Harthill Court Farm
HARTHILL COURT FARM: Private airstrip
The first two pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©. The area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
Location: W of the B4228, about 1nm S of St Briavels village and roughly 6nm NNE of Chepstow town centre.
Period of operation: Perhaps from 2005 to 2022?
NOTES
We have Mr Graham Frost, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for, in 2025, asking me to look again at my previous listing made back in 2018. And, doing so does seem to raise a few questions. From 2005 to 2022 the Aerotechnik EV-97 Eurostar, G-CCBK, was registered to this address. My attention to this location was first made from the AAIB report, EW/G2017/08/28. This stated that the owner had been regularly using this location, (and presumably this field?), for some time. But, looking back through earlier Google Earth images, I cannot seem to see any really positive signs of a strip being laid out.
The aircraft was quite badly damaged in the accident, but was repaired. What interested me, taking a fresh look at Google Earth, is that in 2020, (Google Earth dating being somewhat unreliable of course), there are clear signs of a strip, 14/32, being laid out for around 250 metres. That length being quite adequate for a Eurostar as the book figures quote 190 metres for take-off, and 180m for landing. Those figures being for the aircraft at MTOW, (fully loaded).
The next year, (see above), an even more defined 14/32 strip appears, but, this time of just 160 metres. Again, not a problem I would guess for a lightly loaded Eurostar, but, (Isn't there always a but?), virtually no margin for error? I will certainly welcome any advice.
SOME REMARKS
With most if not all light aircraft, from two-seaters to four-seaters, the performance differences depending on load, temparture and altitude above sea level, when taking-off and landing, can be very marked indeed. For example, once I got familiar with the type, I had no hesitation with a 160hp Cessna 172, (hardly renowned for being a 'short-strip' aircraft, with two up and half tanks, landing on a 400 metre grass strip with nil wind on a summers day in England. And, this included adding a 25% "sod-it factor" for taking-off. Could easily land one, with little braking, in 150 metres. Taking-off, by 300 metres it was nigh on flying itself off the ground.
BUT....filll the tanks and put one extra adult in the back, and it became a very 'different kettle of fish' to fly. Am not saying it cannot be done, (doubt it though), but I liked to fly without chucking all of my toys out of the pram. Indeed, when I was taught to fly, mostly at Wycombe Air Centre, considerable emphasis was put on, before flying. getting all your calculations correct. Very good advice.
For example, back in February 1991, after a severe snowfall in the Home Counties, the skies cleared, so I decided to take a Cessna 172 up for some aerial photography. Nobody else was flying. Took as much time, (or more), to clear the snow off the aircraft, add anti-freeze to the control hinges, etc, as the local flight took. The take-off amazed me - it went up like a home-sick angel. Taught me just how much very cold air, even low down, can seriously affect performance. The wings create much more lift, the engine develops more power and the propeller provides much more thrust. Add heat and these advantages soon fade away.
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