We all have our favourite airfield, but where do you think are the most popular GA destinations in the UK? Flight planning app SkyDemon have a new feature that can help with that…
7 July 2021
The team at VFR flight-planning app SkyDemon are no strangers to continuously tweaking to add new features, but one of the latest updates introduces a new feature which ranks airfields simply by the number of unique fly-in visitors in the last two years.
SkyDemon’s Tim Dawson explains how the figures were calculated, “Anybody who has taken off or landed at the airfield counts for one point, whether they’ve used it 100 times or just once. Therefore this isn’t an indication of the amount of traffic at the airfield, just how many unique visitors they’ve had which we think is synonymous with popularity and the amount of things to see/do there.”
So, we asked SkyDemon for a snapshot of its data in early July and present the top 10 airfields that popped up. Some you could probably guess, some might be a surprise. Read on, and we hope you’ll be inspired to plan a trip…
1
There was no surprise among the FLYER team when we heard that Sandown Airfield was the number one destination for UK GA pilots.
Thanks to its location on the Isle of Wight, the flight to this airfield feels that little bit special because of the small bit of over-water flying you need to do to get there. Unless you really like riding on a ferry, there’s no better way to visit the island. The airfield also hosts the famous Spamfield microlight fly-in.
The biggest factor in it’s popularity is most likely down to the big – actually let’s make that HUGE efforts – by the airfield’s owner, Dan Subhani. It’s safe to say that Dan never stops thinking of ways to make Sandown an excellent place to visit. This has always been his way, and under his ownership he’s been busy improving the airfield and adding extras you wouldn’t normally expect at an airfield, like ‘glamping’ facilities.
Dan also likes to make sure there’s always easy access to food for fly-in visitors. The Island Bistro is open 1100 to 1700 Monday to Friday, and 1100 to 1730 on the weekends, with a very popular menu of BBQ food, wood-fired pizzas and daily specials always on offer. Fuel is also easily available thanks to a self-serve facility with card payment.
In 2020 after easing of the first Covid-lockdown. Dan was at the forefront of airfield social distancing measures, making sure pilots could have an enjoyable, but safe visit. Just another reason why Sandown is number one!
2
You can tell a lot about a place from the feedback that people leave – take a look in the Pilot’s Notes section for each airfield on SkyDemon to find out more about a place. One comment in particular really underlined the general feelings of pilots we talked to about Turweston, and that was, “This place is what the aviation ‘family’ is all about.”
We’re sure there are lots of reasons that Turweston is a very popular choice with General Aviation pilots, but visiting pilots consistently talk about the great facilities the airfield has, as well as the extremely friendly welcome they all receive.
The hub for activity at Turweston is the fabulous Turweston Tower building, home to Turweston Flight Centre and the superb Flight Deck Cafe, which is open all year round. Thanks to the café’s location on the first floor, visitors can expect great views of all the flying activity going on, and if it’s warm enough, there’s a outdoor seating terrace.
As if that wasn’t enough, if you need fuel, the fuel bowser will come to you, meaning less start and stop, or pushing of aeroplanes to park up.
One final gold star, Turweston is also highly praised for the support its facilities provides to disabled pilot visitors.
As the location of the Light Aircraft Association’s annual Rally, Sywell is the place where hundreds of pilots head to at the end of summer. You can choose between hard or grass runways, plus there’s the excellent Pilot’s Mess café, the Sywell Aviation Museum and the wonderful art-deco-styled Aviator Hotel right next door.
If you like warbirds, you can even buy a flight from Ultimate Warbird Flights, which operate from the airfield.
Back in 2016 Gloucestershire Airport clocked up more than 80,000 movements for the year, challenging some of the bigger commercial airports for sheer activity. A flight into Gloucester can see you mixing with business jets and sometimes the RAF, which use the airfield for approach training. A popular fuel-stop, there’s also the Aviator Inn, if you or your passengers need tea, cake or something more substantial!
5
If you’re on a flying visit to Cotswold Airport (Kemble) you’ll find it hard to miss, thanks to the large number of airliners parked around the airfield. The airfield is the final destination for many retired airliners, prior to them being recycled.
The one-time base of the Royal Air Force Red Arrows, Kemble’s hard and grass runways see lots of varied traffic, there’s handy self-service fuel and if you need ‘refuelling’, there’s the excellent AV8 restaurant.
If you haven’t been to Duxford yet, and you’re thinking of making a trip, first make sure you will be able to spend the whole day there. Duxford is one of the locations of the Imperial War Museum, and you’ll find a huge amount of aviation history to explore at the airfield. The airfield is also the home to the active warbird collections of The Fighter Collection, The Old Flying Machine Company, and The Aircraft Restoration Company, so you can usually count on there being some out of the ordinary machines to watch in action.
7
There aren’t many airports where the seafront is just a short walk from where you park your aeroplane, but Solent Airport is one of them.
If you’re landing on 05 – there’s a choice of grass or hard – then your approach is made a little more scenic by base leg and final being over the water.
Cafe@05 operates seven days a week, and ATC are renowned for being friendly.
8
Probably one of the most beautiful airfield locations in the UK, Compton Abbas sits high on the top of a hill with stunning views over the surrounding countryside.
Easy to spot in the air when approaching from the north, it can be more difficult from the south! The grass runway is long and 30m wide – just watch out for a few bumps in places.
The café is very popular, but if you’re flying in you can order food and drinks when you are paying the landing fee to save waiting. Then just sit and admire that view…
9
A bustling hub for General Aviation and home to the Herefordshire Aero Club, Shobdon sits in lovely clear airspace and is renowned for friendly, helpful ATC.
If you’re hungry, Meg’s @ The Hotspur Cafe is where you’ll find food and drink – the home-made pies are always good! If you need to top up your tank, there’s pay-at-pump fuel too.
10
We’re guessing that the fun aspect of a little water crossing to visit the Isle of Wight makes Bembridge the second airfield on the island to make this list.
Bembridge offers both hard and grass runways, and the final for Runway 30 gives you a picturesque over the water arrival.
A taxi ride into Bembridge and a walk along the coastal path makes for a great day out, according to visitors. If you want to eat while you’re there, a short walk will get you to the The Propeller Inn, which is always highly rated.
