Kemble Airport

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Kemble Airport
IATA: none – ICAO: EGBP
Summary
Airport type Private
Operator Kemble Air Services Limited
Location Cirencester
Elevation AMSL 433 ft / 132 m
Coordinates 51°40′05″N 002°03′25″W / 51.66806, -2.05694
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
08/26 6,591 2,009 Asphalt
08/26
Unlicensed		 1,476 450 Grass
13/31
Unlicensed		 3,281 1000 Asphalt

Kemble Airport (IATA: N/A, ICAO: EGBP), is a general aviation airport, near the village of Kemble in Gloucestershire, England. It was originally built as an RAF base (RAF Kemble) and the Red Arrows aerobatic team was based there until 1983. It is now home to a number of classic ex-military aircraft such as the Hawker Hunter, Jet Provost, Folland Gnat and English Electric Canberra (operated by Delta Jets), and is used for the long-term storage and scrapping of retired aircraft, as well as flying schools, clubs and local industry.

Hangars for light aircraft and helicopters, at Kemble Airport
Hangars for light aircraft and helicopters, at Kemble Airport

An air display is held every year and the airfield is a venue for flying and vehicle rallies.

There was a threat of possible closure, due to a mistake the Cotswold District Council made relating to planning permission, when it was sold by the Ministry of Defence. However, this is no longer the case, and the planning status of the airfield has been changed to Airport. As of July 2007 the airfield was again threatened by the council due to complaints from local residents of noise pollution.

Kemble Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P863) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Kemble Air Services Limited). The aerodrome is not licensed for night use[1].

Kemble Airfield is also the home of the Bristol Aero Collection. This collection relates to technology developments from the Filton area, mainly aircraft but including missiles and ground vehicles. The collection include a Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1, Bristol Bloodhound surface to air missile and a Bristol Sycamore helicopter. The museum has limited visiting times on Sundays and Mondays during the summer and Mondays only during the winter.

Aston Down airfield lies three miles to the northwest, and has sometimes been mistaken for Kemble by visiting pilots. It formerly belonged to the RAF but is now used for gliding by the Cotswold Gliding Club.

Contents

[edit] Gallery

Kemble Airfield control tower, a former Red Arrows Folland Gnat on the ground (owned by “Delta Jets”) and a MS-892A Rallye Commodore 150 taking off

Ex-Fleet Air Arm XP924 de Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen D3 in 2005

Royal Air Force Chinook HC2 ZA677 at the Kemble Air Day 2004

Ex-Navy XT781 and ex-Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3908 Westland Wasp HAS.1 at the Classic-Jet Air Show in June 2003

Display aircraft at the Kemble Air Day 2004

Ex-RAF R4118, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Hawker Hurricane Mk1 at the 2006 PFA “Flying for Fun Rally”

Ex-RAF AB910, BBMF's Spitfire Mk.Vb at the Kemble Air Day 2004

BAe Hawk T.1 trainer of No. 208 Squadron RAF at Kemble in June 2003

[edit] Note

Though the World Aeronautical Database lists a 09L/27R runway, this strip does not exist.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Civil Aviation Authority Aerodrome Ordinary Licences

[edit] External links

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