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 Comms Flight
- No 52 OTU
- No 52 OTU (Fighter Leaders School)
- No 52 OTU (Fighter Command School of Tactics)
- No 55 OTU
- No 81 Gp Comms 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
- University of West England GC
![003Control Tower - 17 July 2014.png](/media/5491/control-tower-17-july-2014.png)
The control tower at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
![004Ident Letters - 17 July 2014.png](/media/5496/ident-letters-17-july-2014.png)
Ident Letters at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
![005Signals Square - 17 July 2014.png](/media/5499/signals-square-17-july-2014.png)
Signals Square at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
![006Airfield Warning Signs - 17 July 2014.png](/media/5493/airfield-warning-signs-17-july-2014.png)
Airfield warning signs at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
![007Runway 04:22. Looking south from the runway 22 threshold - 17 July 2014.png](/media/5497/runway-04-22-looking-south-from-the-runway-22-threshold-17-july-2014.png)
Runway 04:22, looking south from the runway 22 threshold, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
![008Runway 16:34. Looking south east from the runway 16 threshold - 17 July 2014.png](/media/5498/runway-16-34-looking-south-east-from-the-runway-16-threshold-17-july-2014.png)
Runway 16:34, looking south east from the runway 16 threshold, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
![009Taxiway at the north west of the airfield. Looking south from the runway 16 threshold - 17 July 2014.png](/media/5500/taxiway-at-the-north-west-of-the-airfield-looking-south-from-the-runway-16-threshold-17-july-2014.png)
Taxiway at the north west of the airfield, looking south from the runway 16 threshold, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
![010Hangar : Aircraft Storage Shed (Building 51) - 17 July 2014.png](/media/5492/hangar-aircraft-storage-shed-building-51-17-july-2014.png)
Aircraft Storage Shed at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
![011Hangar : Aircraft Storage Shed (Building 52) - 17 July 2014.png](/media/5494/hangar-aircraft-storage-shed-building-52-17-july-2014.png)
Aircraft Storage Shed at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
![012Hangar : D Type Aircraft Shed - 17 July 2014.png](/media/5495/hangar-d-type-aircraft-shed-17-july-2014.png)
D-Type Aircraft Shed at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
![013Balloon Filling Hut - 17 July 2014.png](/media/5490/balloon-filling-hut-17-july-2014.png)
Balloon Filling Hut at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg
'Ferry Pilot', 1952. Courtesy of British Pathé
Footage includes shots of Leighterton and Minchinhampton. Courtesy of eyeplays
Parent(s)/HQ Airfield(s): | |
Satellite(s): | |
Decoy Airfield(s): | |
Satellite Landing Ground(s): | |
Associated Airfield(s): |