Aston Down (Minchinhampton)
| Also known as: | AFC Minchinhampton / Aston Down Aerodrome / Aston Down Business Park / Minchinhampton Aerodrome / RAF Aston Down / RAF Minchinhampton / RAF Station, Aston Down |
| County: | Gloucestershire |
| Current Status: | Aviation / Farmland / Industry |
| Date: | February 1918 - February 1976; subsequent limited flying to present |
| Current Use: | Limited flying |
| Used By: | AFC (main user) / RAF (main user) / Civil (limited flying) |
| Landing Surface Types: | Unpaved, later paved |
| Aircraft Roles: | Aircraft ferrying / Aircraft preparation/storage (main role) / Communications / General aviation (limited flying) / Trainer (main role) |
The following organisations are either based at, use and/or have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield (as at 01/09/2011):
- Adtech Polymer Engineering Ltd
- Alyss Toys Limited
- Autonumis Ltd
- Avon Scientific
- Bramblecrest
- Cherington Parish Council
- Cotswold Gliding Club - owner/operator
- Defra
- Education Essentials
- Edwards Trade Storage
- Grass Strip Aviation Ltd
- La Hacienda Ltd
- Leda Properties Ltd
- Loudspeaker Technology Ltd (ATC)
- MASCo Salvage
- Metalwash Ltd
- Minchinhampton Library
- Minchinhampton Local History Group
- Minchinhampton Parish Council
- Sapperton & Frampton Mansell Parish Council
Main unit(s) present:
- No 2 FP
- No 2 (Home) FU
- No 3 TEU
- No 4 Sqn
- No 5 MU
- No 5 OTU
- No 5 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit
- No 5 (Training) Sqn AFC
- No 6 (Training) Sqn AFC
- No 7 Aircraft Storage Unit
- No 8 (Training) Sqn AFC
- No 9 FP ATA
- No 9 FPP
- No 12 Gp Pool
- No 20 MU
- No 27 Gp Comm Flight
- No 52 OTU
- No 52 OTU (Fighter Leaders School)
- No 52 OTU (Fighter Command School of Tactics)
- No 55 OTU
- No 81 Gp Comm Flight
- No 83 GS
- No 84 Gp Support Unit
- No 98 Sqn
- No 180 Sqn
- No 187 Sqn
- No 1311 Transport Flight
- No 1689 (Ferry Pilot Training) Flight
- No 2717 Sqn RAF Regiment
- No 2719 Sqn RAF Regiment
- No 2724 Sqn RAF Regiment
- No 2742 Sqn RAF Regiment
- No 2757 Sqn RAF Regiment
- No 2759 Sqn RAF Regiment
- No 2777 Sqn RAF Regiment
- No 2804 Sqn RAF Regiment
- No 3206 Servicing Commando
- No 3207 Servicing Commando
- British Hospitals Air Pageant
- Central Flying School
- Cotswold GC
- Station Flight, Aston Down
- University of West England GC
Aerial view of Aston Down airfield, c. 1982/3. © Dave Welch.
A pillbox and hangar at Aston Down, 28 January 2007.
The control tower at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
Ident Letters at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
Signals Square at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
Airfield warning signs at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
Runway 04:22, looking south from the runway 22 threshold, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
Runway 16:34, looking south east from the runway 16 threshold, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
Taxiway at the north west of the airfield, looking south from the runway 16 threshold, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
Aircraft Storage Shed at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
Aircraft Storage Shed at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
D-Type Aircraft Shed at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
Balloon Filling Hut at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
A First World War hangar from Aston Down, now at Much Marcle, 30 March 2021.
A First World War hangar from Aston Down, now at Much Marcle, 30 March 2021.
'Ferry Pilot', 1952. Courtesy of British Pathé
Footage includes shots of Leighterton and Minchinhampton. Courtesy of eyeplays
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