Pent Farm
PENT FARM: Private airstrip
Note: All eight of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Location: Just WSW of Postling, N of Folkstone race course
Period of operation: 1990s (?) to -
Runway(s): Original note: N/S grass, mainly one way in, one way out due to proximity of North Downs
Note: When viewing the pictures above, added in August 2020, another picture emerges.
2006: 05/23 630 grass 06/24 350 grass
In or around 2009, a new layout occurred with a longer single runway positioned just to the N of the previous runways. This was initially 870 metres long but extended to 1000 metres circa 2013.
2019: 06/24 1000 grass
NOTES: Just for general interest, some years ago I made these comments: "One AAIB report was more specific stating the runway was orientated 06/24 and 670 metres long. However, a later AAIB report in 2008 stated that the runway was then: 03/21 and 925 metres long."
And: "However, in 2014 another AAIB reports that the runway was now orientated 07/25 and 840 metres long. Being of a cynical nature I decided to view this location on 'Google Earth' and their picture dated in 2013 clearly shows the runway as being: 05/23 and 880 metres long."
Regarding my first comment on the N/S runway being "mainly one way in and one way out", I now think this is probably misleading? I have no idea now where I found this advice - possibly from a pilots flight guide? In which case, if correct, it could of course be sound advice for first time visitors. Over the years I have often noticed local fliers taking a quite different approach to landing in tricky conditions compared to visitors who, I often suspect, were trained and are accustomed to much larger airfields with set procedures in place.
Without too much doubt, especially after the runway was extended first to 870 metres, then 1000 metres, for many light aircaft it would be perfectly feasible to fly a tight circuit to land in the SW direction, and comfortably turn out before the hill taking off in the NE direction.
And indeed, now looking at the pictures in 2020, I now think this would have been feasible all along for many light aircraft. If anybody can kindly offer advice, this will be most welcome.
Quite a lot has been going on at PENT FARM in recent years and it is well worth looking it up.
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