Grass airstrip, East Anglia-ish
Discussion
I flew into Luton earlier in the week (sympathies appreciated 
actually it wasn't that terrible) landing E > W on runway 26. About 5-10 minutes or so out, we overflew what looked like a very neatly-kept grass strip, numbered although I couldn't read it, with a circular-ish grass apron off to what was probably the south/south-east of the runway at the eastern end (I wasn't sure at that point what heading our plane was on).
Just curious as to where it may have been? At a push it may have been in the area bounded by Bishops Stortford/Saffron Walden/Sudbury/Braintree - but again, not certain about that.
actually it wasn't that terrible) landing E > W on runway 26. About 5-10 minutes or so out, we overflew what looked like a very neatly-kept grass strip, numbered although I couldn't read it, with a circular-ish grass apron off to what was probably the south/south-east of the runway at the eastern end (I wasn't sure at that point what heading our plane was on).Just curious as to where it may have been? At a push it may have been in the area bounded by Bishops Stortford/Saffron Walden/Sudbury/Braintree - but again, not certain about that.
CAPP0 said:
I flew into Luton earlier in the week (sympathies appreciated actually it wasn't that terrible) landing E > W on runway 26. About 5-10 minutes or so out, we overflew what looked like a very neatly-kept grass strip, numbered although I couldn't read it, with a circular-ish grass apron off to what was probably the south/south-east of the runway at the eastern end (I wasn't sure at that point what heading our plane was on).
Just curious as to where it may have been? At a push it may have been in the area bounded by Bishops Stortford/Saffron Walden/Sudbury/Braintree - but again, not certain about that.
Could be any number of airfields as the US 8th was based in East Anglia during the war. Where I grew up on the Essex/Suffolk border this is/was an airfield every 6 miles in any direction, when you also include RAF bases. Have a look here https://mediafiles.thedms.co.uk/publication/ee-eet... or just look on Google maps. actually it wasn't that terrible) landing E > W on runway 26. About 5-10 minutes or so out, we overflew what looked like a very neatly-kept grass strip, numbered although I couldn't read it, with a circular-ish grass apron off to what was probably the south/south-east of the runway at the eastern end (I wasn't sure at that point what heading our plane was on).Just curious as to where it may have been? At a push it may have been in the area bounded by Bishops Stortford/Saffron Walden/Sudbury/Braintree - but again, not certain about that.
TEKNOPUG said:
or just look on Google maps.
Started out with that approach! But our plane was in a stack for one or two circuits and hence I'm not sure where I was - and to find a grass strip on GM you have to be zoomed in quite a long way = hunting forever!It did look well-maintained, not just a farm strip used by one or two people.
The image below shows a typical approach for RWY 026 at Luton. Aircraft stay north, avoiding London, and more specifically the activity at Stansted. There's no 'stacking' as such, but the degree of S'ness varies on how busy it gets. I live in the region of the start of the first bend, and can clearly see the how this changes. With that said, hopefully I can point out a few local airfields that might help:
As a point of reference, point X at Stevenage is about 2 mins from touchdown.
A) Bassingbourn Barracks, formerly RAF Bassingbourn and once home to USAAF B17 'Memphis Belle'. It's disused airfield has remnants of its concrete runways which now form part of an Army training ground. Probably not the one you're looking for.
B) Cambridge Gliding Club, formerly RAF Gransden Manor. Well maintained all grass, could be the one!
C) Top Farm, a well maintained grass farm strip, don't know much about it.
D) Little Gransden Airfield, a well maintained grass farm strip, quite busy and home to former World Aerobatic Champion; Mark Jefferies. It's small and possibly not easy to spot from the normal flight path.
E) Farm strip, I know nothing about this one.
F) Former RAF Tempsford, disused as an airfield now but still evident from the air. I included it really because of it's historical context. In WWII It was home to 138 & 161 (Special Duty) Squadrons, responsible for delivering and collecting SOE agents into occupied France.
G) Bedford Microlight Centre, a simple grass strip. Probably too far away to spot easily and doesn't really match your description.
H) Old Warden, home to the Shuttleworth Collection. A well maintain and fairly busy airfield.
I) RAF Henlow, an all grass strip with multiple active runways. No military flying since the RAF destroyed the Air Cadet gliding structure, but a very active civilian flying club. I spent many happy hours as a Space Cadet out on that airfield. Could well match your description.
J) Baldock, former farm strip, now used by a very active RC Model Flying Club (I'm a member). Right under the flight path but probably not the one you're looking for.
As a point of reference, point X at Stevenage is about 2 mins from touchdown.
A) Bassingbourn Barracks, formerly RAF Bassingbourn and once home to USAAF B17 'Memphis Belle'. It's disused airfield has remnants of its concrete runways which now form part of an Army training ground. Probably not the one you're looking for.
B) Cambridge Gliding Club, formerly RAF Gransden Manor. Well maintained all grass, could be the one!
C) Top Farm, a well maintained grass farm strip, don't know much about it.
D) Little Gransden Airfield, a well maintained grass farm strip, quite busy and home to former World Aerobatic Champion; Mark Jefferies. It's small and possibly not easy to spot from the normal flight path.
E) Farm strip, I know nothing about this one.
F) Former RAF Tempsford, disused as an airfield now but still evident from the air. I included it really because of it's historical context. In WWII It was home to 138 & 161 (Special Duty) Squadrons, responsible for delivering and collecting SOE agents into occupied France.
G) Bedford Microlight Centre, a simple grass strip. Probably too far away to spot easily and doesn't really match your description.
H) Old Warden, home to the Shuttleworth Collection. A well maintain and fairly busy airfield.
I) RAF Henlow, an all grass strip with multiple active runways. No military flying since the RAF destroyed the Air Cadet gliding structure, but a very active civilian flying club. I spent many happy hours as a Space Cadet out on that airfield. Could well match your description.
J) Baldock, former farm strip, now used by a very active RC Model Flying Club (I'm a member). Right under the flight path but probably not the one you're looking for.
Edited by Boatbuoy on Wednesday 22 May 13:47
Boatbuoy said:
The image below shows a typical approach for RWY 026 at Luton. Aircraft stay north, avoiding London, and more specifically the activity at Stansted. There's no 'stacking' as such, but the degree of S'ness varies on how busy it gets. I live in the region of the start of the first bend, and can clearly see the how this changes. With that said, hopefully I can point out a few local airfields that might help:
As a point of reference, point X at Stevenage is about 2 mins from touchdown.
A) Bassingbourn Barracks, formerly RAF Bassingbourn and once home to USAAF B17 'Memphis Belle'. It's disused airfield has remnants of its concrete runways which now form part of an Army training ground. Probably not the one you're looking for.
B) Cambridge Gliding Club, formerly RAF Gransden Manor. Well maintained all grass, could be the one!
C) Top Farm, a well maintained grass farm strip, don't know much about it.
D) Little Gransden Airfield, a well maintained grass farm strip, quite busy and home to former World Aerobatic Champion; Mark Jefferies. It's small and possibly not easy to spot from the normal flight path.
E) Farm strip, I know nothing about this one.
F) Former RAF Tempsford, disused as an airfield now but still evident from the air. I included it really because of it's historical context. In WWII It was home to 138 & 161 (Special Duty) Squadrons, responsible for delivering and collecting SOE agents into occupied France.
G) Bedford Microlight Centre, a simple grass strip. Probably too far away to spot easily and doesn't really match your description.
H) Old Warden, home to the Shuttleworth Collection. A well maintain and fairly busy airfield.
I) RAF Henlow, an all grass strip with multiple active runways. No military flying since the RAF destroyed the Air Cadet gliding structure, but a very active civilian flying club. I spent many happy hours as a Space Cadet out on that airfield. Could well match your description.
J) Baldock, former farm strip, now used by a very active RC Model Flying Club (I'm a member). Right under the flight path but probably not the one you're looking for.
Thanks Boatbuoy, that fight path certainly fits what I believe we did on the approach. I was sat by the port wing and the airfield was to my port side/left at the time. I'll work through those you've listed to see whether I recognise any.As a point of reference, point X at Stevenage is about 2 mins from touchdown.
A) Bassingbourn Barracks, formerly RAF Bassingbourn and once home to USAAF B17 'Memphis Belle'. It's disused airfield has remnants of its concrete runways which now form part of an Army training ground. Probably not the one you're looking for.
B) Cambridge Gliding Club, formerly RAF Gransden Manor. Well maintained all grass, could be the one!
C) Top Farm, a well maintained grass farm strip, don't know much about it.
D) Little Gransden Airfield, a well maintained grass farm strip, quite busy and home to former World Aerobatic Champion; Mark Jefferies. It's small and possibly not easy to spot from the normal flight path.
E) Farm strip, I know nothing about this one.
F) Former RAF Tempsford, disused as an airfield now but still evident from the air. I included it really because of it's historical context. In WWII It was home to 138 & 161 (Special Duty) Squadrons, responsible for delivering and collecting SOE agents into occupied France.
G) Bedford Microlight Centre, a simple grass strip. Probably too far away to spot easily and doesn't really match your description.
H) Old Warden, home to the Shuttleworth Collection. A well maintain and fairly busy airfield.
I) RAF Henlow, an all grass strip with multiple active runways. No military flying since the RAF destroyed the Air Cadet gliding structure, but a very active civilian flying club. I spent many happy hours as a Space Cadet out on that airfield. Could well match your description.
J) Baldock, former farm strip, now used by a very active RC Model Flying Club (I'm a member). Right under the flight path but probably not the one you're looking for.
Edited by Boatbuoy on Wednesday 22 May 13:47
RobbyJ said:
I noticed this on approach to Luton once too. I think it’s Henlow that you’re referring to?
As far as I recall it was just one runway with this tidy circular apron. Just caught my eye. I don't think it's Henlow, looks like that has multiple rwys?CAPP0 said:
From that map, assuming our flight too the same path, I'd say it was in the Hinkworth area. Might be a complete red herring tho!
It depends a bit on how accurate you can be about the time: 5mins at 180kts approx is 15 miles. If 15 miles out, you're either on base leg or turning onto final, so in the vicinity of Stevenage etc . However, 30 miles out, chances are you're still tracking west, & where you'll turn will depend on what's ahead of you. Where you were sitting on the aircraft, & whether it was straight & level or turning.Edited by MarkwG on Wednesday 22 May 21:04
MarkwG said:
It depends a bit on how accurate you can be about the time: 5mins at 180kts approx is 15 miles. If 15 miles out, you're either on base leg or turning onto final, so in the vicinity of . However, 30 miles out, chances are you're still tracking west, & where you'll turn will depend on what's ahead of you. Where you were sitting on the aircraft, & whether it was straight & level or turning.
OK, we're in full PH stealth mode now! I was on a EZY flight (apologies, PH, but you try getting to & from Malaga from the SE on anything other than EZY or it's pale imitator) and I've just tracked it back on FR:
Now by my reckoning, and to be fair I had slept a fair bit of the flight, this airfield loomed large shortly before we took a hard port turn, which I assume therefore must have been the first port turn at the top of the image, over the Heydon area. But it may have been after Royston.
To my recollection the airfield looked like this, with the circle/oval being the apron. We overflew on the opposite side of the runway to the apron:
Are we getting anywhere yet?
It's nowhere near Luton, but Rougham airfield in Bury St Edmunds (i.e. East Anglia) is grass, well kept and with numbering.
https://goo.gl/maps/e5uS2PxPsSqTead5A
https://goo.gl/maps/e5uS2PxPsSqTead5A
CAPP0 said:
OK, we're in full PH stealth mode now!
I was on a EZY flight (apologies, PH, but you try getting to & from Malaga from the SE on anything other than EZY or it's pale imitator) and I've just tracked it back on FR:
Now by my reckoning, and to be fair I had slept a fair bit of the flight, this airfield loomed large shortly before we took a hard port turn, which I assume therefore must have been the first port turn at the top of the image, over the Heydon area. But it may have been after Royston.
To my recollection the airfield looked like this, with the circle/oval being the apron. We overflew on the opposite side of the runway to the apron:
Are we getting anywhere yet?
Yes - maybe I was on a EZY flight (apologies, PH, but you try getting to & from Malaga from the SE on anything other than EZY or it's pale imitator) and I've just tracked it back on FR:
Now by my reckoning, and to be fair I had slept a fair bit of the flight, this airfield loomed large shortly before we took a hard port turn, which I assume therefore must have been the first port turn at the top of the image, over the Heydon area. But it may have been after Royston.
To my recollection the airfield looked like this, with the circle/oval being the apron. We overflew on the opposite side of the runway to the apron:
Are we getting anywhere yet?
Just the other side of the A505 is this:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Fowlmere,+Roys...
Edit - zoom in and down and it has numbers 07 and 25
Edited by Willhire89 on Wednesday 22 May 21:34
Just to be absolutely certain, you are sure you didn't see the avenue up to Wimpole Hall?
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Fowlmere,+Roys...
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Fowlmere,+Roys...
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