RAF Honiley

Infobox Airport
name = RAF Honiley
nativename =
nativename-a =
nativename-r = RAF Honiley


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IATA = BHY
ICAO =
type = Closed
owner = LucasVarity
operator =
city-served =
location = Wroxall, Warwickshire
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website =
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r1-surface = Tarmac
r2-number =
r2-length-f =
r2-length-m =
r2-surface = Tarmac
r3-number =
r3-length-f =
r3-length-m =
r3-surface = Tarmac
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RAF Honiley was a Royal Air Force station located in Wroxall, Warwickshire seven miles (11 km) southwest of Coventry, England. The station closed in March 1958, and after being used as a motor vehicle test track, is presently subject to planning permission from Prodrive for development of their Fulcrum test and development facility.

History

Originally called Ramsey, it was renamed RAF Honiley in August 1941, and used by night fighter squadrons defending the Midlands during the Second World War: [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/56/a8935356.shtml BBC - WW2 People's War - A Night-time Emergency Landing ] ]
*1456 (Turbinlite) Sqn using the Douglas Havoc
*August 1943 to March 1944 - No 63 OTU instructing Airborne Interception techniques with Bristol Beaufighters and Blenheims. Moved to RAF Cranfield
*July 1944 to August 1946 - ground units transferred to 26 Signals Group, RAF Bomber Command. Renamed Signals Flying Unit in July 1944, testing new radio equipment. Moved to RAF Watton in August 1946 [ [http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/airfields/airfields.html The Wartime Memories Project - Airfields ] ]
*August 1946 to March 1957 - 605 Sqn Royal Auxiliary Air Force equipped with de Havilland Mosquitos and Vampires [ [http://www.605squadron.co.uk/Base.htm 605 Squadron ] ]
*August 1946 to March 1957 - 1833 Sqn Royal Naval Reserve with Sea Vampires then Supermarine Attackers. [ [http://www.army.mod.uk/royalsignals/30sigregt/bramcotehistory.htm History of Bramcote Station ] ]

Like many stations, it collected a station mascot in the from of a Supermarine Spitfire, No. 7240M. [ [http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=276320 Three Spitfires return to RAF Woodvale - PPRuNe Forums ] ] From April 1957, the station was placed on Care and Maintenance until closure [ [http://www.controltowers.co.uk/H-K/Honiley.htm Honiley airfield] controltowers.co.uk]

Present day

After being taken over by LucasVarity for vehicle testing, current residents include Prodrive, Marcos and TRW. [http://www.kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=698&ArticleID=1401259 Protest against Formula One plans] kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk - 24 March, 2006]

In addition to their existing automotive consultancy business, already based at the site since 2001, in March 2006 motor racing company Prodrive announced its intent to build a £200million, convert|200|acre|km2|1|sing=on motorsport facility called The Fulcrum. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/4763590.stm New Formula One plans unveiled] BBC News - 1 March, 2006] [ [http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=35115 Prodrive plans £200m F1 facility] itv-f1.com - 13 March, 2006] Prodrive's statement in the planning application for the facility – which could house as many as 1,000 staff – boasted of "a motorsport complex which could eventually house Prodrive's new British Prodrive F1 team", further cementing Managing Director David Richards' intention to return to F1 in 2008.

As of 3 August 2006, Prodrive has won the support of the Warwick District Council planning committee for development of The Fulcrum. [ [http://www.kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=698&ArticleID=1672236 Prodrive development approved] kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk - 3 August, 2006] The permission covers a highly advanced engineering research and development campus, a conference facility called the "Catalyst Centre" and new access road, a roundabout, infrastructure, parking and landscaping. The plans still have to be presented and agreed by the British government's Department for Communities and Local Government, and there is local opposition via the Fulcrum Prodrive Action Group (FPAG) to protect the rural nature of the community and the safety of the people that live within it.

However, following rule changes banning so-called 'customer' cars from competing in F1, and legal proceedings undertaken by existing F1 manufacturer teams, Prodrive's F1 plans have been shelved indefinitely. There is no information relating to the effect this may have had on continuing with any part of the site's redevelopment. Prodrive's core motorsport business remains based at their existing Banbury headquarters.

References

External links

* [http://www.fpag-info.homecall.co.uk Fulcrum Prodrive Action Group]