Docklands
DOCKLANDS: Temporary flying site
Operated by: Red Bull Air Races
Location: Just N of, parallel to and roughly in a central position of the Royal Albert Dock. LONDON CITY AIRPORT is on the S side of Royal Albert Dock
Period of operation: 25th to 30th July 2007
Runway: 10/28 470x20 hard
Note: I think this is the only example of a runway marked with two letter designators? RB 10 and RB 28. RB being for Red Bull of course.
NOTES: This temporary airfield, complete with a new asphalt runway, removable control tower and hangar, (these latter two facilities being used at each Air Race venue around the world in 2007), was set up for the Red Bull Air Races which took place on the River Thames just north of the Millenium Dome on Sunday the 29th of July 2007.
Very short practise sessions took place from the Wednesday which meant LONDON CITY AIRPORT closing for an hour during the week and for the entire period of the races on the Sunday! This said, and it was the situation, London City airport closed at 13.00 on a Saturday and didn't reopen until 12.30 on a Sunday. I believe this is still the case?
The River Thames on this section was closed to marine traffic too, for the first time since WW2 due to air raids.
I was surprised the find the runway still clearly visible in 2015. And indeed, the eastern end could still be seen, marked out, in 2018.
AND, A BIT MORE
In June 2024 Mr Graham Frost, a great friend of this 'Guide', discovered these pictures on the interweb.
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