Turweston Aerodrome

Infobox Airport
name = Turweston Aerodrome
nativename =
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nativename-r =


image-width =
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IATA =
ICAO = EGBT
type = Public
owner =
operator = Turweston Flight Centre Ltd
city-served =
location = Turweston
elevation-f = 448
elevation-m = 137
coordinates = coord|52|02|27|N|001|05|44|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline
website =
metric-elev =
metric-rwy =
r1-number = 09/27
r1-length-f = 3,002
r1-length-m = 915
r1-surface = Asphalt
stat-year =
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Turweston Aerodrome Airport codes|N/A|EGBT located near the village of Turweston, Buckinghamshire, is a former Royal Air Force World War II bomber training facility, now a business park and airfield.

Turweston Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P750) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Turweston Flight Centre Limited). The aerodrome is not licensed for night use. [ [http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/375/srg_asd_ordinarylicences.pdf Civil Aviation Authority Aerodrome Ordinary Licences] ] The runway direction now commonly being used is 09/27.

RAF Turweston

Based on convert|220|acre|ha|1 of north Buckinghamshire countryside, just off the A43 road and located 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) east of the market town of Brackley, RAF Turweston served as a bomber training school during World War II. Opened on 23 November 1942 it had three concrete runways and one T1 hangar. [ [http://www.controltowers.co.uk/T-V/Turweston.htm RAF Turweston Airfield ] ] The three runways were: [http://www.aviationresearch.co.uk/ARAerodromes.htm#hname]

*10/28 - 2000 x 50 yds
*04/22 - 1400 x 50 yds (later extended to 1750 yds)
*16/34 - 1400 x 50 yds

It initially housed the Vickers Wellingtons and Avro Ansons of 12 OTU until April 1943, when it began housing the B-25 Mitchells of 13 OTU. In May 1943 they were joined by the A-20 Bostons of No 307 FTU, with both units remaining until closure. No 17 OTU Gunnery Flight began arriving in July 1943 with Wellingtons, and formed fully in November 1943 with a flight of Miles Martinets.

Other types located at Turweston included: Airspeed Oxford; Westland Lysander; De Havilland Mosquito and the Hawker Hurricane.

As a training base, many young airmen were killed and Turweston is reported to have a ghost, last seen by the base cook in 1945. [ [http://www.paranormaldatabase.com/aviation/pages/avdata.php?pageNum_paradata=3&totalRows_paradata=97 phantom aircraft, ghostly airmen, and other spirits of aviation ] ]

At the end of World War Two, the RAF had a surplus of facilities, and many including Turweston were scheduled for closure. Turweston closed on 23 September 1945, but was retained by the Ministry of Defence. The land was used for private vehicle storage and agriculture.

Turweston Aerodrome

Turweston Aerodrome re-opened for business in 1994, having been rebuilt as a combined airfield, aero-club, flight school and rally track. The new conference facilities were opened in 2004, and the location has also served as a dance or rave venue. [http://www.gurn.net/venues/Turweston_Aerodrome] [http://www.association-of-noise-consultants.co.uk/Spotlights/Spotlight%20Pages/ETA.htm] The business park is home to various businesses, including from September 2006 Broom Engineering, the manufacturers of Hesketh Motorcycles. Turweston Aerodrome also offers under 17 off road driving lessons via Driving Ambition based in Brackley.

Turweston also hosts an annual Classic Vehicle Day, [ [http://www.pfa.org.uk/vac_event.asp Popular Flying Association ] ] which in addition to aircraft showcases vintage cars, motorbikes, tractors and farm machinery. Also run annually is the overland Fast-Track service into the British Grand Prix, whose clients include the corporate guests of McLaren Mercedes, WilliamsF1, Toyota F1 and BMW Sauber

It will also be host to the Gatecrasher Summer Soundsystem festival this year.

References

*United Kingdom AIP

External links

* [http://www.turwestonflight.com/ Turweston Aerodrome website]
* [http://www.controltowers.co.uk/T-V/Turweston.htm ControlTowers.co.uk history of RAF Turweston]
* [http://www.aviationresearch.co.uk/ AviationResearch.co.uk, a site focusing on WW2 bomber training around Brackley]
* [http://www.drivingambition.info/ DrivingAmbition.info, a site for under 17's wanting to drive at Turweston Aerodrome]