White Waltham Airfield
Encyclopedia
White Waltham Airfield , is located at White Waltham
, 2 NM southwest of Maidenhead
, in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
in Berkshire
, England
. The airfield is privately owned and is the home of the West London Aero Club, the largest flying club in the United Kingdom
.
family bought 196 acre (0.79318456 km²) of grassland
to house the de Havilland Flying School. In 1938 the airfield was taken over by the government, and during World War II
was the home base of the Air Transport Auxiliary
between its formation in 1940 and disbandment in September 1945. The airfield was also home to Fairey Aviation
, which tested aircraft built at their Hayes
factory. These included the Fairey Gannet, one example of which is stored at the airfield awaiting restoration. The unique Fairey Rotodyne VTOL airliner was also assembled and tested here.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
was taught to fly at White Waltham in 1952, flying a de Havilland Chipmunk belonging to HQ RAF Home Command
Communications Squadron (HCCS) of the Royal Air Force (RAF)
. This squadron was based at the airfield from 1950 until 1959.
The airfield stayed under RAF control until 1982, when it was purchased by the current owners. Until 2007 it was the base of Thames Valley
air ambulance
helicopter.
Approximately 150 light aircraft
are based at the airfield, which with three runways is reportedly the largest grass airfield in civilian use in Europe. The airfield holds Civil Aviation Authority Public Use Aerodrome Licence Number P773, that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flight training
.
rave
s to be held at that time. The Sunrise Midsummer Party was attended by over 11,000 ravers, and attracted about 1,000 vehicles. This caused 3 miles (4.8 km) tailback
s on the approach to the airfield. The Sun
newspaper ran a headline "Ecstasy Airport" the next day.
Since the demise of the popular local steam rally at Knowl Hill, about a mile to the NW of the airfield, an annual vintage transport event is now held at White Waltham in August.
Film and TV location
The airfield has been used as a filming location on numerous occasions, perhaps most notably appearing several times in episodes of the popular 1970s ITV series "The Professionals".
White Waltham
White Waltham is a village and civil parish, west of Maidenhead, in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in the English county of Berkshire. It has a population of 2,875, and is the location of White Waltham Airfield.-Extent:...
, 2 NM southwest of Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
, in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is a Royal Borough of Berkshire, in South East England. It became a unitary authority on 1 April 1998.It is home to Windsor Castle, Eton College, Legoland and Ascot Racecourse....
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The airfield is privately owned and is the home of the West London Aero Club, the largest flying club in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Operational history
The airfield was set up in 1928 when the de HavillandDe Havilland
The de Havilland Aircraft Company was a British aviation manufacturer founded in 1920 when Airco, of which Geoffrey de Havilland had been chief designer, was sold to BSA by the owner George Holt Thomas. De Havilland then set up a company under his name in September of that year at Stag Lane...
family bought 196 acre (0.79318456 km²) of grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
to house the de Havilland Flying School. In 1938 the airfield was taken over by the government, and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was the home base of the Air Transport Auxiliary
Air Transport Auxiliary
The Air Transport Auxiliary was a British World War II civilian organisation that ferried new, repaired and damaged military aircraft between UK factories, assembly plants, transatlantic delivery points, Maintenance Units , scrap yards, and active service squadrons and airfields—but not to...
between its formation in 1940 and disbandment in September 1945. The airfield was also home to Fairey Aviation
Fairey Aviation
The Fairey Aviation Company Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer of the first half of the 20th century based in Hayes in Greater London and Heaton Chapel and RAF Ringway in Greater Manchester...
, which tested aircraft built at their Hayes
Hayes
Hayes may refer to:* Hayes , including a list of people with the name* A.F.C. Hayes, an English football club based in Hayes, Hillingdon* Hayes Brake, an American company dedicated to the design and manufacture of non-automotive disc-brakes...
factory. These included the Fairey Gannet, one example of which is stored at the airfield awaiting restoration. The unique Fairey Rotodyne VTOL airliner was also assembled and tested here.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
was taught to fly at White Waltham in 1952, flying a de Havilland Chipmunk belonging to HQ RAF Home Command
RAF Home Command
RAF Home Command was the Royal Air Force command which was responsible for the maintenance and training of reserve organisations from formation on 1 February 1939 as RAF Reserve Command with interruptions until it ceased to exist on 1 April 1959.-History:...
Communications Squadron (HCCS) of the Royal Air Force (RAF)
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. This squadron was based at the airfield from 1950 until 1959.
The airfield stayed under RAF control until 1982, when it was purchased by the current owners. Until 2007 it was the base of Thames Valley
Thames Valley
The Thames Valley Region is a loose term for the English counties and towns roughly following the course of the River Thames as it flows from Oxfordshire in the west to London in the east. It includes parts of Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, North Hampshire, Surrey and west London...
air ambulance
Air ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
helicopter.
Approximately 150 light aircraft
Light aircraft
A light aircraft is an aircraft that has a maximum gross take-off weight of or less.Many aircraft used commercially for freight, sightseeing, photography and scheduled flights are light aircraft.Examples of light aircraft include:...
are based at the airfield, which with three runways is reportedly the largest grass airfield in civilian use in Europe. The airfield holds Civil Aviation Authority Public Use Aerodrome Licence Number P773, that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flight training
Flight training
Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills....
.
Non-aviation event
On 24 June 1989, the Fairey Hangar, on the north side of the airfield, was the venue for one of the largest acid houseAcid house
Acid house is a sub-genre of house music that emphasizes a repetitive, hypnotic and trance-like style, often with samples or spoken lines rather than sung lyrics. Acid house's core electronic squelch sounds were developed around the mid-1980s, particularly by DJs from Chicago who experimented with...
rave
Rave
Rave, rave dance, and rave party are parties that originated mostly from acid house parties, which featured fast-paced electronic music and light shows. At these parties people dance and socialize to dance music played by disc jockeys and occasionally live performers...
s to be held at that time. The Sunrise Midsummer Party was attended by over 11,000 ravers, and attracted about 1,000 vehicles. This caused 3 miles (4.8 km) tailback
Tailback
Tailback can mean:* Halfback * A line of motor vehicles caught up in traffic congestion; a traffic jam...
s on the approach to the airfield. The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
newspaper ran a headline "Ecstasy Airport" the next day.
Since the demise of the popular local steam rally at Knowl Hill, about a mile to the NW of the airfield, an annual vintage transport event is now held at White Waltham in August.
Film and TV location
The airfield has been used as a filming location on numerous occasions, perhaps most notably appearing several times in episodes of the popular 1970s ITV series "The Professionals".