Wombleton
WOMBLETON: Military aerodrome later private airfield
(Also known as PICKERING and WELBURN)
Note: These three pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Note. Pictures by the author.
Military user: WW2: RAF Bomber Command
7 Group
1666 HCU (Handley Page Halifaxs)
Gliding: Listed as operating in 1975
Operated by: 1975: Slingsby (test flying)
1990: Mr D B Wass
2000: Windsports Centre Ltd (But only partially)
2012: Swift Aircraft
Location: 2nm S of A170, ENE of Harome, S of Wombleton, 2.5nm ESE of Helmsley
Period of operation: Military: 1943 to 1949 Civil from: 1970s to 2000s?
Note: This map is reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014.
Runways: WW2: 04/22 1280x46 hard 10/28 1829x46 hard
16/34 1280x46 hard
1990: 16/34 732x46 hard
2000: 04/22 400x10 hard 10/28 650x15 hard
NOTES: Related in a 1990 Flight Guide are the remarks that runways 10/28 750x46 and 04/22 700x46 are usable with care, runway 16/34 being clearest of grass ridges.
In 1977 just two GA aircraft were listed as being based here: Mooney M.20F G-AWLP of Siminco Ltd and a PA-28 Cherokee 140B of Micro Metalsmiths Ltd. Here again yet another example of a major WW2 aerodrome being kept going mainly by business interest. It seems unfortunate that despite such efforts over so many years WOMBLETON appears to have died, but, it could still be resurrected? See notes below.
In 2000 the preferred runway was 10/28. What is very unusual is that on the north side of this WW2 aerodrome, (in a flight guide published in 2000 at least), the top ends of the WW2 runways 04/22 and 16/34 were described as being a seperately owned private strip.
In 2004 on the way back from PERTH we flew over WOMBLETON and regarded it as being deserted. No activity whatsoever could be seen, let alone aeroplanes. Obviously this can be deceptive from 2500ft. An AAIB report in 2009 gives details of a Chipmunk taking off from Runway 29, presumably the original 10/28 runway?
SWIFT AIRCRAFT
A press release in June 2012 by Swift Aircraft stated they were taking over the lease and intended to revive the airfield by improving the runways, control tower and hangar facilities. Swift TG Maintenance would be relocated here by August 2012, followed by Europa Aircraft and Aviation & Marine Engineering. The Swift range of light aircraft will be manufactured here, “the only UK designed and built aircraft for 20 years”. This is not strictly correct of course, but it will quite possibly the first facility to produce light aircraft in significant numbers.
ANOTHER MENTION
In an article, Light Aviation magazine February 2017, it appears that David Hodgson had his Rallye ST 150, G-PIGGS, based here. (1970s perhaps?)
Grant Peerless
This comment was written on: 2019-02-15 15:31:45Hi Dick I believe that there are to separate airfields here: Kirkbymoorside, formerly an AALG known as Welburn Hall and Wombleton, ex RAF WW2 bomber base. Kirkbymoorside (SE694846) is approx. 3km northeast of Wombleton but there is no evidence of a runway here on Google Earth. It is(was) home to Slingsby Sailplanes. No aircraft appear to be based. Wombleton (SE673825) is included in the current flight guides and half-a -dozen aircraft are reputedly based here. Can you shed any light on this?
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Grant, You are quite correct. As far as I know Kirkbymoorside fell into disuse when the Slingsby factory (on site)closed. Best regards, Dick
Rural Aviation
This comment was written on: 2019-02-17 22:48:29If it’s the runway I’m thinking of then it was returned back to farm land by the landowner. Also the grass runway for slingsby aviation which was grass has had its support honey comb structure removed now and isn’t used, (I got their tacr2) Wombleton it’s self is very much in use!
Jim Collacott
This comment was written on: 2019-03-31 19:17:06My father was stationed here, RCAF WWII with the heavy conversion unit. Perhaps the next time I visit England I'll plan a trip to see the base.
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