Ive heard Long Marston Airfield is due to close to all flying by the end of the year to make way for a huge housing estate.
All businesses have been given notice to quit.
This of course will effect the microlite schools and approx half dozen light aircraft.
More concern for this forum of course is the fate of the Shackleton, Meteor and Sea Prince on the gate.
The Sea Prince looks like perhaps a case for saving. It is owned by the airfield owners, the Hodges family.
The Meteor and Shackleton look to far gone, but perhaps some spares before becoming pots and pans.
The Shackleton is also owned by the Hodges, but the Meteor is owned by a guy named Gordon Yates.
I may be able to get contact details if anybody is interested.
I think you will need to move fast though.
In a small shed next to the Meteor is what appears to be a Meteor tailplane in reasonable condition, could be useful to someones restoration.
Photos here taken in May last year.
By: David Burke - 31st July 2019 at 04:59
Oh dear !
By: Elmdon Boy - 30th July 2019 at 20:24
Picture of the Whirlwind at All Things Wild,mixing it with the wildlife! :highly_amused:
By: richw_82 - 29th July 2019 at 18:58
Its not a garden centre, its All Things Wild at Honeybourne.
There’s been a couple of glimmers of hope for the Shackleton, but not much more. It has been offered to a few people recently.
By: avion ancien - 29th July 2019 at 15:34
Thank you, Scotavia. I note that the developer’s hyperbolic sales pitch doesn’t mention that this residential rural idyll used to be an airfield and a drag track! :highly_amused:
By: Southern Air99 - 29th July 2019 at 14:52
The Sea Prince appears to be moving to join the Whirlwind at a garden centre the Meteor is still there and the owner won’t sell. The Shackleton is still there not sure what is happening on that one.
Which garden centre is that? Funny place to put a couple of vintage planes.
By: scotavia - 29th July 2019 at 13:33
yes…………….https://www.lagan-homes.com/development-overview/the-orchard/
By: avion ancien - 29th July 2019 at 08:17
….. and has the housing estate appeared?
By: VARSITY - 29th July 2019 at 08:08
The Sea Prince appears to be moving to join the Whirlwind at a garden centre the Meteor is still there and the owner won’t sell. The Shackleton is still there not sure what is happening on that one.
By: Southern Air99 - 29th July 2019 at 01:53
Hey sorry to resurrect this thread folks, but I was wondering if the old Percival Sea Prince is still up at Long Marston, or if it’s been moved on?
Also have the other aircraft been dispersed or are any left?
By: richw_82 - 15th June 2017 at 10:32
Meddle – the timescale for the move is at the discretion of the owner. I know its going to move, me and others have offered our assistance when it comes too. But asking every six months doesn’t chnge the answer or bring it about quicker.
By: Meddle - 14th June 2017 at 20:56
There seems to be a delicate balance at play here. On the one hand I’ve heard every few months over the last few years that Long Marston is going to disappear under houses. On the other hand I’ve heard that something positive is going to be done with the Shackleton imminently; also every six months or so, over the last few years.
I’m not surprised the Shackleton hasn’t moved anywhere. It seems like the worst combination of a sizable and expensive to shift airframe and an incomplete, vandalised airframe.
By: richw_82 - 14th June 2017 at 09:21
Flight Engineering, merlinpete’s domain! 🙂
By: Petewatts - 13th June 2017 at 18:28
One of the Shackleton engines has been restored to running order by flightline engineering in Leeds. There is a video on YouTube
By: Elmdon Boy - 12th June 2017 at 20:53
My apologies for stating the Shackleton is owned owned by the Hodges.
A case of mis information.
Who does own it then, good luck to them if they can save it.
By: David Burke - 12th June 2017 at 13:16
All the airframes are private property. If the owners are aware of what is happening on the site which is patently obvious – is it for others to interfere ? I saved two airframes from the defunct collection in the early 1990s .
By: PanzerJohn - 12th June 2017 at 13:00
Not to mention the loss of the countries 2nd best permanent drag strip (out of only 3 and York is poor).
By: John Green - 12th June 2017 at 10:46
And all the willing commentators about these wrecks too tired to get of their asses over the years and put a coat of protective paint over these airframes !
By: David Burke - 12th June 2017 at 09:52
Twenty five years ago I was involved with a group that wished to save the Sea Prince and to restore and operate it . The only thing that stopped it was the degree of ownership the landowners wished to retain.
Unfortunately now it’s barely worth saving and probably impossible to find the parts to complete it.
By: richw_82 - 12th June 2017 at 07:02
The Shack’s not owned.by the Hodges and its future has a plan. My betting is that plan will be getting some action soon. 🙂
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June 12, 2017 at 2:42 am