Popham Airfield
| Popham Airfield | |
 | |
|---|---|
| Code | , ICAO: EGHP |
| County | Hampshire |
| Airfield | |
| Operator | Charles Church (Spitfires) Ltd |
| Location | SU53474419 51°11’40"N, 1°14’10"W |
| Runway(s) | 3,000 feet (Grass) 2,953 feet (Grass) |
| Website | .popham-airfield.co.uk |
Popham Airfield (ICAO: EGHP) is an unlicensed airfield in the north of Hampshire, located 6 nautical miles south-west of Basingstoke. It lies alongside the A303 road, providing a landmark for drivers.
The airfield has two grass runways, designated 08/26 and 03/21. Light aircraft maintenance facilities, aircraft hire and flight training on microlight and light aircraft is available.
Popham Airfield runs many different events over the year, including the Microlight trade fair in May, the annual Motorcycle Mega Meet & Vintage Aircraft Fly-in in August and the New Year's Day Fly-in.
Signals
Popham Airfield's radio frequency is 129.805 MHz (8.33 kHz spacing) air-to-ground only with an additional operations frequency of 131.405 MHz (8.33 kHz spacing) for the resident flight school. Radio operating hours are from 08:30 until 17:00 (winter 16:30 or sunset if earlier).
General aviation and training
The airfield is home to AirBourne Aviation,[1] a flight training school that made international media headlines when in August 2014, one of its staff pilots [2] discovered one of the secret filming locations for Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Greenham Common and photographed[3] a half-constructed, full size Millennium Falcon.
Microlight flight simulation training takes place at the airfield using a Comco Ikarus C42 flight simulator operated by AirBourne Aviation.[4]
On 7 April 2007, Neville Duke, an RAF fighter ace in the Second World War and a well-known test pilot, made an emergency landing here in a light aircraft when he felt unwell. He collapsed after landing and died later that evening.
Outside links
References
- 'Pooley's Flight Guide' (2014) p 533-534