Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield
| Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield | |
 | |
|---|---|
| Code | , ICAO: EG2A |
| County | Northamptonshire |
| Private airfield | |
| Operator | Go Fly Oxford |
| Location | Brackley SP545371 52°1’48"N, 1°12’21"W |
| Website | www.hintonairfield.co.uk |
Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield is an airfield on the west side of Hinton-in-the-Hedges near Brackley, Northamptonshire. The airfield is made up of several runways, one of which is tarmac. It consists of several well-drained short-mown grass runways which are oriented: 06/24, 09/27 and 15/33. The field is flat and plays home to many activities, from power flying to glider flying.
The Hinton Skydiving Centre operates from here: it is open 6 days a week (closed Mondays) and skydiving takes place weather permitting.
During the British Grand Prix at nearby Silverstone, the airfield is used as a park and ride.
History
As with many airfields in the surrounding area Hinton was built in 1940 by the RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War and closed to military activity in 1945.[1]
Gliding
The gliding club at Hinton Skydiving Centre is owned by Banbury Gliding Club.[2] It has been flying at Hinton in the Hedges for over 20 years and operates mainly at weekends and Bank Holidays, but is open some Fridays during the summer. It is situated a mile and a half from the A422 road. There is no landing fee at the airfield.
Four club gliders operate at the airfield.
There are also many privately owned gliders, often flying cross-country, and single propeller aircraft that operate at the airfield. The club has two tug planes.
The skydiving aircraft takes off and lands on the main hard runway which is oriented 06/24.
Flight Training
Go Fly Oxford [3] is a flying school based at the airfield and operates two Cessna 150 aircraft and a Piper PA-28RT-201 Arrow.
In the news
The airfield was unexpectedly thrown into the national news On Thursday, 6 May 2010, the day of the 2010 General Election, when a PZL-104 Wilga, carrying the then UKIP leader Nigel Farage crashed whilst attempting to land at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield after aborting a flight over Buckingham with a UKIP banner attached to the tail. The banner became tangled in the control surfaces on the empennage which prompted the pilot to attempt an emergency landing.[4][5] The pilot and Mr Farage were both injured and taken to different hospitals.[6]
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield) |
References
- ↑ RAF Hinton-in-the-Hedges
- ↑ Banbury Gliding Club
- ↑ Go Fly Oxford
- ↑ Nigel Farage injured in plane crash on election day BBC News 6 May 2010, accessed 19 January 2011
- ↑ UKIPs Farage hurt in plane crash The Guardian 6 May 2010, accessed 19 January 2011
- ↑ UKIPs Farage hurt in plane crash, Coventry Telegraph, 6 May 2010, accessed 19 January 2011