Shobdon Aerodrome
| Shobdon Aerodrome | |
 | |
|---|---|
| Code | , ICAO: EGBS |
| County | Herefordshire |
| Private aerodrome | |
| Operator | Herefordshire Aero Club Ltd |
| Location | Shobdon SO39936075 52°14’30"N, 2°52’52"W |
| Runway(s) | 2,743 feet (Tarmac]]) 3,084 feet (Grass) 1,010 feet (Grass) |
| Website | |
Shobdon Aerodrome (ICAO: EGBS) is a general aviation aerodrome 6 nautical miles flying west of Leominster, in Herefordshire.
RAF Shobdon
Shobdon started as an Army camp. It acted as a reception point for casualties received from Southampton being distributed to local hospitals. With a depot railway station developed on the Leominster and Kington Railway, its first casualties arrived after the Battle of Dunkirk.
The camp was developed further by the United States Army from 1943, to act as a distribution point for two locally developed general hospitals. They also added a runway in co-operation with the Royal Air Force, but due to the marshy land only one runway was developed.[1]
In 1943, RAF No. 1 Glider Training School moved from RAF Thame to Shobdon,[2] enabling an increase in training of glider pilots in preparation for the Normandy Landings and later Arnhem.[3]
The RAF Gliding School closed in 1953, and the site was handed to the council.
Today
Shobdon Aerodrome has a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Ordinary Licence (Number P779) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Herefordshire Aero Club Limited).[4] It is frequently used by air taxi services to Europe.
It is operated by Herefordshire Aero Club who provide light aircraft flight training together with aircraft storage and maintenance services.
Other air sports facilities based at Shobdon Airfield are:
- Shobdon LAA Strut a kit-build group hold monthly social evenings
- Tiger Helicopters offer helicopter flight training and maintenance.
- Swift Light Flight microlight club and training school.
- Herefordshire Gliding Club and training school.
From 1963 to 1990 Herefordshire Parachute Club was very active but now parachuting is no longer available at the airfield.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Shobdon Aerodrome) |
References
- ↑ About Shobdon: Shobdonvillage.co.uk
- ↑ "RAF Thame". controltowers.co.uk. http://www.controltowers.co.uk/T-V/Thame.htm. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
- ↑ "Shobdon". visitherefordshire.co.uk. http://www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/thedms.asp?dms=13&venue=1420661. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
- ↑ Civil Aviation Authority Aerodrome Ordinary Licences
- Shobdon – EGBS: UK Aeronautical Information Publication at National Air Traffic Services
- Brooks, Robin J. Herefordshire and Worcestershire Airfields in the Second World War. ISBN 1-85306-984-1
- Pfuell, Ivor. A History of Shobdon. Published by Ivor Pfuell, 1994. ISBN 0-9524790-0-1.
- United Kingdom Aeronautical Information Publication
- Tony Hobbs "Flying For Fun in the Southern Marches" ISBN 9781904396796 Published by: Longaston Press