Franklin Field
FRANKLIN FIELD: Private airstrip
Operated by: Skysport Engineering, later Flying Restorations
Location: Roughly 1nm SW of Sandy
Period of operation: 1980(s) to –
Note: The runway, just S of Thorncote Green is marked with a series of 'Xs'. The airfield to the N is LONG ACRES FARM
Runway: 06/24 710x18 grass
NOTES: This strip had, and quite possibly still has, planning permission for a limited number of movements each year and Skysport (later Flying Restoration) were/are well known for their expertise in repairing and restoring classic aircraft. They have also had some notable visitors, including the Vickers Vimy replica.
PERSONAL MEMORIES
I was privileged to be invited to do a couple of unique aircraft moves by Skysport Engineering. See FILTON for example when I moved the Bristol Bulldog from the RAF HENDON museum for the Bristol Aircraft Company centenary celebrations.
In this case it was another unique aeroplane, the Blackburn B2 G-AEBJ, which I collected from the BAe factory at BROUGH in February 2007, which was being brought here for refurbishment. This was just before BROUGH closed as an airfield and I was told that I was collecting the very last airworthy aircraft from this historic site. A small claim to fame of course, but it gave me a great deal of personal satisfaction.
See also my article on British aviation museums etc for a picture of a Vickers Viscount fuselage they had in open storage here.
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