Brimpton Airfield
Encyclopedia
Brimpton Airfield is an unlicensed single-runway
civilian airfield in Berkshire
, United Kingdom
.
, the airfield was founded in the 1950s by Sir William Mount, 2nd Baronet
, a director at Miles Aircraft
in nearby Woodley. In the 1970s, the airfield was used by crop spraying contractors for the local agriculture industry until 1979 when it was designated for public civilian use. Since 1983 there have been Percival Provost
aircraft based at the strip.
and a Saab 91 Safir
. The strip has recently undergone expansion involving the addition of a taxiway and new aircraft hangars on the southern side of the runway.
The Flying Club holds three fly-ins each year raising money for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance. At the fly-ins there is a display, usually featuring the Provosts and Saab.
and Newbury
, close to the A4 road. Due to the airfield's close proximity to the Atomic Weapons Establishment
in nearby Aldermaston
, an R101(2.4) restriction
is in place for the surrounding airspace, requiring all circuits to be completed to the north of the runway. Despite the fact that the entire runway is within the R101 catchment, the airfield has special exemption from the Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom (CAA).
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
civilian airfield in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
History
Located close to RAF Greenham CommonRAF Greenham Common
RAF Station Greenham Common is a former military airfield in Berkshire, England. The airfield is located approximately south-southwest of Thatcham; about west of London....
, the airfield was founded in the 1950s by Sir William Mount, 2nd Baronet
Sir William Mount, 2nd Baronet
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Malcolm Mount of Wasing Place, 2nd Baronet TD was a British Army officer, High Sheriff of Berkshire and grandfather to David Cameron, UK Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party....
, a director at Miles Aircraft
Miles Aircraft
Miles was the name used to market the aircraft of British engineer Frederick George Miles, who designed numerous light civil and military aircraft and a range of curious prototypes...
in nearby Woodley. In the 1970s, the airfield was used by crop spraying contractors for the local agriculture industry until 1979 when it was designated for public civilian use. Since 1983 there have been Percival Provost
Percival Provost
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Angelucci, Enzo. World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing, 1981. ISBN 0-7106-0148-4....
aircraft based at the strip.
Current use
The airfield is currently the home of Brimpton Flying Club which has over 50 members. The strip also has over 20 resident aircraft including two Percival Piston Provost T1Percival Provost
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Angelucci, Enzo. World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing, 1981. ISBN 0-7106-0148-4....
and a Saab 91 Safir
Saab 91 Safir
|-See also:-References:*Smith, Maurice A. . Flight, 23 October 1947, pp. 459–462.-External links:* * * *...
. The strip has recently undergone expansion involving the addition of a taxiway and new aircraft hangars on the southern side of the runway.
The Flying Club holds three fly-ins each year raising money for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance. At the fly-ins there is a display, usually featuring the Provosts and Saab.
Location
Brimpton Airfield is located equidistant between the Berkshire towns of ReadingReading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
and Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
, close to the A4 road. Due to the airfield's close proximity to the Atomic Weapons Establishment
Atomic Weapons Establishment
The Atomic Weapons Establishment is responsible for the design, manufacture and support of warheads for the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent. AWE plc is responsible for the day-to-day operations of AWE...
in nearby Aldermaston
Aldermaston
Aldermaston is a rural village, civil parish and electoral ward in Berkshire, South-East England. In the 2001 United Kingdom Census, the parish had a population of 927. The village is on the southern edge of the River Kennet flood plain, near the Hampshire county boundary...
, an R101(2.4) restriction
Restricted airspace
Restricted airspace is an area of airspace in which the local controlling authorities have determined that air traffic must be restricted for safety or security concerns...
is in place for the surrounding airspace, requiring all circuits to be completed to the north of the runway. Despite the fact that the entire runway is within the R101 catchment, the airfield has special exemption from the Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom (CAA).
Incidents
- On 14 February 2009, a microlight crashed at Brimpton following a loss of altitude during flying within the airfield's perimeter.
- On 7 July 2009, Captain John FaireyJohn FaireyJohn Stephen Fairey FRAeS was a British aviator.-Early life:Fairey was the second son of Sir Charles Richard Fairey, founder of the Fairey Aviation Company. He was educated at Eton and Magdalene College, Cambridge....
– a former flight lieutenantFlight LieutenantFlight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
with the Royal Rhodesian Air ForceRoyal Rhodesian Air ForceThe Rhodesian Air Force was the air arm of the British colonial state of Rhodesia. It existed between 1935 and 1980 under various names, and is now the Air Force of Zimbabwe.-History:...
and son of Charles Richard FaireyCharles Richard FaireySir Charles Richard Fairey MBE, FRAeS was a British aircraft manufacturer.-Early life:Charles Fairey was born was born on 5 May 1887 in Hendon, Middlesex and educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood and later as an apprentice at the Finsbury Technical College where he studied City &...
– died in a crash near Market RasenMarket RasenMarket Rasen is a town and civil parish within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies on the River Rase northeast of Lincoln, east of Gainsborough and southwest of Grimsby. According to the 2001 census, it has a population of 3,200....
. He was flying one of Brimpton's Percival Provost T1 aircraft, which had been on display at RAF WaddingtonRAF WaddingtonRAF Waddington is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England.-Formation:Waddington opened as a Royal Flying Corps flying training station in 1916 until 1920, when the station went into care and maintenance....
. The aircraft was destroyed.