Brook Farm
BROOK FARM: Microlight (including training) & GA airfield
Note: All four of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Operated by: Mr Tim Wolstenholme
Location: S of the A588 roughly 3.5nm SE of Fleetwood and 6nm W of Garstang
Period of operation: From the 1990s?
Runways: 2002: 08/26 300 grass 09/27 365 grass 14/32 205 grass
2018: 07/25 420 grass 09/27 435 grass
NOTES: Isn’t this so typical? Over the years I have found mentions of a 'strip' in this area also spelt as BROOKE FARM and BROOK’S FARM. It is perhaps easy to assume they must surely be this site or are they? The answer came in May 2014 when I moved an aeroplane for somebody who actually flew out of BROOK FARM in a Jodel D.120.
It appears that the unique Aurora G-CBZS designed, built and flown by Joe Lynden was based here from 2005.
More information concerning the existence of this “300m strip” near Garstang came from AAIB reports over several years. From EW/G2005/12/08 it appears the SkyRanger G-CCEH was based here from about 2004/5? EW/C2003/04/03 indicated it could be a microlight strip only? EW/G2004/07/20 also appears to apply to this airfield?
MARGINAL FOR GA?
At face value this would appear to be the case, but, (and I do hope my memory is correct), this strip is also unhindered by obstructions at both ends - such as hedges? This makes a huge amount of difference to what types of aeroplane can use the runway as I found out on a flying visit with my German friend Detlef who flew me into Jesenwang airfield in Bavaria where the runway was, if memory serves, around 400 metres. Many types I would normally expect to be operating from a 700 metre runway were based there. Mind you, this said, there was little or no room for error and an aborted take-off well into the runway was not an option.
Also, pilots needed to be accurate in landing at exactly the correct approach speed. I have often been appalled, mainly at larger airfields in England, to watch light aircraft coming in to land at speeds way above those needed. All very well it might seem if flying only from airfields like BLACKPOOL or BIGGIN HILL, but so many come to grief when deciding to visit places with much shorter, but perfectly adequate runway lengths.
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