EAST CARLETON MANOR:   Private airstrip




Note:  Both of these pictures obtained from Google Earth ©







Operated by:  Mr Colin Chapman


Location:  Just NE of East Carleton village, roughly 5nm SSW to SW of Norwich city centre

Period of operation:  Presumably mid 1950s to early 1980s?


Runway:  Probably?    01/19   650   grass


NOTES:  We have Mr Graham Frost, a great friend of this 'Guide' to thank for pointing out this location.

Colin Chapman, (1928 to 1982?), founded Lotus Cars in 1952 and took place in the French Grand Prix in 1956. Around that time he owned a Piper Aztec and later the Enstrom F-28A-UK helicopter, G-BAAU. (This being registered to Lotus Cars from 1976 to 1981).

650 metres is pretty tight for an Aztec, and presumably the trees at the southern end were much lower then. It is reported that he sometimes removed the aerial on the underside.

It appears that the hangar still exists looking at the picture above.

For those who love a conspiracy and controversy combined with a mystery, (and who doesn't?), it is well worth looking into the circumstances of his death - aged 54. After being heavily involved in the DeLorean affair, which was a major scandal, it seems he suddenly died when it was about to be exposed. Some say his death was rigged and he fled to Brazil, living on his part of the proceeds. Will we ever know?