Sywell Aerodrome

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Sywell Aerodrome Northampton/Sywell Aerodrome
IATA: ORM - ICAO: EGBK
Summary
Airport type		Private
Operator		Sywell Aerodrome Ltd.
Serves		Northampton
Elevation AMSL		419 ft (128 m)
Coordinates		52°18′19″N, 000°47′35″W
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
03l/21r	2,982	909	Grass
03R/21L	2,201	671	Grass
05/23	1,975	602	Grass
15/33	1,457	444	Grass

Sywell Aerodrome (IATA: ORM, ICAO: EGBK) is the local aerodrome serving Northampton, Wellingborough and Kettering as it is situated midway between these towns. The airport is located 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) northeast of Northampton and was originally opened in 1928 on the edge of Sywell village.

There are four grass runways which cater for private, training and corporate flights. There is one fixed-wing flying school, one micro-light school and a helicopter school. In addition there is a motel and a bar facility. Air related industries and businesses are also located at the aerodrome.

1 World War II
2 Current plans
3 References
4 External links

[edit] World War II

The aerodrome opened in 1928 and during World War II the aerodrome was used as a training facility (Tiger Moths) and later an important base for the manufacture of Wellington bombers and extensive sheds from this time still remain on site.

Many aerial shots for the film Battle of Britain were taken over the airport.

Aviation Museum at Sywell

The aereodrome also houses a small museum dedicated to telling the war time history of the site and the airmen that used it.

[edit] Current plans

Since 1999, the Aerodrome has sought planning permission for a hard runway, which is intended to allow operations to continue over the winter, when the grass runways often become waterlogged.^[1] The organizations STARE (Stop The Aerodrome Runway Expansion) and CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) are campaigning against this change, arguing that it will lead to more and larger planes flying over the area and disturb its "rural tranquility".^[2]^[3] It is expected that the final decision will be made in August 2006.