Airfields of Leeds

[liits]

Slightly off topic but does my memory serve me right when I think that there was some talk about having RAF Elvington as the North East major airport. I seem to think that this was when the runway extension at Leeds/Bradford was being objected to and before Sheffield Robin Hood[?] was put forward.

[LS16]

Yeah liits, that seems to ring a bell with me too.Apparently Elvington runway may soon be broken up - apparently it is no longer required as civil airports and other active bases can now cope with most aircraft.

[raveydavey]

liits wrote: Slightly off topic but does my memory serve me right when I think that there was some talk about having RAF Elvington as the North East major airport. I seem to think that this was when the runway extension at Leeds/Bradford was being objected to and before Sheffield Robin Hood[?] was put forward. Of course Doncaster/Sheffield Robin Hood International Airport was RAF Finningley in it's previous life and had a huge runway capable of coping with anything the RAF could throw at it.I agree that Church Fenton would have made an excellent site for a "Yorkshire Airport".

[liits]

Now I’ve confused myself. While I think I "definitely" remember Elvington being mooted as a major airport I was under the impression that it was because it was a multi-runway i.e. the classic triangular configuration and that Church Fenton had been discounted because it was still an operational RAF base [No1 Flying Training School] and that it only had a single runway. Looking at Google Earth [which on this occasion is indisputable] I see that Elvington is single runway and Church Fenton, while only having two runways would still be an improvement on the one of Elvington [and Leeds / Bradford and Robin Hood [who chose that name?]].Anybody help my memory?

[Cardiarms]

IIRC Elvington was an American base in the 50,s and the runway was extended to take the B47 which never arrived. It may be myth but I also remember from the 80's that it's on of the designated emergency landing fields for the Space Shuttle.

[Richard A Thackeray]

[quotenick="raveydaveyOf course Doncaster/Sheffield Robin Hood International Airport was RAF Finningley in it's previous life and had a huge runway capable of coping with anything the RAF could throw at it.It was a 'nuclear base' too, with AV Roe Vulcans stationed there.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_FinningleyXH558, the restored Vulcan was based there for a number of years (60-6Not too long ago, the Vulcans made a (smaller scale) return to Doncaster............ (click on pic to enlarge, 2 pics)RAF Misson (south-east) of Finningley was its 'protector', with 'Bloodhound' surface-air missiles.Ironically, this is now the home of a military surplus dealer, who has (had?) a couple of Bloodhounds on displaySee aeriel photos for a plan of the site, which shows the dispersal points.I've been twice with friends, who have been buying machinery, but the casual visitor isn't really welcome (may be by appointment?)http://www.ljacksonandco.com/

[liits]

Cardiarms wrote: IIRC Elvington was an American base in the 50,s and the runway was extended to take the B47 which never arrived. It may be myth but I also remember from the 80's that it's on of the designated emergency landing fields for the Space Shuttle. .Nasa's TAL [Transocianic Abort Landing]site in the UK is RAF Fairford [although Boscomb Down has a longer Runway at 4000yds] it's closest neighbour being Shannon in the Republic Of Ireland. Doubtful if they would ever be used, being a bit far north, those in Spain and North Africa probably being favorite.I've also discovered that Elvington did have three runways [although you'd never know it from Google Earth.Runway 203: [existant] 3000yds extended from 1400 ydsRunway 263: 2000 ydsRunway 143: 2000 yds extended from 2000 yds.Hmmm.