Sandown to close... Oh no it isn't!

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Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 658

Letter issued by the airports owners, to all interested parties.

Sad news indeed.

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Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 16,832

That's bad news. I hate losing airfields.

And one I have never flown to. I'd better get tere quickly.

Moggy

Member for

17 years 6 months

Posts: 1,433

Very sad. It was a delightful location to fly to, but I fear that the recent demotivation of the owners and the running down of the operation following the fire at the restaurant a couple of years ago made this inevitable.

The Solent crossing, particularly on a summers evening in something like the Tiger was often breathtaking. Sadly with only a 'hard' runway at Bembridge, that option is now closed for us :(

Member for

15 years 2 months

Posts: 2,828

Sad news.

Member for

16 years 11 months

Posts: 284

and the future of Airframe Assemblies is ?????????

Member for

14 years 4 months

Posts: 77

That's very sad as Sandown was the Airfield where I took my first ever flight way back in June 1972 in an Auster G-APAA (Whatever happened to G-APAA......Anyone know ??)

Member for

16 years 10 months

Posts: 313

Picture taken at Chivenor late 1960s/early 1970s, G-APAA was written off in a crash at Badminton 9/8/1975 and subsequently withdrawn from use, with the wings apparently going towards rebuilding another Auster.

I first flew to Sandown in a Chipmunk in July 1977 and, end of an era perhaps, we paid our respects with a possible final visit this afternoon.

However, all does not seem to be lost just yet as the local gossip is that great efforts are being made to appeal for an extension.

Good to see that some things never change as we were marshalled in by Henry, who has been a part of the furniture there for as long as I can remember. The cafe in the portacabin has now closed but the lady running it has today moved her stock to the Specialist Flying School on the other side of the airfield, where she officially re-opens for business on Saturday.

Although some of the residents have left and the Tipsy Junior G-AMVP is moving to the glider hangar at Bembridge, some of the diehards are holding on and best of luck to them with their appeal.

Anyone visiting by air is advised to contact the Specialist Flying School number on 01983 402402.

Wicked Willip:diablo:

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Member for

20 years

Posts: 3,902

Not so fast..............

There are promising moves afoot to keep the runway open, with a Court Injunction ( maybe temporary) now preventing closure for the forseeable future. :):)

Member for

20 years 8 months

Posts: 8,505

I do hope so

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 658

Yes 'round 2' to the good-guys it would seem, encouraging signs stuck up around the airfield. The legal battle continues, what will happen next only time will tell.

Bit of an unofficial fly-in on this coming Sunday 26th, ahead of the planned Oct 1st 'closure' date...just in case the empire strikes back, so to speak!

Chumpy.

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Member for

20 years 8 months

Posts: 8,505

Nice to see some action being taken to actually keep an airfield o[en for aviation instead of being sold off for housing land or a supermarket.

Member for

16 years 2 months

Posts: 823

I hope 'damage to runways' doesn't include my bouncy touch-and-go this week:D

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 658

The ground crews laboured through the night to fill in the crater, think you got away with it this time!

Member for

13 years 6 months

Posts: 722

Not so fast..............

There are promising moves afoot to keep the runway open, with a Court Injunction ( maybe temporary) now preventing closure for the forseeable future. :):)

YES!
Motivated flying public!!

Its rather simple:
Motivated people (check)
Leadership, the more charismatic the better, with lots of time to devote (check??)
Events (check)

and most important:
Engagement of NON-flying public!

You must have as many locals as possible come out to the air port, show them they can freely see aircraft up close, bus them in if you have to.
Do school events, kids love to see airplanes, or at least get out of class. ;)
Have jumble sales, circus events, raffles for free flights, etc.
Best to do at least twice a year, finding out the best time may be challenge.

Good luck!

Member for

14 years 9 months

Posts: 239

Come on down!

Just on my way to do my bit for the day - booking in clerk.

See you there.

Don't forget. north side of the airfield - where the rest are.

Telephone number is 01983 402 402

Fieldhawk.:D

Member for

14 years 9 months

Posts: 239

Still operating!

Hi all.

Below is the link to the local newspaper report on the weekend of 25/26 September this year.

http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/fight-to-keep-airport-open-given-boost-34957.aspx

I understand that there is to be another fly-in very shortly. It may be at fairly short notice as a better metman than was on duty last weekend is being hunted for. Bit too much crosswind.

Sandown is still there, and it is going to remain there.

Telephone number is 01983 402 402 and NOT any other number you may have

Member for

15 years 2 months

Posts: 2,828

I just got this through in the email from the CAA..

ISLE OF WIGHT/Sandown
Our Ref: E5796
Year: 2010
Effective: 01/10/2010
Details:
ISLE OF WIGHT/Sandown
Following closure remove all reference to the aerodrome from 503910N 0011055W (including ATZ details in the legend)

So is it operating or not?

Member for

14 years 9 months

Posts: 239

We are still smiling....

Thanks for that EGTC - have passed that on the Ops Control. Can't say too much as guess the enemy is on frequency.

Watch this space and I will keep you updated as and when. We are still fighting to stay alive. At the moment Sandown is still alive, whether the Campaign Against Aviation says so, or not.

Nil Desperandum Carborandum :)

Member for

15 years 2 months

Posts: 2,828

No problem :) If I get anything else through in the CAA emails i'll be sure to let you know.

Member for

14 years 9 months

Posts: 239

REJOICE - SANDOWN SURVIVES ANOTHER BATTLE!!!

EGTC - Something tells me that, shortly, you will have an e-mail from the CAA again, this time telling one and all that SANDOWN WILL REMAIN ACTIVE.

Please go to www.flyingschool.com and, once the update is complete you will see that the airfield is TO REMAIN OPEN until at least sometime in 2011, and all things being equal, way beyond that.

There is now an excellent cafe on the north side at the Specialist Flying School (formerly in the portacabin but with much more space and without a bomb-site in front of it).

Things are looking good, very good. No more gloom, just :D:D :D :D :D

The telephone number is 01983 402 402 - not any other number.

See you soon. Or make that VERY SOON.

Member for

16 years 6 months

Posts: 1,327

Haven't been to Sandown since my parents took me to IOW on holiday on the early 70's. Paid a fleeting visit to Sandown then and thought it was a lovely airfield. Pleased to see that it appears to be round 1 to the aviators and hope that it stays that way in the future.