Old Sarum Airfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Old Sarum Airfield
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View of the apron and tower during sunset
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Private | ||||||||||
| Owner | Blanefield Property Company Ltd | ||||||||||
| Operator | Old Sarum Airfield Ltd. | ||||||||||
| Location | Salisbury | ||||||||||
| Closed | 31 Oct 2019 | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 285 ft / 87 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 51°05′56″N 001°47′03″W / 51.09889°N 1.78417°W | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
 EGLS
Location in Wiltshire
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| Runway | |||||||||||
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Sources: UK AIP at NATS
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Old Sarum Airfield (ICAO: EGLS) is a grass airfield located near Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. It's about 2 miles (3.2 km) north-north-east of the city.
The area around the airfield has a mix of open land, homes, and businesses. Old airfield buildings from World War I and World War II are now used as offices and shops. New buildings are still being added today.
Old Sarum is a special place because it's a well-preserved flying field from World War I. It still has many original buildings. Three of its hangars and a former workshop, all built in 1918, are listed as important historical buildings. The old Headquarters building from 1935 is also listed.
In 2007, the airfield was made a conservation area. This means it's protected because of its historical importance. An aviation museum opened in Hangar 1 in 2012. It moved there from the nearby Boscombe Down airfield.
Airfield Rules and Flying
Old Sarum airfield has its own set of rules for planes flying there. These rules help keep the skies safe. For example, planes usually fly their circuits (patterns before landing) to the south of the airfield.
The airfield has a special license that allows it to offer flights for passengers and flying lessons. However, it is not currently licensed for night flying. This helps reduce noise for people living nearby.
History of Old Sarum Airfield
World War I Beginnings
The site for Old Sarum Airfield was chosen in 1917. It was needed to train pilots for the growing Royal Flying Corps (RFC). At first, it was called 'Ford Farm' but soon became known as Old Sarum.
In August 1917, it opened as a training station. Its first job was to help create new bomber squadrons. These squadrons would later go to France to fight. On April 1, 1918, the Royal Air Force (RAF) was formed. On the same day, a new training unit started at Old Sarum. This unit, 11 Training Depot Station, trained new aircrews.
Between the World Wars (1918-1939)
After World War I, Old Sarum was one of the few airfields that stayed open. In 1921, it became the permanent home of the School of Army Co-operation. This school taught both Army and Air Force members. They learned how to communicate between planes and ground troops.
In 1924, 16 Squadron was formed at Old Sarum. They worked with Army units in Southern England. They used planes like the Bristol Fighter and later the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas. In 1938, they were the first unit to use the Westland Lysander plane.
In the mid-1930s, the RAF started to grow because of threats from Nazi Germany. Old Sarum was chosen to become a permanent air base. Many new buildings were constructed between 1934 and 1937. This made the airfield much larger.
Other squadrons were also based here before World War II. These included 13 Squadron, 107 Squadron, and 59 Squadron. They flew planes like the Audax, Hawker Hind, and Hawker Hector.
World War II Operations
When World War II started, RAF Old Sarum looked much the same. It continued to train pilots and develop ground support methods. In February 1940, 16 Squadron left for France. Two Canadian flying units, 110 and 112 Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Squadrons, took their place.
Later, 225 Squadron (RAF) arrived. They used Lysander planes to patrol the south coast. They looked for any signs of a Nazi invasion of Britain.
In 1939, the number of aircraft at the School of Army Cooperation increased. A new 'D' Flight was created in 1940 for spotting artillery. This flight helped create all future Air Observation Post (AOP) units.
During the Battle of Britain, many fighter pilots were needed. Some army cooperation trainees from Old Sarum were sent to train on Hurricane and Spitfire planes. In May 1941, one hangar was burned in an air raid. Two aircraft were destroyed.
As the war continued, faster planes were needed. Hurricanes and Tomahawks joined the unit. Because Old Sarum's landing area was limited, a larger satellite airfield was set up at Oatlands Hill. All training for faster planes happened there.
In August 1941, the first full AOP squadron was formed. This was 651 Squadron. They used Taylorcraft planes flown by specially trained army pilots.
In 1942, Old Sarum became the main base for AOP training. The School of Army Cooperation was reformed here in 1943. It was later called the RAF School of Army Cooperation. The war showed how important it was for different military branches to work together. More people from the Army, Navy, and Air Force came to Old Sarum.
In 1944, extra hangar space was used by 3505 Servicing Unit. They maintained aircraft used for anti-aircraft and searchlight training.
D-Day Preparations
Plans for the D-Day landings in 1944 included Old Sarum. The airfield became a key part of the supply area for the invasion forces. All flying training stopped.
Thousands of ground personnel and RAF vehicles passed through Old Sarum. Seven large tent camps were set up around the airfield. Over a thousand fitters worked to waterproof 25,000 invasion vehicles. The airfield's hangars were used as workshops.
On D-Day, 34 aircraft from three squadrons were at Old Sarum. They were waiting to be called into action. Ground support units continued to pass through until November.
Oatlands Hill Satellite Airfield
The satellite airfield at Oatlands Hill was about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Amesbury. It opened in June 1941. It had three grass airstrips, four hangars, and a few small buildings. It was mainly used for AOP training.
In February 1944, 43 OTU moved to Oatlands Hill. This was to make room at Old Sarum for D-Day preparations. The Oatlands site closed in May 1945 or 1946 and became farmland again.
After World War II
In May 1947, the School was renamed the School of Land/Air Warfare. It trained officers from the UK and other NATO countries. In 1956, RAF Old Sarum was given the Freedom of the City of Salisbury. This was a great honor.
A RAF flying club, the Bustard Flying Club, started in 1957. They used de Havilland Tiger Moth planes for training.
Helicopters became important after the war. In 1961, the RAF part of the Helicopter Development Unit (HDU) was formed at Old Sarum. They explored how helicopters could be used by the military. In 1965, a new Joint Helicopter Development Unit (JHDU) was formed.
In 1963, 622 (Volunteer) Gliding School (VGS) moved to Old Sarum. The School of Land/Air Warfare joined with another school to form the Joint Warfare Establishment.
The final change was in 1968, when the Army Air Transport Development and the JHDU combined. They became the Joint Air Transport Establishment (JATE). Old Sarum was transferred from the RAF to the Army in 1971. Flying continued until 1978, when 622 VGS moved. From 1979, the airfield was no longer a military base.
1982 to 2001: Private Ownership
In 1982, the airfield was sold to Edgley Aircraft Ltd. They used the buildings to design and build the Edgley Optica observation aircraft. The airfield was used for test flying these planes.
A flying club, the Wiltshire Aerospace Club, started using Hangar 3 and the airfield in 1982. In 1986, the Optica business was bought and renamed Brooklands Aerospace Group. They continued building Optica aircraft.
In 1986, Brooklands got a license for the airfield. This allowed flying training to take place. In 1989, the airfield lease and Hangar 3 were bought by Blanefield Investments.
The Dorset Gliding Club also used Old Sarum from 1981 to 1989.
2001 to 2019: Continued Flying and Museum
Old Sarum Flying Club operated as a civilian club from 1992 to 2008. It offered various types of flight training. At its peak, it had over 800 members and 20 aircraft.
Later, Old Sarum Flying School took over. It offered training on planes like the Piper PA-28 and Aero AT-3. This business was rebranded as GoFly UK in 2013. Other companies like AirSport UK also offered training on different aircraft. The APT Charitable Trust provided flight training for pilots with physical disabilities.
GoSkyDive (formerly SkyDive South Coast) started skydiving operations at Old Sarum in 2009. They use a Cessna 208 plane for paradropping.
The Boscombe Down Aviation Collection museum moved to Hangar 1 in July 2012. It has many static aircraft exhibits. It has also expanded into a second hangar for vintage aircraft that still fly from Old Sarum.
Many privately owned aircraft are still based at the airfield. Most of these are kept in Hangar 3.
Conservation Area Status
Salisbury District Council first tried to make Old Sarum Airfield a conservation area in 2001. This decision was later found to be unlawful due to errors. So, the designation was removed.
However, after changes in the rules, the airfield was successfully designated as a conservation area again in February 2007. This protects its historical importance.
Future Plans and Closure
In 2014, the airfield owners proposed new plans for the site. They wanted to build new homes and a visitor center. This would help make the airfield financially stable. The plans included 310 new homes on the north-western edge and 150 homes to the south.
In July 2019, it was announced that Old Sarum Airfield would close on October 31, 2019. This was due to financial losses. The owners had been in a long dispute with Wiltshire Council about building houses. Local people formed a group called "SOS – Save Old Sarum" to try and protect the airfield.
The airfield did close on October 31, 2019. Its future was uncertain for a while. However, as of January 2023, the Old Sarum Airfield Ltd website states that the airfield is still operational. But you need to arrange your visit beforehand.
Accidents and Incidents
Over the years, Old Sarum Airfield has seen several flying incidents. These are often part of learning to fly or testing aircraft.
- In August 2017, a Vans RV6A plane flipped over during landing. This happened because its nose gear was damaged from a previous hard landing. The pilot was able to get out safely.
- In May 2015, a De Havilland Tiger Moth plane also flipped over while landing. Neither person on board was injured.
- In April 2011, a Magni M24C Orion gyroplane crashed while trying to return to the airfield. The person flying it was seriously injured.
- There were several incidents with Aero AT3 planes, including one that went off the runway and another that had to make an emergency landing near the airfield. No serious injuries occurred in these events.
- In July 2012, a microlight crashed during takeoff, blocking the runway. Both people on board had minor injuries. Earlier that year, in May, a light aircraft crashed into pig houses at the end of the runway while landing. Both pilots were uninjured.
- In April 2013, a light aircraft landed upside down. Again, neither pilot was injured.
