I know Halton has a long history as an RAF engineering base and I’ve seen several old photos of all sorts of aircraft there including large aircraft such as Vulcans, Canberras and a Comet. Being a grass airfield I’v always wondered though how they got there. Was there once runways or were they brought in by road?
By: AgCat - 21st October 2014 at 13:05
No PSP was harmed in landing the heavies – they all took to the grass. The ground and weather conditions were chosen carefully to minimise the risk. One of the Vulcan deliveries (the camouflaged one in 1967 I think) was described in detail in Air Clues of the time.
I recall that all the Jags, JPs etc were trucked in.
By: merlin70 - 21st October 2014 at 12:45
IIRC PSP (or similar) was used on occasion for the larger types although the Jags and JPs landed on the grass. The airshows of the ’80s were great occasions, providing access to the training hangars as well.
By: Sabrejet - 21st October 2014 at 11:55
Don’t forget the Argosies either! Also flown in and run on occasions. How I miss those Whistling ****! (or Flying Wheelbarrows for those of a gentler persuasion).
By: TonyT - 21st October 2014 at 10:13
My pleasure, only saw it myself for the first time a couple of nights back 🙂
By: Steve Bond - 21st October 2014 at 10:07
Thanks TonyT, although I watched one of the Vulcans landing at Halton, this is the first photo of the event I have seen.
By: Steve Bond - 21st October 2014 at 09:32
Never had runways, they were all flown in onto the grass.
Sign In
October 21, 2014 at 9:29 am