RAF Kenley Air day.

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20 years 8 months

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Just a quick heads up for the Air Day to be held at the Battle of Britain Fighter station on the 14 August 2010.

Septic.

http://www.rafkenleyairday.co.uk/home.html

Original post

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14 years 2 months

Posts: 635

Looks like no confirmed displays as of yet but will be interested to see how this develops! Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

Member for

19 years 4 months

Posts: 1,493

Thanks for posting Gary.

Just having a look through the gallery section and it looks like the 46 squadron shots are from Digby rather than Kenley unless i'm mistaken.

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14 years 2 months

Posts: 635

Hmmm... still no confirmed displays for this "exciting day out" has anyone wind of what is planned?

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20 years 8 months

Posts: 1,475

It appears from the BBMF website that the Lanc, Spitfire and Hurricane will display at Kenley. What is intriguing though is that it appears the Spit and Hurri will be landing at Kenley.

Can anyone remember the last time a Spitfire or Hurricane operated from Kenley.

The Breightling wingwalkers will also be in attendance.

Septic.

Member for

20 years 9 months

Posts: 608

Thanks for the heads-up on this Sceptic... this had slipped under my radar so pencilled into my diary!

Cheers
Pete

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16 years 7 months

Posts: 10,647

Got to be worth going, if only to stand on this infamous BoB airfield 70 years later.
Does anyone know what is left of the original site, I have heard that it has been almost completely demolished over the years.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 389

Does anyone know what is left of the original site, I have heard that it has been almost completely demolished over the years.

There's not really any buildings left but the runways and perimeter track are all compleate. There's also lots of E pens including one that's been restored as a memorial. I'd love to see the Spitfire and Hurricane parked up in one of these pens, would be a great photo.:D

Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 10,647

Cracking pics Rich, good to see that the Dinning Room / Institute still stands, what is it used for now?
Any sign of BHQ or PH Forts at all?

As PeterW says, it would be fantastic to see a Hurricane or Spitfire parked in the E pens, surely worth going to the effort to arrange this year.

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24 years 2 months

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Kenley is one of my favourite airfields -has a real feel to it!

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18 years 5 months

Posts: 23

In addition to BBMF there should also be a Reds flypast enroute to somewhere else, a Harvard display, a Yak 52 with possibly a Pitts too.
HTH's

Member for

20 years 8 months

Posts: 1,475

A BBMF team arrived at Kenley today to check the condition of the runway and peri track.

I was fortunate enough to see their Chipmunk today, all by accident as I saw the Chipmunk on approach when I popped home for lunch.:) So I quickly grabbed my camera and dashed up to the Aerodrome to snap these images, there was a lot of heat haze today so there not too great.:(

Septic.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BBMFChipmunkKenley2July212010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BBMFChipmunkKenley4July212010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BBMFChipmunkKenley3July212010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BBMFChipmunkKenleyJuly212010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BBMFChipmunkKenley6July212010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BBMFChipmunkKenley9July212010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BBMFChipmunkKenley7July212010.jpg

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18 years 1 month

Posts: 274

Kenley Aerial Views

If anyone is interested i have recently taken some aerial images of Kenley to go with a magazine article.
One of these i am numbering to identify what is/was there based on having been around the place since 1960.
Normally do not post images but can do if they are not capable of being "lifted".
I was lucky as all the buildings that survived the 1940 raid were still there in 1960 (some still in camo).
Wonderful place that has not been surrounded by development due to it being built on common land.
Even the sites of the original 1917 hangars can be clearly seen from the air.
Would need some info on how to post said images.

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18 years 1 month

Posts: 274

Chipfire Images

Great images of the Chipfire Septic,
The last time a Hurricane or Spitfire landed there was prob 1955 when they made Reach For The Sky !!!!

Member for

20 years 8 months

Posts: 1,475

Hi Pete,

Would love to see aerial images of Kenley, was that you in a R22 a few weeks back hovering around the site!

Regarding the last spit/hurricane landing at kenley; Did either land during the airshows that happened in the late 70's and I believe 1980. Were there any airshows at Kenley in the 60's.

Otherwise the last Spit at Kenley would have been the Gate guard RR263 which left in 1967 albeit on a truck:).

Here's a link to a French site featuring RR263.

Septic.

Member for

19 years 10 months

Posts: 293

A BBMF team arrived at Kenley today to check the condition of the runway and peri track.

I was fortunate enough to see their Chipmunk today, all by accident as I saw the Chipmunk on approach when I popped home for lunch.:) So I quickly grabbed my camera and dashed up to the Aerodrome to snap these images, there was a lot of heat haze today so there not too great.:(

Septic.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BBMFChipmunkKenley2July212010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BBMFChipmunkKenley4July212010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BBMFChipmunkKenley3July212010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BBMFChipmunkKenleyJuly212010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BBMFChipmunkKenley6July212010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BBMFChipmunkKenley9July212010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BBMFChipmunkKenley7July212010.jpg

Not Great ??? Cracking pics from my point of view. Thanks for sharing.

Member for

20 years 9 months

Posts: 608

A BBMF team arrived at Kenley today to check the condition of the runway and peri track.

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the significance this ? Does it mean there is a chance of the BBMF Spitfire or Hurricane landing? I'm planning to go so if either did, it would make my day :)

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

Member for

19 years 4 months

Posts: 814

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the significance this ? Does it mean there is a chance of the BBMF Spitfire or Hurricane landing? I'm planning to go so if either did, it would make my day :)

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

I would have thought there was every chance of them landing, however the general layout would still have to be surveyed from the air for a display, especially as the BBMF would not have any up to date info on Kenley as a display venue rather than just a normal flypast location.
The visit the other day would have provided all the answers.

I visited back in January, and was surprised that the runways and peri track were still there, the memorial is very nice too, and it is good how the local council have kept the old airfield as a common rather than the usual site of a huge building project.
As long as people respect the glider operations, I think the current arrangement will continue..................not sure what the area is like during the dreaded school break though:eek:

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16 years 7 months

Posts: 10,647

They are cracking pics, but the surface does look open and rough in them (hopefully its just appearance), lets hope the BBMF will land a Spitfire or Hurricane on it.

Member for

20 years 9 months

Posts: 608

I made a special trip there on a Friday a few months so as to take a look at the memorial and what remaining wartime structures survived, ruining a pair of work trousers in the process of going on a bramble safari when trying to view the remaining Firing Butts here :)

One the whole, public interaction with the airfield appeared good, albeit there were a few dog walkers (with dogs loose) and families with kids on bikes (kids loose). Fencing and no-go areas around the Glider ops being undertaken appeared to be followed by those there. However, seeing that the day is being widely advertised, perhaps some form of fencing or marshalling will be needed if aircraft are to land?

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator