Sywell Aerodrome
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| Sywell Aerodrome Northampton/Sywell Aerodrome |
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|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: ORM – ICAO: EGBK | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Private | ||
| Owner/Operator | Sywell Aerodrome Ltd. | ||
| Serves | Northampton, Wellingborough & Kettering | ||
| Location | Northampton | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 419 ft / 128 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| m | ft | ||
| 03L/21R | 909 | 2,982 | Grass |
| 03R/21L | 671 | 2,201 | Grass |
| 05/23 | 602 | 1,975 | Grass |
| 15/33 | 528 | 1,732 | Grass |
| Source: United Kingdom AIP [1] | |||
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) north east of Northampton and was originally opened in 1928 on the edge of Sywell village.
The aerodrome caters for private flying, flight training and corporate flights. There is one fixed-wing flying school, one microlight school and a helicopter school. In addition there is a 1930s Art Deco hotel with bar and restaurant facilities. Aviation related industries and businesses are also located at the aerodrome.
Northampton (Sywell) Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P496) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Sywell Aerodrome Limited).[2]
A viewing area is also available for use by aircraft spotters.
Contents |
[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.
The aereodrome also houses a small museum dedicated to telling the war time history of the site and the airmen that used it which has recently been renovated, this was celebrated with a visit a flypast by three P-51 Mustangs.
[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.[3] 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".[4] Permission was granted for the runway on 22 November 2007 by the Department for Transport, but campaingners have vowed to fight the decision.[5]
[edit] Brooklands Flying Club
Brooklands Flying Club are based at Sywell and fly the AT-3 aeroplane which is used as a trainer for PPL, JAR and night rating training.
[edit] Sywell airshow
The aerodrome now hosts an annual airshow where there are many classic aircraft flying and on display such as the Catalina, Mustang, Harvards and the British Classic, the Lancaster bomber. The Blades aerobatic display team who are based at Sywell also do a performance where they fly death defying stunts and displays using diesel produced smoke.
[edit] Music in Flight
Music in Flight is an airshow held at Sywell, where an orchestra play classical music to accompany flying aircraft, hot air balloons, the Red Devils parachute display team and a fireworks display.
[edit] References
- ^ UK Aeronautical Information Service
- ^ Aerodrome Ordinary Licences (PDF). CAA SRG. Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
- ^ "Plans to improve aerodrome site", BBC News, 26 April 2006. Retrieved on 2006-08-24.
- ^ "£1m to sort out runway debate", Evening Telegraph, 14 August 2006. Retrieved on 2006-08-24.
- ^ "Campaigners fight on despite Sywell's runway approval", Northampton Chronicle & Echo, 22 November 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-22.
