Mundole
MUNDOLE: Private airstrip
Location: Situated on the western end of the WW2 FORRES airfield, off the A96 and W of Forres town centre
(Note: Many thanks to Gary Brinde for this info - see 'Comments' below)
Period of operation: Unknown exactly, but probably from 1949 until 1992?
Notes: I have seen it claimed that this airstrip closed in 1970. I think it was closed in 1992 because planning permission was granted to build a large holiday resort on, or very close to, this location.
Hector Laing who was a very keen pilot when younger, having become the managing director of United Biscuits, then, as Lord Laing, Baron Laing of Dumphail, was the Chairman of United Biscuits from 1972 until 1990. The last aircraft registered to United Biscuits, the Beech 300LW Super King Air, G-UBSH, had its registration cancelled on the 30th August 1990.
He was also a good friend of Margaret Thatcher when she was Prime Minister and often lent her one of United Biscuits aircraft, the Beech Super King Air G-UBHL to use during the miner's strike. She landed here in September 1984 to stay overnight with Lord Laing in his house, Dunphail, before going on to visit the Queen at Balmoral. He also had other high ranking positions which fall outside of the scope of this 'Guide'.
Runway: 16/34 800 hard (Earlier, perhaps, more like 500 to 600 metres)
Note: I cannot seem to determine when the original runway, using a WW2 taxiway, was extended. My guess is probably around 1964 when the Aero Commander, G-ASYA, was being flown in.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER SHORT GALLERY
In 2022 Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide' decided to see what else might be available. Here are the results.
Note that, even in 2007, the airstrip is still clearly visible.
THE EARLY HISTORY
Mr Graham Frost, another good friend of this 'Guide', found a list of aircraft registrations on Scotland Scanned, and a bit of investigation revealed a rather interesting history. As can be seen, prior to United Biscuits taking over McVitie and Price, all of these aircraft had the connection with Hector Laing, later Lord Laing.
G-AJAJ Auster J/1 Autocrat. Registered to McVitie and Price in Edinburgh: 21.03.49 to 14.09.50
G-AKVZ Miles M.38 Messenger 4B (ex RH427). Registered to Hector Laing: 13.09.57 to 01.03.59*
G-AKDJ Miles M.65 Gemini IA. Registered to Hector Laing: 30.10.58 to 01.01.60*
* At this time he gave an address in Gerrards Cross, which is quite close to DENHAM aerodrome.
G-APVK Piper PA-23-160 Apache. Registered to McVitie and Price: 12.10.59 to 04.05.61
G-ARHL Piper PA-23-250 Aztec. Registered to McVitie and Price: 16.05.61 to 30.09.63
G-ASEV Piper PA-23-250 Aztec. Registered to McVitie and Price: 29.03.63 to 01.01.65
NOTES: A WORK IN PROGRESS
In March 2024, I decided, probably foolishly of course, to try and determine how many aircraft were operated by United Biscuits. An initial search found these examples:
G-ASYA Aero Commander 560F 30.10.64 to 21.04.69
Note: This aircraft was actually initially registered to McVitie and Price: 30.10.64 to 14.02.66
G-AWPM Beech B90 King Air 14.01.69 to 07.06.73
G-BCUZ Beech 200 Super King Air 17.07.75 to 04.05.77
G-HLUB Beech 200 Super King Air 21.02.77 to 28.07.81
G-UBHL Beech 200 Super King Air 11.11.80 to 11.06.87
G-UBKP Beech 95-B58 Baron 10.11.78 to 24.06.81
G-UBSH Beech 300LW Super King Air 14.08.89 to 30.08.90
I did find some info that the Beech C.90 King Air, G-AZBM, was operated by United Biscuits. It wasn't, .....well, not according to G-INFO. After being imported by Eagle Aircraft Services at LEAVESDEN, it was registered to B.I.C.C, the cable makers, from 04.11.71 to 13.01.77. It was then exported to the USA as N900TB. I do like to find some time to check-out listings such as all of the above.
As you can see, there is a gap in the dates, (1987 to 1989), which to me indicates that United Biscuits operated another aircraft? If anybody can kindly offer advice, this will be most welcome. It also turns out that United Biscuits used the blister hangar at DENHAM, which I find interesting, as aircraft such as Aero Commanders and King Airs normally operate off hard runways. This said it appears the hard runway at DENHAM was opened in January 1977.
Another aircraft known to have used this airstrip is the Piper PA-23-250 Aztec, G-BAPL (ex N14377), which was registered to Scottish Malt Distillers in Elgin, from 12.02.73 to 05.05.87.
OTHER VIEWS
The picture of G-HLUB was sent by Mr Graham Frost. View One and View Two were taken in, or around, 2012, © Alan Hodgson. The local area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
gary Brindle
This comment was written on: 2016-11-09 16:24:56used to be a concrete taxiway with turning circles,since was a strip on concrete taxiway,no longer in use
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Gary, Many thanks for this info. Regards Dick
Kevin Cruickshank
This comment was written on: 2018-07-14 17:30:13I lived for several years ('74-'78)in a caravan at Mundole, I seem to remember the airstrip was used fairly regularly by a small two-engined aircraft & there was a small hangar for the aircraft at one end
Colin Jones
This comment was written on: 2019-05-11 11:10:56United Biscuits owned G-AWPM 14/1/69-7/6/73. Previously they owned Aero Commander G-ASYA which visited Luton from Mundole on 17/8/67.
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