Woodford Airfield saved !

[eddywinch82]

Hi there,

Just looking at a post on facebook and apparently woodford airfield has been saved
by JCB and is being reinstated as an operational airfield, it will be a bizjet park
and an aircraft scrapping and reclamation centre Great News. Maybe the woodford
airshow could be reinstated as a two day event in the near future.

Best Regards

[andyxh558]

That is just one rumour, the other is it is being turned into a film studio, an equestrian centre and high class houses too. So more footballers mock Tudor houses!

[DerekF]

Hi there,

Just looking at a post on facebook and apparently woodford airfield has been saved
by JCB and is being reinstated as an operational airfield, it will be a bizjet park
and an aircraft scrapping and reclamation centre Great News. Maybe the woodford
airshow could be reinstated as a two day event in the near future.

Best Regards

I think you may be jumping the gun a little. This is the latest information.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/business/s/1462075_bae-woodford-site-purchaser-revealed-as-jcb-heir

No word about operational airfield only that they are retaining the runway.
Good news about the equestrian centre though. Just what we all need.

[st24]

only that they are retaining the runway.
Good news about the equestrian centre though. Just we all need.

Thats a good straight mile and a bit of horse whipping practice...

[Kip Casper]

Developments revealed today:

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... n-woodford

[DerekF]

I guess the thread title needs to be changed - I don't think it will be an airfield much longer.

[Stratton]

What a shame to see such in important airfield in respect to aviation history and development go. I need not tell you all of it's history, you would not be on this site if you did not know.

The airshows, and I did each one from when I took over from John Blake in 1979 and did the last one, were ranked amoungst the great ones. They always had something different and, come wind, rain ,heavier rain and on some occassions sun, a great crowd.

I was commentating there when my wife was in labour in Kent, and the members of the public kept asking for news.

I have fond memories of Woodford, as no doubt we all do.

[andyxh558]

mostly heavy heavy rain from 1997 onwards. One of your commentaries at woodford will always stick in my mind and it was when you were trying to get people from rubbernecking just after Dave Moore lost his life in 1992. The word Ghouls was used in its correct form, what surprised me was that people were trying to leave as the authorities where trying to get the necessary equipment to the crash scene.

I would just like to thank you for all those years you did with your precise and informative and humorous commentary. Like you said the airshow is greatly missed and almost 90 years of aviation is about to close when the buildings are pulled down to make "affordable" housing and that to me is very sad.

[DerekF]

The demolition signs are all over Avro house and what we called New assembly. "New" assembly was built during the war and it was, when built, one of the largest buildings in Europe. A quarter of a mile long and a good 3/4 mile walk all the way round. Avro house was only finished in the 1990s and is a decent 3 storey office building. What a shame it all has to go.

The WW2 camouflage still visible on the side of the new assembly hangar.



I must try and get some photos before it all vanishes.

[eddywinch82]

Unfortunately for me, I only ever went to one Woodford airshow could have
done with being a two day airshow the one I went to was the 1996 one.
Remember It well Saw the vickers Vimy Replica 4 Spitfires from the fighter collection only one of which now resides
in the UK (Spitfire XIV MV298)
in a great tailchase display, Patrouille Ecco an airfield attack by tornados and jaguars, jetstream 41, and much more
besides, also a great solo display by anatoly kvotchur in the Flanker he really threw it about tailslides, cobra etc awesome stuff. Also
remember the weather being sunny too.
It was also the day that in euro 1996 England played spain and won, when david seaman made that great penalty save and stuart pearce
scored that famous pen remember listening to it on the way home in the car so a great day allround. Really dissapointed I didnt
go to other airshows there especially the brilliant 1992 event. I have attached a link to some photos I took from that event
not brilliant but a bit of history nonetheless. But I agree It is real shame the airfield is having housing built on it, doesnt
seem right for an airfield steeped in history !

http://s489.photobucket.com/albums/rr25 ... ow%201996/

Regards

Eddie

[DerekF]

More information on what is proposed for the site here.

http://woodfordgardenvillage.co.uk/

Apart from a heritage centre with a Vulcan parked outside and the continued presence of the OAA ,now CAE, training facility, it looks like Woodford's contribution to aviation history is over.

[andyxh558]

Wonder if when the demolish it you can get a brick form there or something. sounds a bit weird i know but what the hell.

[Kip Casper]

Some good views there. Heritage centre looks to be going where fire station is with Vulcan outside.

[Trident 3B]

excllent news, the (not open to the public) avro heritage center is fascinating, but they will need a lot more exhibts to create a proper attraction. Also a shame that 558, effectivly stopped 603 being a live airframe, as many components were removed so 558 could fly. (which i had a hand in! )

good news though hope it all works out