During May last year I attended the very last Bourn public market on the old WW2 Bomber Airfield at Bourn near Cambridge. Sadly this relatively complete (runways and taxiways ) Airfield was being broken up for even more new housing in an already over populated area. But whilst taking the time to walk the old runways for a final time I came across the remains of some of the old runway lights still in situ in the concrete, and then this metal feature caught my eye near the intersection of the runways. As you can see it is a star shape that appears to of been rotatable but curiously with a small arrow in the 1o’clock position?
By: Wyvernfan - 3rd October 2023 at 18:04
Thanks chaps. So I’m guessing it was the responsibility of the duty controller in the tower to set its direction?.. or was it constantly set the same?
By: Atcham Tower - 3rd October 2023 at 09:14
It’s a Contact Light fitting. These were used primarily in connection with radio landing aids in poor visibility. Their function was to indicate to pilots the limits of the runway, once the aircraft had been guided by radio to the point where the aircraft could be let down onto the runway. They were normally fitted only on the main runway as in fog there is usually little or no wind. (Not in places like Cornwall, though!) The airfield memorial at Cheddington has one of these fittings as part of the design.
By: Trolley Aux - 3rd October 2023 at 08:24
I would guess you fit set the arrow N then the lamp can be directional as an aid at night to which runway is dead.
I think Bourn had a N/S runway
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October 3, 2023 at 7:21 am