Lewknor flying sites
Note: This map shows the approximate position of the parachuting venue.
LAMBERT ARMS: Civil Landing Ground
Operated by: Mr W E Belcher, Woodway Farm, Aston Rowant, Lewknor
Location: More or less near the junction of the A40 and B4009 just NE of junction 6 on the M.40 and adjacent to the Lambert Arms – but on which side?
Period of operation: 1930s only?
Runway: ?
NOTES: The Lambert Arms is still in business so perhaps a visit is needed to see if anybody now knows where the 1930s Landing Ground was situated? In the 1930s it was one of 74 A.A. (Automobile Association) approved Landing Grounds on mainland Britain. Fuel was available from a pump installed at the Lambert Arms and a telephone was available here, plus accommodation being on site too.
I think these on-site facilities probably marks this Landing Ground as being unique amongst the other seventy-three A.A. approved Landing Grounds. A taxi service was available from Edward Brothers, Lewknor Garage, presumably fairly close by?
MOOR COURT FARM: Private airfield & parachuting site
Note: Pictures by the author.
Operated by: London Parachute School
Location: In/near Lewknor, 0.5nm SW of junction 6 (M.40), roughly 4nm SE of Thame
Period of operation: 1980s(?) to – 2011?
NOTES: The problem I had with LEWKNOR / MOOR COURT FARM is that when I was learning to fly from WYCOMBE AIR PARK in the 1980s I feel positive that MOOR COURT FARM was shown as being a parachuting site on the charts at that time. It was in our local flying area but I never once saw any sign of any activity. More recently it was called LEWKNOR but charts stilled showed it as being SW of junction 6 - not NW as one 1980s airfield guide stated.
Can it safely be assumed they must be the same place? Later on an AAIB accident report EW/G2005/10/08 certainly confirmed the site was still active in 2005. Then when driving west along the M.40 in my truck, (in 2007), at long last I spotted signs of activity when emerging from the Stokenchurch 'canyon' - or cutting if you prefer. I immediately exited the M.40, stopped and photographed an Islander flying parachutists here.
Late in 2011 it was announced the London Parachute School had moved to CHILTERN PARK. Does this mean the site will, or indeed has, fallen into disuse?
Dayl Gallacher
This comment was written on: 2019-03-13 13:36:35Indeed, yes it had. Due to some restrictions on the site (bordered by at least one public footpath) and repeated moaning from a few locals regarding the 'noise' issue, London Parachute mo ed their operation to near Reading, Berks I believe
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Dayl, Thanks for the info. Regards, Dick
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
