Primarily for general aviation discussion, but other aviation topics are also welcome.
By XX
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1322260
Anyone know if Wyton is open to visitors? I know it officially closed as an RAF base over a year ago, but I believe there is some flying there. I looked at Pathfinders Flying Club website but can't tell if info is current. I can ring them, but any info gleaned from here first is useful.

I have to be in Huntingdon next week and weather permitting, would be good to fly rather than drive.

Thanks.
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By anglianav8r
#1322304
A viable alternative is Conington, only ten minutes up the A1
By Lefty
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1322432
I would suggest that there is very little chance of being able to fly in there - especially on a weekday.
The Grob Tutors and the flying club operate predominately at weekends and during the week it all goes very quite.
The biggest issue for them in letting you land, is how do they get you the mile and a half from the tower to the main gate. You can't go unescorted, so that means they have send someone - and a vehicle to drive you to /from the main gate - which is something they are just not set up to do.

All of the Grob people and the flying club members have security passes which let them drive around the base.

The Pathfinder Flying club have an annual flyin which I've attended a couple of times - bug even then, you can only go as far as the hangar immediately behind the tower. (I spent 4 years of my RAF career at Wyton)

I suggest Peterborough Connington as the nearest alternative. Good runway and very friendly people.
By XX
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1322479
Thank you for the very helpful replies. As Lefty says, with the military bases, the problem is more about getting off them, had that before. Conington may well do the trick, I have been in there before; I was trying to save my lift a few miles' travelling.
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By townleyc
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1322629
You could always try Main Hall Farm at the other Connington - 750m of good grass.

KE
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By Hazel C
#1322648
Wyton closed Eh? Thats news to me, I have flown in there a number of times over the past year. As far as I am aware, the Station is not to close, but the airside part is to close April 2015. 57 Sqn are based there and operate all through the week..whenever I have flown there, they always seem very busy! They are to come to us at some point though when airside closes. The rest will become joint RAF and Army. They have made a start to making it dual service already.

The Pathfinder Flying Club operate during the weekday (not evenings) and weekends.

I have always found the Tower exceptionally helpful in allowing us to fly there for both landaways and circuits. But then I guess, we are an RAF Flying club aircraft and a Grob to which I admit, makes life a hell of a lot easier. If you are a member of a Service Flying Club it should not be an issue as you will get reciprocal membership and will of course haev a military pass.

Problems occur when you are not military or affiliated to the military. You have to have a damn good reason to go, jump through numerous PPR hoops and pay a fortune for landing fees. If you intend t fly in at the weekend, you will need a sponsor at the Flying CLub to host you. Well, if Wyton are anything like Cranwell you have to!

Hope that helps! :)
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By rogcal
#1322689
What about Harry Raby's strip at Brookfield Farm, Great Stukeley.

http://www.laasdata.com/ports-of-call/p ... .php?c=445

It's been a couple of decades since I last dropped in there but I noticed recent activity at the strip when I drove past it on the A14 last month.

Closer to Huntingdon than Wyton and a 5 min taxi ride into town at most.

Might want to give 01480 453 269 a call but this may be the farm office number and only available during business hours.