RAF Gaydon & Long Marston Today?

Hi Phantom phixer
Another good book to help you may be. Angry Skies across the Vale by Brian Kedward. A record of RAF Honeybourne and Long Marston, a daily record from when they were built to when they closed.
An absolute fascinating book crammed full of everything that went on there.
Richard.

Lots of the parked Rovers disappeared to China I hear…?!

They wern’t Rover Sterlings were they? :diablo: :diablo:

Roger Smith.

I was reading a book last night named Warwickshire Airfields of WW2.

I was particularly interested in Long Marston and Gaydon and was wondering how much of the original airfields are left especially regarding the Runway’s. Are they intact and what condition are they in?

Does anybody know or have any pictures?

I’ve read that book. A great read. Honily airfield is another interesting one. It’s a Prodrive test track at the moment but they’re looking to set up a production facility there.

Re: Long Marston. I tend to visit go for the drag racing and as you can see it uses one of the original runways.
You can find find a bit more about the recent strip history here. http://www.shakespearecountyraceway.com/history/

They built a nine meter high noise wall around the start a few years back for the local nimbys.

When I last flew past on 29th Oct, there were no cars there. IIRC Heyford was the car park for Rover so this would explain why.

Owned by the Yanks? British soil? Shirley it is MoD land?

The land is owned by the MoD. It is rented out to a number of companies so bring in the pennies and reduce the maintenance bill to them (the MoD).
The car people are still there just not such a large presence. (Something to do allegedly with a number of thefts amongst other things I believe.)

Whats the current situation with Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire.? Is it also taken over by the car industry?

When I last flew past on 29th Oct, there were no cars there. IIRC Heyford was the car park for Rover so this would explain why.

Owned by the Yanks? British soil? Shirley it is MoD land?

Long Marston has a little triangle with some aircraft in it, next to the “drunk” Cranberry is a big un, would I be right in saying thats a Shack minus 2 engines? Bex

Yes Bex – it is.
If you have a quick search you’ll find a picture I posted of it taken in 2000/2001.

hi all,

if some brave soul did land at Gaydon, they would probably end up in a pile of wreckage, this being due to the three different surfaces.
we recently resurfaced the main straight, using three types of tarmac, this is for high speed breaking tests, the three run side by side.:)

or is that just a way of saying, “keep away from our runway, cause we don’t want you there and we’ll impound you aircraft if you land” 😀

hi all,

if some brave soul did land at Gaydon, they would probably end up in a pile of wreckage, this being due to the three different surfaces.
we recently resurfaced the main straight, using three types of tarmac, this is for high speed breaking tests, the three run side by side.:)

Whats the current situation with Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire.? Is it also taken over by the car industry?

Suppose it’s still owned by the Yanks……

Cheers for the info and the picture’s guys. Most interestingo to see how things have developed on former military airfields. Has anybody got an aerial view of the Long Marston airfield/runway? Please 😀

Long Marston has a little triangle with some aircraft in it, next to the “drunk” Cranberry is a big un, would I be right in saying thats a Shack minus 2 engines? Bex

Gaydon in 2004

Gaydon is now Ford’s main proving ground and R&D centre for PAG (Premier Auto Group) and it also contains Aston Martin’s main factory, and BMW also use it for Mini testing. I had Ford, Jaguar and Landrover as my main accounts for 4 years, and visited Gaydon many times.
The old buildings and airfield causes them quite an issue as they were built to withstand the weight of V bombers so any changes involve significant ground works. They often get RAF aircraft beating up the airfield, with tales of Hercules coming past ‘G’ Deck (the main reception building) at eye level……

I have the above book also 🙂

Apparently there are lots of obstacles and wires crossing the Gaydon runway. Do not attempt to land for you will have a fight with Ford to get your aircraft back. It has happened in the past. I seem to recall the Tower was used in the Rover days as a favourite command post for security.

Here is the small booklet you can pick up for free from the Motor Museum on RAF Gaydon.

The owners of Long Marston supposedly have a serviceable JP which they have flown (in the past). Apparently they haven’t done much flying in it recently. Mainly microlights but there is some slightly larger stuff, I know a Jodel DR221 was based there. The Tower still looks authentic. http://www.controltowers.co.uk/L/Long_Marston.htm

I don’t know what the airfield is like at Gaydon, but it’s now home to a large car factory (land rovers I think), and also the British Motor Heritage Centre http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/ (which is an alright museum but not a scratch on the car museum in Cov) – there’s at least one glass case with information on RAF Gaydon with aircraft of the type that served there etc