Preston Candover
PRESTON CANDOVER: Private airstrip
Note: This rare picture by Chris Mitchell has been published in Hampshire Airfields. My attention to its existence was kindly provided by Mr Graham Frost, a great friend of this 'Guide'.
Operated by: Mr Peter Cadbury (Air Pegasus)
Location: In/near Preston Candover village on the B3046 about 6nm SSW of Basingstoke town centre, 11nm NE of Winchester city centre and roughly 5nm ESE to SE of POPHAM
Period of operation: 1970s to -
(Note: Possibly from 1973?)
Runways: 1200 grass (with edge lighting) 600 grass
NOTES: In the mid 1970s POPHAM was barely in existence but this nearby private airfield boasted five resident aircraft: The Cessna 340 G-ARZC of Ryburn Air Ltd, and the Piper PA-E23 Aztec 250E G-BBRJ, Cessna 421B G-BBSU and Bell 206B JetRanger 2 G-BBUX all registered to Mr P E Cadbury. Plus the Falconair F-11 G-BDPL registered to Mr A J Watson.
In 2017 I came across information saying that in 1973 the Air Pegasus fleet also included the Piper PA-23-250 Aztec G-BBHF. And, a Pitts S-1 was also based here.
Prior to moving here in the early 1970s, (1973?), Air Pegasus were based at CRUCHFIELD MANOR in BERKSHIRE. Mr Peter Cadbury was one of the famous Cadbury chocolate manufacturing dynasty and was a test pilot in WW2. It appears he never worked in the family chocolate business, although being a director. It is well worth looking up his history - a bit of a 'hot head' it seems, especially when driving one of his top of the range sports cars.
Of especial interest regarding this 'Guide' it appears he once made an unsuccessful bid to own BLACKBUSHE airport, and, was a leading figure if not the outright owner of Westward Airways based at EXETER (DEVON).
It appears that when the Sainsbury family, (of supermarket fame), took over Preston House, one of the first things they did was to eliminate the airfield. However, the hangar - actually a grain store according to one ex-Air Pegasus pilot - was retained. It may well still be there?
Terry Clark
This comment was written on: 2018-04-22 18:24:19Peter also based a Cessna 310 GMADI and an Islander GBESO here. I met him several times and also flew with him; on one occasion I had arrived having been invited to accompany him to Bembridge and back in 'SO which had been down to BN for maintenance. There was no sign of anybody at the hangar but after waiting a couple of minutes, the Jetranger appeared climbing over the hedge south of the airfield, came in and landed next to me. Janie, his wife, got out and said 'Peter says would you like a quick flight while he's got it running?' No need to ask twice; I went over, opened the door, put one foot in and we took off! I hooked my bum onto the seat and held the door closed, noting that Peter hadn't bothered with his seat belt either. On another occasion, Peter told me he had heard Don Bennet wanted to sell Blackbushe, so rushed down there with his cheque book - only to meet Doug Arnold coming out of the door having concluded a deal with Bennet and having already sold Fairoaks.
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