of time and money.

3. There are some incredible a/c in the hangars and people are welcome to view them.

4. There are some excellent events there annually and a close knit community.

Shoreham...........has history but as far as I'm concerned its "interestingness" ends there.

1. It has the usual hoards of gold bar clad people strutting the pilot walk everywhere.

2. It is about as friendly as a pit-bull on the veterinary table.

3. Go near a hangar and an automated system rings the police.

4. The museum is closed whenever I have tried to go in.

I suppose the little TV over the reception is slightly interesting if you forgot what time you touched down!!!

It'll be interesting how the next postings will show any trend in opinions.

[2Donkeys]

Another one in favour of Old Buck. I landed there for the first time in years a month or so back and enjoyed a Mustang Burger al fresco with some friends, whilst admiring the famous resident Stearman, and laughing at attempts by two PA28s to land at the right speed and on the right end of the runway.

You can't beat that kind of entertainment on a warm summer's lunchtime.

2D

[jayemm]

Horses for Courses

Or should it be "Courses for Horses"?

This question will get very individual responses, and I cannot agree with your definition. I find Sheffield interesting because it is within the city with very easy access to the shopping centre (so maybe Mrs. K will like it) and also close to great flying scenery. Also, its recent history represents an interesting picture of what's wrong with UK aviation (over-regulated, and low on any planner's priority list for land use).

I also find Glenforsa on Mull very interesting because it is outstandingly beautiful, difficult to access by car (which makes the flying worthwhile) with a log cabin style hotel next to it and the Isle of Mull and surrounding Islands to visit.

I'm not convinced you can categorise "Interesting" airfields by how accessible they are. Many pilots will probably cite the ones with the lowest landing fees

[ThePirateKing]

Cambridge is a cab ride from... err... Cambridge. And we all know that's purdy -- especially at this time of year.

TPK

[Aussie Andy]

I appreciate where the question is coming from: I find that I need to take this into account especially when I take Mrs. Andy and our ten-year old daughters along for the ride as they are not at all impressed with "just" an airfield (or Daddy's "greaser"!)... So you need somewhere "worth going to"

To add to your list from those known to work with my particular constituency:

Bembridge on the Isle of Wight as a) scenery en-route is great if you go via the Needles, and b) its a welcoming airfield with a pleasant port and coastal walks only a short distance (taxi or walk) away. Plus everyone says the Crab & Lobster is good to eat at, but can't persoanlly vouch for it.

Gloucestershire - because you can easily get a taxi into Cheltenham and take the girls to High Tea (or lunch) at the excellent Queen's Hotel, plus its a nice town generally just to wander around the shops (which girls seem to like!?)

Caernarfon - the airfield isn't that interesting to non-aviators, but if you can arrange a taxi into the town its interesting, but moreover the scenery en-route as you cross the Welsh mountains and the scene before you as you arrive overhead with lovely coastal and mountain views is well worth it!

Also, anywhere near where friends or relatives live so that you can combine flying with a social visit, and maybe take the friends and/or their kids up for a local jaunt.

Best,

Andy

[Maxflyer]

What about Sywell? It's in Northampton and...


Well it has planes there!

[Aim Far]

Pengiuna said "anywhere foreign" and I can only agree.

But one of the things that makes foreign more fun is that, when going there, you tend to make a full day of it or a weekend, you make the effort to leave the airfield (even stretching to a taxi!) and you tell yourself its a holiday place, not just a £100 hamburger place. If you deliberately apply the same rules to UK destinations, many more airfields will become "interesting".

I like Edinburgh - great big runway to impress the family, particularly impressive lit up at night. Fantastic tourist potential when you get there. And the landing charges really get you in the mood for spending money

Isle of Man is a nice weekend sized destination and the club car will help you get around.

At the other end of the scale, I was at Seething at the weekend and the museum was open - that made it interesting as far as I'm concerned.

[big.al]

I've always fancied a trip to Duxford for the 'interesting' reason of the Imperial War Museum being there, but has anyone got an idea how much they charge for landing?

I can vouch for Old Buck being quite 'interesting' for the para-dropping there at weekends and the excellent food at the cafe.

Cromer is only a short taxi-ride from the seaside and a few minutes walk from a pub in Northrepps which does great (if not cheap) food. An interesting uphill landing (yes, they do have hills in Norfolk!).

[Charlie Zulu]

Okay some "interesting" airfields...

Bournemouth - Easy to obtain a taxi or bus into Christchurch which has a nice little water front and also a pleaseant town centre. After a nice breakfast a water bus ride for 20 minutes over to a remote beach with beach huts and another nice restaurant... plenty of fun on the beach... great if you have children.

Bembridge - Even if its just for the Propeller Inn for some great food. Otherwise a taxi or walk to the town on the beach... lovely day out.

Perranporth - A quick taxi ride down to the town which is also on... yes you guessed it a beach!!! Recommended is the restaurant on the beach...

Plymouth - Not far from the City at all so lots of shopping potential.

Kemble - Interesting for aviators... Deltajets are based there with their Hunters etc... also Andy Cubin flies Extra's out of Kemble on Aerobatic sorties.

Blackpool - well its not far from the famous seaside resort!

And if you don't mind going over water...

Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney are all very interesting places to visit. The Isle of Man probably is as well but I've never been.

Scilly Isles - Britains best kept secret... a paradise only thirty miles from Lands End. "Interesting" runway.

There are probably more...

Best wishes,

Charlie Zulu.

[Fuji Abound]

.. .. .. I know and you don’t want to spend a fortune on taxis getting to the “attraction” nor should it be too far from the airport .. .. ..

Here are a few personal favourites.

Bembridge - the Crab and Lobster is superb for a sea food lunch, and it is 20 minutes walk away along the beach, or £5 in a taxi. The beaches are beautiful too.

Cambridge - a beautiful City to look around, good shops and punting on the Cam to boot. There is a bus from outside the GA terminal into the City centre - about £1 I think.

Peranporth - a trip too the Eden exhibition - a bit further I know but a hire car for the day is not too expensive.

One for the kids - there are a couple of possible airports for Alton Towers within 30 minute taxi ride or again hire a car for the day at East Midlands.

L2K - of course a favourite, hire bikes at the airport and ride into town for lunch or a stroll along the beautiful sandy beach. The supermarket is 10 minutes from the airport for cheap beer, good cheese and wine.

Elstree - mainline or tube straight into London, the best airport for the capital in my opinion.

[whatunion]

Portsmouth
sunderland
east kirkbride
Banff
woops all closed! but they were \all interesting.

north ronaldsay, every islander turned out to watch me land

Sondestrom fjord, see this one and die
English Bickenor i nearly did die here!
Mull

fordoun

Dornoch

Sumburgh with an approach over Fitful head!!!

ps in my big jet, leeds and gurensey, jersey best fun esp when windy

[wingandaprayer]

Big.al
____________________________________________________
I've always fancied a trip to Duxford for the 'interesting' reason of the Imperial War Museum being there, but has anyone got an idea how much they charge for landing?
____________________________________________________

Pretty sure it's £12 for Pa28, 152 etc. Dunno what for anything bigger.
Draw back is, this gets you 1hr on the ground, any longer and you have to pay museum admission price as well which was £10 per person.
Nice place to go (If you like planes).

WaaP

[KCDW]

The museum at Duxford is the reason why it is an interesting airfield .

£14 rings a bell as the landing fee, but I may be wrong.

It's a great day out for the family (kiddies go free), although your significant other may not think so after 4 hours of nothing but planes. Hate to say it, but the American museum gets my vote as the best attraction - that B52...

Thanks for the thread Kolibear, made my mind up to go to Bembridge asap.

[Kolibear]

Thanks for all the replies, they have certainly given me some ideas.


Monocock - Shoreham is 'interesting' in the sense that is it within easy distance of Worthing, Brighton etc, whereas Old Buck is in the middle of nowhere.

I enjoyed my last visit to Old Buck immensely, don't get me wrong, but if you are a non-aviation person, there is not a lot to do there, whereas Shoreham has the potential to get futher afield easily.

Personally, I'd stay at the airfield & watch the aircraft, but one has to think of other's better half.

Hope that clarifies what I mean by 'interesting' and 'not interesting' and that the residents of Old Buck. will put the Bofors gun back in the hangar before next time I drop in, as no offence is intented.

[Monocock]

No offence taken either K!!

[sharpshot]

Enjoyed your first post Monocock - great use of your mother tongue

Where not to go:
I.o.M unless TT racing on and even then expect a good X wind
Guernsey on a Sunday - the whole island goes into mourning
Wolverhampton - unless it's a Free Landing
Liverpool - well, say no more!

Kolibear, been to Ostend with the better half? Euros 1:20 for two on the short bus trip into town, some great planes on the ramp most occasions (DC-8's etc), shops open all afternoon on Sundays, good food, good beer and cheap smokes and they accept the £. Good fish market, so take the cool bag. And there's a beach subject the tide.

And does she like Chocolate - daft question

[FNG]

Well, if people are mentioning Cambridge, why not add Oxford? The airfield itself is duller than a dull place on a dull day, but it's a cab ride from a city which, unlike Cambridge, has a proper university. I am boycotting Duxford for the time being, and suspect I'm not the only one.


As for an airfield that has inherent virtues, yesterday I finally made it to Compton Abbas, a place often praised here and elsewhere. It must enjoy one of the most beautiful settings of any airfield in southern England. The high location adds to the drama (yesterday there was no wind, but strong thermals in the undershoot for 26), and the departure is spectacular as the ground falls away below you. Wonderful falcons and eagles at the raptor centre. Talking of old birds, the charming lady behind the bar counter could give the Pink Aviator a run for her money in Carry-On style nudge nudge innuendo. Ooh err, missus.