Ipswich Airport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ipswich Airport
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| Airport type | Closed | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Ipswich | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 128 ft / 39 m | ||||||||||||||
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Ipswich Airport was once an important airfield located near Ipswich, in Suffolk, England. It was also known as RAF Nacton because the No. 3619 Fighter Control Unit of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force used to be based there.
A Look Back: History of Ipswich Airport
The land for the airport was called Ravens Wood. The Ipswich Corporation bought this land in 1929. They wanted to build a public airport for the town. Construction started the very next year.
Prince Edward officially opened the airport on June 26, 1930. He thought it was a fantastic facility. He even called it "one of the finest in the country."
The main terminal building was designed in 1938. It was created by architects Hening and Chitty. This building is very special. In 1996, it was given a Grade II listing. This means it's protected because it's a "very rare and early example" of its kind.
Over the years, Ipswich Airport offered many flights. You could fly to places like Clacton, Southend, and Jersey. These flights were offered by Channel Airways. Later, Suckling Airways flew to Amsterdam and Manchester. Some private air taxi flights were also run by a company called Hawk Air.
From its earliest days, the airport was a home for many private planes. It also hosted aircraft from flying clubs. There were always companies at the airport that could fix and maintain aircraft. These services were provided in the large hangar built in the 1930s.
Why the Airport Closed
In 1990, the local council, who owned the airport, looked into how the land could be used. They found that the site could be better used for new buildings. Because of this, the council decided to close the airfield in 1993.
This news made many people upset. Campaigns started to keep the airport open. For a while, it seemed like the airport might be saved. In September 1996, the council allowed businesses to stay. They also planned to update the air traffic control systems.
However, the airfield was officially closed. It stopped being registered by the Civil Aviation Authority on December 31, 1996. This was not because people stopped using it. It was also not because of a lack of public support. After the council announced the closure, many people signed petitions.
This led to a sit-in protest that began on January 1, 1997. The very last aircraft left the airport over a year later, in January 1998.
Today, the airport site has been completely redeveloped. It is now a housing estate called Ravenswood, Ipswich. The old terminal building, which is Grade II listed, was saved. It has been turned into a community center and flats. From the outside, the building still looks very much like the original airport terminal.
Images for kids
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This De Havilland Tiger Moth was based at Ipswich Airport during 1954/55
