Winthorpe Airfield

[kinglear27]

Hi.
Anyone know why Winthorpe Airfield closed? The runway doesn't look too bad on google maps and hasn't been messed with.

Thanks

[cg_341]

There's an entire website dedicated to it, I found it by Googling "Winthorpe Airfield"

http://www.winthorpe.org.uk/the-history ... e-airfield

The short answer is because it wasn't needed any more, along with many (hundreds?) of other airfields.

[NAM Updater]

Hi.
Anyone know why Winthorpe Airfield closed? The runway doesn't look too bad on google maps and hasn't been messed with.

Thanks

Do you mean back in 1959, which is covered in this air museum published book, or more recently when the gliding club stopped using the site?

Last museum aircraft delivery occurred on 19 February 2003, when an AN-2 was flown in - pilot opted to use the grass as opposed to the "pot-holed" runway.

Same runway was evaluated in 2009 for possible Nimrod delivery flight - deemed not suitable due to delamination of the top-surface at the western end close to A1/A17/A46 road junction. (IIRC there's a thread about this somewhere on here!)

It's a lot worse at ground level than from any aerial views - it now has lots of electrical junction boxes alongside it near the western intersection and is regularly used for event car parking by the site's landlords.

I almost forgot, the runways are almost completely fenced in with locked gates and is difficult to get out of if anyone does risk it and land!

[speedbird2639]

"The owners of the site are in the process of digging it up to build horse paddocks, stables and show-rings so, please, don't try to land on it.!!"

http://ukga.com/airfield/winthorpe

The image on Google Earth is getting on for 10 years old so things may well have changed significantly.

[NAM Updater]

As of Tuesday 20th December the runway that the Vulcan landed on in 1983 is intact; no long-term plan that I'm aware of to change that status.

The old grass gliding strip to the south of it does now have a horse ring on it (no stables - temporary units come in as required). At the eastern end, close to the junction with the old perimeter track there is a new car storage compound that was being populated with vehicles by the motor auction company.

Forgotten from my previous post was an aborted attempt to take the Viggen out onto 'Vulcan Way' (named by owners) for some filming for Top Gear - this was partially the reason why the museum hosted the Viggen night-shoot in 2013.

[kinglear27]

Thanks! I had no idea the museum tried to purchase a Nimrod. Shame it never came to fruition

[NAM Updater]

It's partially covered in our new Museum History Book - I've searched the threads here and they're a bit disjointed, so here's the press release from Oct 2010:

"No Nimrod for Newark Air Museum

Within the last few days the trustees of the Newark Air Museum have notified the RAF’s Nimrod Disposal Team that they no longer wish to pursue the purchase of a Nimrod R1 airframe.

This difficult decision has been reached after a careful and considered evaluation of a diverse range of factors which has been underway since June 2009 and initially included the possible airborne delivery of an airframe to Winthorpe.

One of the main factors influencing this decision was that it has not been possible to solve the unique engineering problem of removing and then re-fitting the wings, without creating major structural integrity issues with the airframe. The museum also recently become aware that spares recovery of significant airframe parts from the nominally allocated Nimrod R1 airframe would be likely; thereby leading to an incomplete airframe being available for disposal.

The museum trustees felt that the workload and expense that would be incurred in dismantling, transporting and reassembling the airframe could no longer be justified for an incomplete airframe. This point was reinforced by the realisation that the likelihood of securing the missing items from other sources would be minimal.

The trustees of the Newark Air Museum would like to place on record their thanks to everyone involved in this evaluation process for their patience and support during the last 15 months. In particular to: the Nimrod Disposal Team at RAF Kinloss; 51 Squadron at RAF Waddington; the 51 Squadron Association and its members; the RAF Museum at Cosford; its own museum staff and members; the various contractors and transport companies that have offered their advice and expertise; and finally to the wider aviation community for all of their offers of support and encouragement.

The funds within the museum’s budget that were earmarked for the proposed Nimrod R1 acquisition will now be reallocated to other potential airframe acquisitions; to the repainting of several existing large airframe at Newark; and towards the development costs associated with the new Southfield Site Visitor Centre project.

Finally the trustees would like to send their best wishes to those groups that have already successfully acquired examples of the Nimrod – the ‘Mighty Hunter’.

Ends 356 words

1st October 2010"

Also it's a small world - Steve Payne, who posted the comment about the gliding site was one of the re-enactors at the Viggen Night Shoot!!

[kinglear27]

Thanks!

[NAM Updater]

My pleasure.

At the time I was really disappointed at not securing a Nimrod (one of my favourite airframes); however in hindsight - deciding not to proceed was one of the best decisions I've helped to make at NAM!

[Tangoringo]

Hadn't appreciated the gliding club had moved out. I had my first ever flight and first ever solo in their T49 many moons ago. Also remember my dad spending a day there waiting for the Vulcan to arrive.

[NAM Updater]

It was a sad day when that aspect of the site's aviation history finished! I remember when they first started gliding from there in 1975 and I was also there for the Vulcan arrival on 7 February 1983 - happy memories!

http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/oldstuff/2 ... newark.htm

[Tangoringo]

Thanks for the link NAMU. I hadn't appreciated that Neil MacD was the skipper on the flight and ironically he was the instructor at the BAe Flying College at Prestwick who signed me off for my CPL cross country ( to Humberside, not a million miles away ) Wish I'd known it was he as I could have had a blither, although I'm sure he wouldn't want to chat to a spotty oik like me!
Back to the vulc and I think my dad still has some photos of a rather snowy scene at Winthorpe of that day. Must have a rummage in his loft to see if I can find them.
Thanks again.
Ian

[NAM Updater]

It's my pleasure and I'm always fascinated when such 'connections' come to light!

The most fascinating part of the museum's post-Vulcan delivery celebrations was the party at the Lord Nelson pub in Winthorpe village on Friday 11th February 1983; when Neil gave us an 'un-edited' description of his Black Buck divert into Rio c/w photographs - a stunning recollection of a memorable event.

As one of the 'diggers' that went under an idling XM594 I can also clearly recall the events of 7th February; would love to see any photographs that you might be able to 'track-down'!

[CH2]

A little write up here with regards to the last day of operations at Winthorpe.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/VentureZa63 ... 0227612009

[NAM Updater]

That's an interesting insight - thank you for posting the link!

Happy New Year.

[CH2]

No problem. On that day I believe the last ever powered a/c to depart Winthorpe airfield officially was G-TUGY, with the Venture being penultimate.

[NAM Updater]

I think that you might be right and also with using the word "officially".

I have personally witnessed a few 'unofficial' landings since then, which were in effect 'lock-ins' due to the fencing that has been erected - this has also resulted in several 'irate' calls to the museum, but it has no control over the use of the former runway.

Rotary movements onto various parts of the former airfield are still quite regular; including a couple in the weeks before Christmas; plus the RAF movements onto the museum's Southfield Site.