Littlebredy flying sites
Notes: This map shows the position of Gorwell Farm, still very much in business. But, looking at Google Earth, (image date 2017), there was nothing to indicate an airstrip - or a marked helipad. If anybody can kindly offer advice on either or both these locations, this will be much appreciated.
LITTLEBREDY: Private airstrip also RLG (?) for military use
Owned by: Lady Williams of Bridehead
Military user: Navy helicopters from PORTLAND
Location: Roughly 2.5nm NNW of Abbotsbury
Period of operation: 1970s only?
NOTES: It appears that up to four Navy helicopters were using this site at any one time and it is obviously of interest to discover just how a private estate came to be used as a military helicopter training site. In the mid 1970s it appears that the Piper PA-15 Vagabond G-ASHU registered to Mr Giles J Romanes was based here. In fact it appears that Mr Romanes, who lived (lives) in Dorchester owned Hotel Uniform from the 22nd July 1968 until the 22nd 11th 1995. He then co-owned it until 17th February 2003.
I can find nothing about how long it was based here, but, a look at Google Earth (image 2017) does not appear to show any obvious evidence of an airstrip.
LITTLEBREDY: Private airstrip and helipad (Also known as GORWELL FARM)
Location: On Gorwell Farm, about 1nm N of Abbotsbury
Period of operation: 1984 to -
Runway: Grass airfield up to 450 metres possibly more?
Simon Smith
This comment was written on: 2020-07-05 18:49:52I remember flying a practice forced landing to a low go-around at Little Bredy in September 1989. At the time there was not really a strip marked but there was a large H in a circle that was mown in the grass. According to my instructor (Alec Blythe, Then CFI at Compton Abbas) there was a light aircraft based there and the RN Heli use was an excuse to allow the use of the airstrip without complaint from the locals. The location at that time matched with that on the CAA 1:250,000 chart (edition 14). From memory, I think the field is located at 50 40.895N 002 35.130W. (Note shed/hangar in eastern corner). The strip must have existed until 2003 as G-BOXB was written off there in a takeoff accident although I cannot currently find the AAIB report. Hope that helps.
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