Mike J, thanks for that update, I was abit over eager to post the link thinking it was recent and I also once met the pilot, I had recceived it via e-mail from a friend in Oregon, also it was the first link I had posted with no help, part of the reason for the X-47B!.The pilot John Beatie I had met some years previously on a return Bournemouth Jersey Herald flight with Channel Express, he used to fly with the RNHF from Yeovilton not sure if he still does.
It is a pity that the Seafire became to be locked away in a hangar after the superb work by the retoration team, after Oshkosh it must have been in much demand for airshow appearances, just curious to find out the reason

Best regards, Gerry R

TonyT, thanks for that, a saving already I will keep that in mind for a future trip. Am I right in saying that Holland once had a form of APD but abolished it, due to lower visitor numbers and pressure from KLM?

Gerry R

Situation Unravelling, Prospects For GA Nil?

The situation at Lee on Solent towards the end of last week regarding visiting aircraft caused confusion, with a very clear reluctance by Fly BN to take back on board its previous task (pre-Sapphire), catering for GA visitors. Whether this was its own decision or the airfield owner, The Homes and Community Agency HCA, was also unclear. Over the weekend decisions were forthcoming, possibly originating from the HCA but via the airfield manager that, wef from yesterday a.m. PPR would be in force UFN with a written request 24 hours prior to flight for all potential visitors. In addition all requests will be at the discretion of the airfield operations manager, these obstacles evectively putting off any casual flying visit.

It would seem that the area that Sapphire occupied was required for development, already an Advanced Skills Centre is being built for Fareham College in the south east corner just south of the ex Sapphire site. The re-generation of the east side of the airfield is gathering pace, Sapphire was the casualty in the rush for business and employment associated with the Enterprise Zone. The airfield in not immune to the spectre affecting all airfields, housing development (much more lucrative than GA), with a decision expected on a proposal later today to build 101 homes on the airfield, on the east side? On a already crowded peninsula,….but that is straying from the main subject.

With the visitor obstacles in place, the direction in which General Aviation goes at Daedalus is anyones guess, and this latest news not very encouraging for the immediate future.

Gerry R

GA a low priority

The latest situation for GA at Lee does not look too rosy, the excellent reputation built up in the last year by Sapphire Aviation is to be wasted, the intrigue here is why?. No doubt Sapphire will be a success elsewhere, and any future GA visiters, I assume, will be handled by Fly BN at the tower from Janruary 1st 2014.

The emergence, and because of, the designated Enterprise Zone set up at Lee, the latest agenda seems wedded to a priority/preference for jobs/income, at the expense of aviation. The owners of the airfield the Homes and Community Agency (HCA) no doubt have non aviation advisers with their own ideas and plans, seemingly ignoring the present airside residents (apart from Sapphire!). The possibility of potential airside sites becoming business parks on extended landside fenced land could become reality. Could this be that the location of the Sapphire hangar was an example of this thinking? Jobs/ground rent etc, therefore more income.

One of the aims within the Zone was to establish a ‘viable GA operation’, at the moment it would seem this is not a priority, something to do with these non aviation advisers?. I have to agree with John Green in post 24, cut the airfield in half “retain one half for GA the other for a business enterprise zone”, if the two runways are to be re-surfaced then the smaller 17/35 runway could be used primarily for GA use, but access to the longer 05/23 if required, still an option.

The Fly BN leasehold on the airfield expires in April 2014, I would be surprised if that lease was not re-newed considering that companys involvement in Defender aircraft assembly and flight test, the first of which occured this year. Certainly it looks like the replacement of the type of operation that Sapphire dealt with, excellent as it was, remains to be seen.

Gerry R

Daedalus Airfield Redevelopment

Just to confirm that Fareham and Gosport Borough Councils (whose boundaries disect the airfield), this week gave the green light to planning applications, paving the way for major redevelopment of the Enterprise Zone at Daedalus airfield Lee on Solent, part of the work to be done is detailed in post 20, but will also include accommodation and facilities for advanced manufacturing and technology businesses from the marine, aerospace and defence sectors.

The airfield at one time 4/5 years ago was under threat of complete closure, credit for keeping the vision of future aviation alive at Lee must go to the Lee Flying Association whose plan for the revitalising of aviation at Lee was taken up the Executive Leader Councillor of Fareham Borough Council, who became the valuable link between all parties, aviation businesses, organisations, airfield users and community groups that were dependant on access to the Daedalus airfield.

From almost complete closure to a site that could potentially employ thousands, is quite remarkable to say the least, and certainly reverses the trend of other unfortunate aerodromes around the country, disappearing off the map altogether.

Gerry R

When successive governments make cuts, amongst others their number one target is always the Defence budget, next February I believe they will be announcing more tightening of the purse strings, it will not get as bad as Freehand stated in post 2, whoever thought that would happen, no military participation in air shows and the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds grounded too.
Not so long ago there was even talk/rumours about the Red Arrows being disbanded!, they put on another superb show at Leuchars on Saturday I might add, just as well it was only talk. Yes, I am sceptical but a review to me spells reduced participation, I hope to be proved wrong though.
Successive governments want to waste billions on big projects the public do not want but I wont go down that road here. Aviation and Defence has alway been a low priority and a backwater for those in power for decades.

Gerry R

Fly in, this coming weekend

Fly BN Ltd, has almost completed the removal of the infamous blue fences and taxiway gates, an unpopular leftover from the previous leaseholders, Hampshire Police Aviation Unit. Two new airfield entrances will be created on the north and east sides, work on these is progressing.

The resident FBO Sapphire Aviation, are holding a Fly-in this coming weekend 19, 20, and 21 July with a French flavour, (LEE TOUQUET EGHF), to further pubicise the airfield. Many pilots are still unaware that Lee on Solent is back on the map and available for any visiting light aircraft plus good hangarage.

Gerry R