Sywell Aerodrome

Infobox Airport
name = Sywell Aerodrome
nativename = Northampton/Sywell Aerodrome
IATA = ORM
ICAO = EGBK
type = Private
owner-oper = Sywell Aerodrome Ltd.
location = Northampton
city-served = Northampton, Wellingborough & Kettering
elevation-f = 419
elevation-m = 128
coordinates = coord|52|18|19|N|000|47|35|W|type:airport
metric-rwy = yes
r1-number = 03L/21R
r1-length-f = 2,982
r1-length-m = 909
r1-surface = Grass
r2-number = 03R/21L
r2-length-f = 2,201
r2-length-m = 671
r2-surface = Grass
r3-number = 05/23
r3-length-f = 1,975
r3-length-m = 602
r3-surface = Grass
r4-number = 15/33
r4-length-f = 1,732
r4-length-m = 528
r4-surface = Grass
footnotes = Source: United Kingdom AIP [ [http://www.ais.org.uk/ UK Aeronautical Information Service] ]

Sywell Aerodrome Airport codes|ORM|EGBK is the local aerodrome serving Northampton, Wellingborough and Kettering as it is situated midway between these towns. The airport is located 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north east of Northampton and was originally opened in 1928 on the edge of Sywell village.

The aerodrome caters for private flying, flight training and corporate flights. There is one fixed-wing flying school, one microlight school and a helicopter school. In addition there is a 1930s Art Deco hotel with bar and restaurant facilities. Aviation related industries and businesses are also located at the aerodrome.

Northampton (Sywell) Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P496) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Sywell Aerodrome Limited). [cite web | url= http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/375/srg_asd_ordinarylicences.pdf | format= PDF | publisher= CAA SRG | title= Aerodrome Ordinary Licences | accessdate= 2007-06-23 ]

A viewing area is also available for use by aircraft spotters.

World War II

The aerodrome opened in 1928 and during World War II the aerodrome was used as a training facility (Tiger Moths) and later an important base for the manufacture of Wellington bombers and extensive sheds from this time still remain on site.

Many aerial shots for the film "Battle of Britain" were taken over the airport.The aereodrome also houses a small museum dedicated to telling the war time history of the site and the airmen that used it which has recently been renovated, this was celebrated with a visit a flypast by three P-51 Mustangs.

Current plans

Since 1999, the Aerodrome has sought planning permission for a hard runway, which is intended to allow operations to continue over the winter, when the grass runways often become waterlogged. [cite news |title = Plans to improve aerodrome site | work = BBC News |date = 26 April 2006 |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/northamptonshire/4937822.stm |accessdate = 2006-08-24] The organizations STARE (Stop The Aerodrome Runway Expansion) and CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) are campaigning against this change, arguing that it will lead to more and larger planes flying over the area and disturb its "rural tranquility". [cite news
title = £1m to sort out runway debate |work = Evening Telegraph |date = 14 August 2006 |url = http://www.ketteringtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=661&ArticleID=1695015 |accessdate = 2006-08-24 ] Permission was granted for the runway on 22 November 2007 by the Department for Transport, but campaigners have vowed to fight the decision. [cite news | url= http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Campaigners-fight-on-despite-Sywell39s.3513780.jp | date= 22 November 2007 | work= Northampton Chronicle & Echo | title= Campaigners fight on despite Sywell's runway approval | accessdate= 2007-11-22]

Brooklands Flying Club

Brooklands Flying Club are based at Sywell and fly the AT-3 aeroplane which is used as a trainer for PPL, JAR and night rating training.

Brooklands Flying Club has recently announced (October 2008) that it will scale the Flying School down to operate only at Weekends and on a Friday if demand dictates. This will be effective from 1st November 2008 and will continue until further notice.

ywell airshow

The aerodrome now hosts an annual airshow where there are many classic aircraft flying and on display such as the Catalina, Mustang, Harvards and the British Classic, the Lancaster bomber. The Blades aerobatic display team who are based at Sywell also do a performance where they fly death defying stunts and displays using diesel produced smoke.

Music in Flight

Music in Flight is an airshow held at Sywell, where an orchestra play classical music to accompany flying aircraft, hot air balloons, the Red Devils parachute display team and a fireworks display.

References

External links

* [http://www.sywellaerodrome.co.uk/ Sywell Aerodrome official website]
* [http://www.sywellaerodrome.co.uk/museum.php Sywell aviation museum]