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| *] (Alderney) | *] (Alderney) | ||
| *] (Caen, Le Havre, Le Touqet) | *] (Caen, Le Havre, Le Touqet) | ||
| == External links == | == External links == | ||
Revision as of 14:18, 11 November 2006
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Shoreham Airport (IATA: ESH, ICAO: EGKA), also known as Shoreham (Brighton City) Airport, or Brighton, Hove and Worthing Municipal Airport is an airport located 1 nautical mile (1.6 km) west of Shoreham-by-Sea and just east of Lancing, West Sussex, near Brighton. Founded in 1910, it is the oldest licensed airfield in the UK. It is situated immediately to the south of the A27 road, between Brighton and Worthing.
Shoreham has a CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P884) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction.
The aerodrome was first used in 1910 and was officially opened on 20 June 1911. During World War I the aerodrome was used by the Royal Flying Corps.
The aerodrome became an airport for the adjacent towns of Brighton, Hove, and Worthing in the 1930s. A new terminal building was opened on 13 June 1936. The Terminal Building is still in use and is now a Grade II Listed Building.
During World War II the airfield operated a variety of military aircraft including Westland Lysanders (later replaced by Supermarine Spitfires; Hawker Hurricanes; Boulton Paul Defiants; and a pair of Bristol Beaufighters. It was an air-sea-rescue base with Supermarine Walrus aircraft joining other wartime activities in the nearby harbour.
The airfield was bombed several times and a Messerschmitt Bf 109 was shot down by ground fire during one such attack, crash-landing near the terminal building.
A Boeing B-17 crash-landed at the airfield after being damaged during a raid on Germany. The consequent damage to the old guardhouse on the north side of the airfield can still be seen.
The landing area was grass until a tarmac runway was built in 1981.
The airport is used by privately owned light aeroplanes, flying schools, and for light aircraft and helicopter maintenance and sales. A number of operators provide sight-seeing and pleasure flights, including the experience of flying in two T-6 Harvard World War II training aircraft. Commercial scheduled flights are available via local operators to Alderney in the Channel Islands and Le Havre and Le Touquet in France.
Once every year in late August/early September, the airport is host to the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) airshow which includes flying and static displays by a variety of aircraft such as fast jets, military helicopters, acrobatic specials, and historic aircraft. A variety of ground displays by local organisations including the local flying clubs, the armed forces, and classic cars and vehicles.
The airport also features two licensed restaurants; the cafeteria in the main terminal building is open to the public (including those not otherwise involved with the airport or any flight), and sells local real ales.
In 2006 due to mounting debts the airport was sold by the local authority to a property company on a 150-year lease. It is intended that the airport will provide increasing commercial flight activity for the conurbation on the coast nearby, particularly Brighton and Hove.
Destinations and airlines
- Blue Islands (Alderney)
- Skysouth (Caen, Le Havre, Le Touqet)
External links
- Shoreham Airport (official website)
- Shoreham Airport Historical Society (official website)
- Shoreham Airshow (official website for this event)
- Shoreham Airport history, including during World War II
- Template:WAD
Maps and aerial photos:
- Template:Getamap for grid reference TQ202054 from Ordnance Survey Get-a-map
References
| Airports in the United Kingdom, the British Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories | |||||
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| Statistics | List of busiest airports in the United Kingdom | ||||
| Smaller airports handle domestic, charter or private services only | |||||