Shobdon Aerodrome
| Shobdon Aerodrome | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: none – ICAO: EGBS | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Private | ||
| Operator | Herefordshire Aero Club Ltd | ||
| Location | Leominster | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 317 ft / 97 m | ||
| Coordinates | 52°14′30″N 002°52′52″W / 52.24167°N 2.88111°WCoordinates: 52°14′30″N 002°52′52″W / 52.24167°N 2.88111°W | ||
| Map | |||
  EGBS | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| m | ft | ||
| 09/27 | 836 | 2,743 | Tarmac |
| 09/27 Unlicensed |
940 | 3,084 | Grass |
| 09/27 Unlicensed |
308 | 1,010 | Grass |
| Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1] | |||
Shobdon Aerodrome (ICAO: EGBS) is an airport 6 NM (11 km; 6.9 mi) west of Leominster,[1] Herefordshire, England.
RAF Shobdon
Shobdon started as a British Army camp. Out of range of long range German Luftwaffe bombers, it acted as a reception point for casualties received from Southampton distributed to existing local hospitals. With a depot railway station developed on the Leominster and Kington Railway, its first casualties arrived after the Battle of Dunkirk.
The camp was developed further by the United States Army from 1943, to act as a distribution point for two locally developed general hospitals. They also added a runway in cooperation with the Royal Air Force, but due to the marshy land only one runway was developed.[2]
In 1943, RAF No.1 Glider Training School moved from RAF Thame to Shobdon,[3] enabling an increase in training of glider pilots in preparation for Normandy and Arnhem landings.[4]
The RAF Gliding School closed in 1953, when the site was handed to Herefordshire County Council.
Today
Shobdon Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P779) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Herefordshire Aero Club Limited).[5] It is frequently used by air taxi services to Europe.
Spectators are welcome. There is a visitors car park and catering facilities. An air race or open day may take place in the summer months. The RAF occasionally perform low passes over the airfield.
It operated by Herefordshire Aero Club who provide light aircraft flight training together with aircraft storage and maintenance services, and is the home of the local LAA Strut.
Many private pilot owners base their aircraft at the Aerodrome.
Other air sports facilities based at Shobdon Airfield are:
- Tiger Helicopters who offer helicopter flight training and maintenance.
- Swift Light Flight microlight club and training school.
- Herefordshire Gliding Club and training school.
Introductory lessons and gift vouchers are available through the above web sites.
From 1963 to 1990 Herefordshire Parachute Club was very active but now parachuting is no longer available at the airfield.
References
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Shobdon - EGBS
- ↑ "About Shobdon". shobdonvillageco.uk. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
- ↑ "RAF Thame". controltowers.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
- ↑ "Shobdon". visitherefordshire.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
- ↑ Civil Aviation Authority Aerodrome Ordinary Licences
Bibliography
- Brooks, Robin J. Herefordshire and Worcestershire Airfields in the Second World War. ISBN 1-85306-984-1
- Pfuell, Ivor. A History of Shobdon. Published by Ivor Pfuell, 1994. ISBN 0-9524790-0-1.
- United Kingdom AIP
External links
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