History

Brimpton Airfield, the home of Brimpton Flying Club and Percival Piston Provost T1

Wasing Lane, Aldermaston, Berkshire, RG7 4LY Clubhouse tel: +44(0)118 971 3822

Email: info@brimpton-airfield.co.uk Website creation by Alan McNeal & Associates www.amav.biz

The airstrip now is now home to around twenty aircraft including a Provost and the Saab. There's an active flying club with more than 50 members and a pleasant clubroom with a veranda and barbecue facilities. On ordinary flying days we can offer our visitors tea, coffee and light snacks. On fly-in events we have full catering.

The airstrip was first laid out in the 1950's by Sir William Mount, owner of the land and a director of Miles Aircraft at Woodley. Rumour has it that he used it to commute the 15 miles to work every day in his Miles Messenger! During the 70's it was used by crop spraying contractors. Alan House took it over in 1977. The first aircraft there was Alan's Cessna 175 Skylark. By 1979 there were three more light aircraft based on the airstrip,

This was followed by another '50's period aircraft - just as rare as the Provosts - a 1954 Saab 91D Safir. This versatile aircraft, designed for the Swedish Air Force was used for navigation training, general transport and air ambulance work. The Safir (Sapphire), G-HRLK was rebuilt to full airworthiness, including aerobatic capability and has given great pleasure ever since.

In 1983 Alan bought a 1950's ex RAF Percival Piston Provost T1, G-AWRY from the Shuttleworth Trust, the first of several of the type to be restored and fly from Brimpton, giving the airstrip its identity till today In '86 Alan bought another Provost - or rather, a truckload of parts which would eventually become a Provost. This was G-BFKW. The following year RY was damaged in a fuel related accident Fortunately, neither Alan or his passenger - his Uncle Nick who flew in the First World War, were badly hurt. This aircraft is still being rebuilt.