Nantclwyd
NANTCLWYD: Private airstrip (Aka RUTHIN)
Note: Both these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Location: Just E of the A494, roughly 3.5nm SSW of Ruthin
Runway: 2009: 01/19 1046 grass
NOTES: Several years ago I made this remark: "As can be seen I have virtually no information about this. A look at Google Earth appears to show a very long grass runway pretty much where I expected to find this airstrip. If I am correct in locating this airstrip, (?), this would seem to indicate that it was, or is, used by a pretty sophisticated twin-engine type of aircraft."
If anybody can kindly offer advice on this, it will be most welcome. See 'Comment' below.
In October 2022 I was kindly contacted by Mr Graham Frost, a great friend of this 'Guide', who pointed out that Sir V Naylor-Leyland had two aircraft registered to this address in the 1960s. Firstly the Piper PA-22-160 Tri-Pacer, G-ARIJ, registered from 07.06.61 until 13.06.65 when it was declared as destroyed. Secondly the Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, G-ASOO, registered from 05.06.64 until 04.06.69 when it was sold on.
This picture of G-ARIJ at KIDLINGTON, Oxford, dates from 1961. It is from the Pete Davis Collection, hosted by Air-Britain and obtained via the CAA G-INFO website.
Peter
This comment was written on: 2018-10-30 18:37:36Hi! About an hour ago I watched an aircraft fly over our house near Peterborough station (!) as it prepared to land (another !). Reaching for my handy i-pad, the beta version of NATS Airspace Explore allowed me to trace its path …… first reported from a field near Pentre Coch, south of Ruthin. That set me looking for an airstrip nearby - and eventually I found your most helpful website. I think the plane's origin was in or near the grounds of Nantclwyd Hall, owned by (wait for it) Sir Philip Naylor-Leyland, 4th Baronet. What's the connection? He also owns Milton Hall next to Peterborough, which has its own airstrip with a hanger at 52d34m49.06N, 0d19m25.33W. I saw the same aircraft on approach to landing a couple of months ago, ironically when a member of the CAA naughty squad was with me. He was investigating a local low flying incident which I had had to report. The aircraft was, as you surmised, a "pretty sophisticated twin-engine type", namely a US-registered Piper Navaho. I can recommend the free software but it's Apple-only at the moment. It shows little airstrips in the "contrast" version of its map but I couldn't see any near to the Navaho's flight origin. Thanks to your website I could make the connection with Milton Hall over here. It belonged to the Fitzwilliam family and they founded an Oxbridge college, I think! Hope this was some use and many thanks. Peter
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
