Ropsley Heath Farm
ROPSLEY HEATH FARM: Private airstrip
Note: The local view was obtained from Google Earth ©. The local area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
Location: Just S of the A52, about 1nm NNE of Ropsley village, 5nm E of Grantham town centre
Period of operation: 1980s only?
Runway (?): 09/27 310 grass/packed earth (Possibly a longer SW/NE strip?)
NOTES: Any advice and information regarding this site will be much appreciated.
A bit of research reveals, for example, on a Google Earth image, dated 2010, what appears to be a clearly defined runway which would be suitable for use by microlights and light STOL types.
Also Google Maps shows a Heath Farm located roughly midway between Ropsley Heath and Ropsley village. But, is this actually both the site of a current airstrip (in 2016) and the listing for the 1980s? It now appears these are quite seperate.
MORE INFORMATION
Thanks to Mr Graham Frost, a great friend of this 'Guide', it appears that in 1989 these aircraft were based here.
Taylorcraft Auster 5, G-ALBK, (ex RT644), registered to S J Wright and Company from 06.11.78 to 07.02.02
Taylorcraft Auster 5, G-AOVW, (ex MT119)
Plus another Auster identity unknown? We think this was probably the Auster J/5G Cirrus Autocar, G-ARKG, (ex AP-AHJ), but can anybody kindly confirm?
Piper PA-25-235B Pawnee, G-AXFD, (ex OH-PIK), registered to JEF Aviation from 30.07.79 to 02.03.90
Morane Saulnier MS.880B Rallye Club, G-AZEE, (ex F-BKAA), privately owned
Steve McLaughlin
This comment was written on: 2019-07-02 21:29:37Hi I don't know much about Ropsley Heath as airfield but I know that during WW2 it was used as a training drop zone for the 1st Airborne Division during the summer of 1944. My Father being one of those that parachuted onto the Heath in July 1994. On that occasion one chap from the RASC did a jump but his parachute was collapsed when a lightweight motorcycle that had been dispatched from one of the Dakotas hit his chute. Sadly he lost his life. This event is on record so not just a soldiers memory. Hope this help. Steve McLaughlin
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