Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield

Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield is an airfield on the west side of Hinton-in-the-Hedges near Brackley, Northamptonshire, England.

Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield
Summary
Airport typePrivate
OperatorGo Fly Oxford
LocationBrackley
Elevation AMSL505 ft / 154 m
Coordinates52°01′42″N 001°12′36″W
Websitewww.hintonairfield.co.uk
Map
Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield
Location in Northamptonshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
06/24 2,296 700

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 skydiving centre is open 6 days a week (closed Mondays) and skydiving takes place weather permitting.

During the British Grand Prix at nearby Silverstone, it is used as a park and ride.

History
Aerial view from the west circa 1941-1942

As with many airfields in the surrounding area Hinton was built in 1940 by the RAF Bomber Command during World War II. 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 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the A422 road. There is no landing fee at the airfield.

The club gliders that operate at the airfield are:

There are also many privately owned gliders, often flying cross-country, and single propeller aircraft that operate at the airfield. The K21 is used for first-time flyers and trial-lessons, the K13 is used as a trainer, and the Ka6 is used for solo pilots, as is the Astir (G-CGBJ) used for more experienced pilots. The gliding BGA turning point for the airfield is HIN.

The skydiving aircraft takes students up to about 13,000 feet (4,000 m). It takes off and lands on the main hard runway which is oriented 06/24. The club has two tug planes - a Eurofox and a Super Cub.

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.

Notable accidents and incidents

On Thursday, 6 May 2010, the day of the UK's 2010 General Election, a PZL-104 Wilga, carrying the then former 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 Farage were both injured and taken to different hospitals.[6]

In December 2010, the pilot, Justin Adams, was arrested as he was alleged to have threatened to kill Farage and similarly threatened the CAA investigator Martin James.[7]

References
  1. RAF Hinton-in-the-Hedges
  2. Banbury Gliding Club
  3. Go Fly Oxford
  4. Nigel Farage injured in plane crash on election day BBC News 6 May 2010, accessed 19 January 2011
  5. UKIPs Farage hurt in plane crash The Guardian 6 May 2010, accessed 19 January 2011
  6. UKIPs Farage hurt in plane crash, Coventry Telegraph, 6 May 2010, accessed 19 January 2011
  7. Nigel Farage plane crash pilot charged with threatening to kill Ukip leader (has crash picture) Daily Telegraph, 1 December 2010, accessed 19 January 2011
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