Airbase ???

Thanks for the links, pagen01, as the word “airbase”, without any further elucidation whatsoever as to which airbase, or what meaning of the term was intended, meant nothing to those outside your narrow geographical area.

And no, I hadn’t read the 3-page thread started weeks ago about it, as it looked (from the preview blurb that pops up from the title in the index page) like just another thread about a WW2 base.

Visited Airbase Friday 11 June

Hi Guys,

Visited Friday around midday as I was collecting my son form Uni later that afternoon.

Not really sure what to think. Yes it was good to be able to get so close to some of the airworthy exhibits on the hardstanding outside the hangar – Venom, Rapide, Meteor NF11, and the two Canberras, and the hangar was spotless, with just a single rope to keep visitors away from the aircraft. Canberra cockpit doors were open so it was possible to look inside the “office” and take cockpit photos.

I was pleased to see the Hughes 500 (N500LN) before it returns to USA – hadn’t appreciated quite how large it is. Shame that the props were removed and on a stand nearby.

Some of the exhibits on the grass area (Shackleton, Dove, Devon, Pembroke)adjacent to the apron were more “tired” than I had expected, and in need of some work. The newly arriveds Nimrod was open for (unsupervised) visitor inspection. DC6 taxi runs weren’t running as it was a (quiet) weekday. Work was underway on the Chipmunk (engine runs) and the Jet Provost.

It was impossible to get decent photos of the DC6’s due to the way they were parked, likewise for the Nimrod, external photos from any sort of “front” or “half-front”are near impossible as you can’t get far enough back. Better shots are possible from other places on the airfield perimeter with suitable long lenses. The ‘radome’ Dakota, an Auster, and an Electra were parked outside the airbase zone, and could only be seen through fences from the approach road as they were parked on the ‘live’ apron beyond the Airbase hangar.

Overall my impression was that the place has potential, and the atmosphere was very relaxed – visitors were free to wander at will, with no-one looking over your shoulder – great for creative photography.

But at present feels a little like “Well, let’s try opening it up and see if punters turn up”. £8 entry fee seems reasonable given I was in the area anyway, but if I’d driven 170 miles there especially to visit Airbase I’d have felt disappointed. I’d also say there’s not much to keep small children amused – a colouring table in the entrance portakabin and some activity packs.

Nearby, MAM feels like better value for money at present.

So, at present I’d say don’t expect too much of Airbase, but it does have great potential. That said, where else can you get so close to so many classic British types? I guess more is going on at weekends, so maybe impressions would be more positive then?

As for visitor numbers, apart from me I reckon there were half a dozen others….

Paul F

I went with the Mrs and got there about 3pm. Wasnt really sure that it was open when parked up as couldnt see any one around. However went into the portacabin to be told that the DC6 was running up. I dont know if it was the weather or the late time i got there but hardly any one there, maybe 50, THIS IS NOT A CRITICISM but an observation.

The access was fantastic, we were shown inside the Nimrod which was very interesting and could have gone in a DC3, the Hughes 500 was easy to gain external access to and the smell of new paint in the hanger was very obvious. If you havent been before then GO it is worth it.

We left at 5pm to go the Lickey Incline to see Princess Elizabeth steam up with a banker, when we got there, standing in a field i overheard the person next to me talking about been on a DC6! When i asked he had been at Coventry and he and is wife were identifable on my photos!!!

Have you been Waco?
If so,what did you think?

Let search be thy friend,

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=100272&highlight=coventry

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=100291&highlight=coventry

Interestingly though I couldn’t find anything about their proper inaugral open day?
Cracking collection of mainly airworthy historics, so can’t go wrong really.
I can’t say I like the name though, airbase just sounds too American.

Have you been Waco?

If so,what did you think?