Sleap Airfield

Infobox Airport
name = Sleap Airfield
nativename =
nativename-a =
nativename-r =


image-width =
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IATA =
ICAO = EGCV
type = Public
owner =
operator = Shropshire Aero Club Ltd
city-served =
location = Shrewsbury
elevation-f = 275
elevation-m = 84
coordinates = Coord|52|50|02|N|002|46|18|W|type:airport
website =
metric-elev =
metric-rwy =
r1-number = 05/23
r1-length-f = 2,631
r1-length-m = 802
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 18/36
r2-length-f = 2,543
r2-length-m = 775
r2-surface = Asphalt
stat-year =
stat1-header =
stat1-data =
stat2-header =
stat2-data =
footnotes =

Sleap Airfield Airport codes|N/A|EGCV is located 10 nautical miles (18.5 km) north of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England.

Sleap Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P641) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Shropshire Aero Club Limited) [ [http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/375/srg_asd_ordinarylicences.pdf Civil Aviation Authority Aerodrome Ordinary Licences] ] .

Sleap (pronounced "Slape") is an ex-RAF airfield, opening for flying in April 1943. It was used by RAF advanced flying training units. Initially it was the base for No.81 OTU within No. 93 Group of Bomber Command equipped with Whitley bomber aircraft. From 1 January 1944 Sleap was assigned to the RAF's No.38 Group, Airborne Forces. 81 OTU's Whitleys towed Horsa heavy troop-carrying gliders on training missions and the Horsas made practice formation landings at Sleap to simulate the attacks to come on German-occupied territory. Vickers Wellingtons replaced the Whitleys from November 1944 and by January 1945 the strength was 51 T.Xs, being used to train Transport Command air crews. The RAF finally released Sleap in 1964, but the location is still used as a relief airfield by nearby RAF Shawbury for Squirrel helicopter training.

The Shropshire Aero Club members' bar at Sleap is named after Bayston Hill born Flight Lieutenant Eric Lock the World War II Battle of Britain pilot who was the highest scoring British born pilots in the battle with sixteen and a half victories during the short battle.

References

*United Kingdom AIP

External links

* [http://www.shropshireaeroclub.com/ Shropshire Aero Club Ltd]
* [http://www.urbanassault.t83.net/#/rafsleap/4525168017/ Exploring RAF Sleap]