Enstone to close?

[Tupperware Pilot]

Popped into Enstone today.....heard a rummer that the main site has been givien notice?

Enstone's main runway...... by Air Frame Photography, on Flickr

[znww5]

Really? Do you mean the entire airfield or one/some of the clubs. I certainly hope the rumours are unfounded as it would be a real loss.

[Tupperware Pilot]

North Side private grass strip is OK...but the whole of the rest of the airfield to be built on???????

[VictorGolf]

Maybe it's not for housing. The Renault Formula One team are based there and I believe they are changing their input for the 2011 season, possibly joining up with the Lotus team. So maybe they want the site so they can improve their security as things develop. Well it is a rumour site.

[BillieBob]

Maybe it's not for housing. The Renault Formula One team are based there

That's a bit like saying the Mercedes team are based at Turweston! The Renault team are based near Enstone, there is absolutely no connection between the two. There is, however, a long standing feud between the airfield proper and the maintenance facility in the north west corner, which, having instituted its own grass strip has since done everything possible to prevent the airfield proper from licensing the hard runway. Perhaps there is a connection - or perhaps not.

[VictorGolf]

BillieBob, I bow to your undoubtedly superior knowledge on this subject but what is the large white building in the South-East corner of the airfield? I thought it was something to do with Renault. At least that was what the chaps in the clubhouse told me when I was last there.

[Tupperware Pilot]

Renault is 3k ESE from the centre of the airfield. Google earth it.
I understand the North Side grass is safe...
very surprised that this thread has not had more comments.....the rummer may not be true then??

[Mixed Up]

I have only ever flown into Enstone once and that was a couple of years ago. It reminded me of Cyprus.

[rans6andrew]

I have flown into Enstone several times but have never been to Cypress. Which bit of Enstone reminds you of Cypress? and why?

Rans6..

[JW411]

Turks to the north and Greeks to the south with a no-man's land in between.

[Footless Halls]

Very sad if true. Isn't the big building a grain silo?

[cumulusrider]

Fond memories of Enstone. Learnt to glide there in the late 70's with enstone Eagles Gliding club. Our club house was the old control tower. At the time there were no grass strips and crop grew either side to the edge of the runway. It certainly encouraged accurate landings!

[micromalc]

enstone

sad sad news....lets hope all the people & clubs there can join forces and put up a good "united" fight to stay, it's a unique airfield.

[tmmorris]

Last thing we need in this area with Oxford London The Universe International Spaceport becoming more and more exclusive.

I believe the big white building was a bomb-fusing unit in WW2 but I'm not sure what it's used for now.

Tim

[OAGAG]

TMM - Kidlington (or London Oxford International Spaceport etc. etc.) isn't that exclusive to light GA. Pilot Flight Training (PFT) have remained fit and healthy for all these years still with eight or nine aircraft based there and it's still only £10 to land at the weekends for visitors or free with a fuel uplift over 45 litres. The published rates for residency at £125/month including 10 landings/month is about as cheap as it gets for an IFR airport anywhere in the SE UK - and its usable from 06:30 to 22:30 all year, every day.

With most of the Oxford Training VFR traffic gone now, it's only seeing about 50 landngs a day, so hardly the same madly busy environment it once was.

[tmmorris]

True, but Kidlington seems hell-bent on pursuing the business jet market, spending ££££ on upgrades (which are lovely, I agree) like the ILS and strengthened runway - and currently taxiways and parking, I believe - so I am nervous about the future. As I usually fly on weekdays, it's also rather pricey - especially if they are only seeing 50 movements a day. Admittedly it's so close (I used to fly at PFT!) that I don't use it much, unless I need an NDB approach for currency reasons.

And what's with moving the pilot shop from the airfield - where visiting pilots could shop - to the industrial estate half a mile away?!

Tim

[ATCO Fred]

Last thing we need in this area with Oxford London The Universe International Spaceport becoming more and more exclusive.

that I don't use it much, unless I need an NDB approach for currency reasons.

We can't be THAT exclusive then...can we

With most of the Oxford Training VFR traffic gone now, it's only seeing about 50 landings a day, so hardly the same madly busy environment it once was.

Both Business flying and flying training can be subject to the vagaries of the clients and the Weather. We average between 50 (bad weather day) and 250 (CAVOK day) movements per day. Certainly PFT and weekend GA traffic has pick up considerably recently.

The published rates for residency at £125/month including 10 landings/month is about as cheap as it gets for an IFR airport anywhere in the SE UK - and its usable from 06:30 to 22:30 all year, every day.

Which probably explains the demand for the airport and the expansion of the facilities to meet the demand.

And what's with moving the pilot shop from the airfield - where visiting pilots could shop - to the industrial estate half a mile away?!

Half a mile!! That's just a hop, skip and a jump ....past the coffee shop. Alas the building was required by a customer more in keeping with the direction the Airport is moving toward. BUT, at least the shop is still in WALKING distance.

so I am nervous about the future. As I usually fly on weekdays

Just out of interest tm; why are you nervous? Interested in the views of a local!

Hope the rumours are NOT true - the beauty of UK flying and Glass G airspace is freedom of choice and it's always a sad day when one more 'ellement' of choice is removed.

Hey ho

Tight Lines !!

[Paul Fowler]

Enstone is ABSOLUTELY NOT closing

What Ho Chaps,
flying will continue from Enstone, the local council have made it absolutely clear that there is no chance of the proposal(not planning application) will not get off the starting blocks, we have an alternative prosposal that will mean that there will be some changes for sure but FLYING WILL CONTINUE FROM ENSTONE. and you will continue to receive that special Enstone welcome when ever you visit.

Tail winds

Paul Fowler
MD Enstone Flying Club

If you want something else to talk about how about this!

City of Oxford Spitfire Squadron

We are going to build and fly 12 of the 90% Scale Spitfires and then operate them as the "City of Oxford" Squadron from the Enstone Flying Club base. Teams of pilot/builders will assemble the kits, this way they get built quickly and once built the pilots have something to really get their teeth into flying formation will 11 others!!!!
Want to know more ? register at Spitfire Mk26B Club, Enstone Flying Club, Oxfordshire

[bad bear]

Paul Fowler, thanks for the good news, as a gliderpilot its nice to know there is a good spot to land in a tricky area from the point of view outlanding (crops, slopes etc).
bb

[mary meagher]

Hey, Paul Fowler, that is very good news indeed! Enstone always has a warm welcome, and is home to all sorts of intrepid birdmen.

Flying from Shenington, getting low in my glider, a real comfort to be able to nip into Enstone. But glider pilots, please be considerate of other traffic at Enstone, it is quite rude to circle in the way of power aircraft in the circuit, ....gives the rest of us a bad name!

We still talk about the time an early solo pilot came off airtow in poor viz, got lost, and decided to follow the Tug airplane back to Shenington. The problem with his plan; this time the Tug didn't return to Shenington, it went to Enstone to refuel.....

Fortunately late in the year there were plenty of suitable farmer's fields to choose from en route......