Sleap
SLEAP: Military aerodrome later civil aerodrome
Note: All eight of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Military user: WW2: RAF Bomber Command 38 Group
81 OTU [Operational Training Unit] (Vickers Wellingtons & Armstrong-Whitworth Whitleys)
Operated by: 1980s to 2000s only?: Shropshire Aero Club Ltd (also in the 1970s?)
Note: Pictures by the author on a brief visit in May 2017.
SLEAP PICTURE GALLERY
Activities: Post 1964: GA private, training and maintenance
Flying club/school: Post WW2: (probably post 1964) Shropshire Aero Club
1959 ‘snapshot’. Shropshire Flying Group
Gliding: 1981 Shropshire Aero Club (Gliding Section)
Maintenance: 2001: Shropshire Light Aviation
Location: W of B5476, 5.5nm NW of SHAWBURY, 3nm SW of Wem, 7 to 8nm N of Shrewsbury
Period of operation: Military: 1943 to 1964. Civil from ? and still operational
Note: This map is reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment. Copyright Robert pooley 2014.
Runways: WW2: 01/19 1280x46 hard 10/28 1280x46 hard
05/23 1829x46 hard
1990/2000: 05/23 802x23 hard 01/19 775x18 hard
NOTES: SLEAP was being used for private flying in the 1970s and I suspect private flying started taking place fairly soon after military flying stopped. Does anybody know the facts?
SPOTTERS NOTES
In 1976/7 several GA types were based here including: GY.80 Horizon 160 G-ASZS of Shropshire Coachworks Ltd, Cessna 150F G-ATMX, Cessna F.150G G-AVIT, Cessna FA.150L G-AYOV plus PA-28 Cherokee 180 G-AXSG of the Shropshire Aero Club Ltd,
In addition; Cessna F.172H G-AVIS of J P Machine Repair Service Co, M.S.880B Rallye Club G-AXCL and the Wassmer Jodel D.120 G-AXNJ of the Clive Flying Group.
A PERSONAL MEMORY
I thoroughly enjoyed doing a bit of local flying here, (in the Cessna 152 G-BNKS after delivering an aircraft by road in April 2001), with a highly experienced instructor. I don’t think I’d have even considered flying otherwise.
The cloud base was only just above circuit level, it was fitfully raining and fairly strong winds were creating turbulent roll-over effect from nearby hills, and - the runways had many standing pools of water or, bloody big puddles in my terminology. In other words often typical English flying conditions but I did get an insight into what a one-armed wallpaper hanger goes through trying to earn a living! And, a good opportunity to get some stiff crosswind landing practise in, electing to use the runway best suited for the exercise.
What was interesting was that I elected to use the method of placing the into wind wing down, and using rudder to keep straight. In other words using 'crossed-controls', a technique apparently not approved of by the CFI at that time who insisted that a 'crabbed' approach was the favoured technique. A point that can be argued about nigh on forever, but I maintain that the crossed controls method continues into the landing, whereas the crabbed approach, unless arrested very close to the runway always risks an element of sideways drift occuring.
As I was at the desk paying, my instructor walked past, and quite clearly announced that; "It takes somebody from the south to show us how it should be done." Or words to the same effect. Needless to say I drove away feeling somewhat chuffed.
SOME VERY SPECIAL PICTURES
In November 2022 I was kindly sent these pictures by Mr Peter Miller, taken on a visit to the 'SLEAPKOSH' air show on the 10th July 2022. Three of which being taken whilst airborne in an Avro Anson! It's a good job I don't have a 'jealous' bone in my body, otherwise I'd be even greener with envy than the Anson.
Note: The Avro 652 Anson C.21 G-VROE, painted as WD413, was being operated by Fly The Dream Ltd based at SLEAP.
BONUS PICTURE
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