Popham
POPHAM: Civil aerodrome
Note: This picture (2017) was obtained from Google Earth ©
Operated by: 1990/2000: Charles Church (Spitfires) Ltd
Note: All pictures by the author unless specified
Activities: GA private, training, maintenance and micro-light especially training
Flying club/school: Airbourne Aviation, Spitfire Flying Club
Maintenance: 2001: Wiltshire Aircraft Maintenance
Location: N of A303, 6nm SW of Basingstoke
Period of operation: 1970s (?) to -
Note: These maps are reproduced with kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014
Runways: 1990: 08/26 914 grass
2000: 08/26 914x25 grass 03/21 900x25 grass
These two pictures from postcards were kindly sent by Mike Charlton who has an amazing collection. See, www.aviationpostcard.co.uk
Note: The two Stampes are G-ABAKN and G-AZCB.
It seems to me astonishing that such a very poor picture of G-BDLY, and it really is abysmal, should have ever been produced as a postcard. But it was.
NOTES: I love this aerodrome and have visited it many times. It is fiesty, idiosyncratic and nearly every arrival keeps you ‘on your toes’ and can rightly be described as a bit of an adventure as often as not, especially when the wind can sometimes be blowing from several directions within the airfield boundaries! In a 1990 pilots Flight Guide the request was made that only glide approaches should be made.
Amongst many other notable flying experiences from here, these include flying solo in a Letov Sluka for ‘demonstration’ purposes, and, flying an Antonov An.2 OM-UIN from here on the 13th August 1995 under the expert tutelage of Captain James Black - bless him. The approach to runway 26 at Popham is quite interesting as it is offset, and you pretty much turn onto the runway when almost over it. Doing this in a relatively large aeroplane which is heavy on the controls on a first flight in the type is a bit 'character building' but it worked out well.
THE ANTONOV EXPERIENCE
POPHAM MICROLIGHT SHOWS PICTURE GALLERY
Note: All pictures by the author unless specified.
Flying into a microlight air show held here can be very interesting when flying in with a Cessna 172. As expected a zig-zag approach was needed in order not to catch up with much slower flying types.
NOTES ON THE PICTURES
First picture: In May 1995 Aussie Brown and I had gone to Popham to cover a microlight show for FLYER magazine and I was invited to fly with Henri Mignet's grandson in the latest reincarnation of the 'Pou du Ciel' from the 1930s, the Mignet HM.1000 Balerit, taking pictures from the Balerit. Just as with the original concept, only a steering wheel is needed, (no rudder), and the aircraft cannot stall.
Third picture: Having flown it before, after taking some publicity pictures at ANDREWSFIELD (ESSEX), I was invited to fly the Letov Sluka so that people at the show had another opportunity to see it flying.
MORE MICROLIGHT SHOW PICTURES
If anybody can kindly identify the types seen in the second and fifth pictures, this should please the 'anorak' brigade, such as me.
Without much doubt, the microlight community are in so many ways, reliving the adventures of the early years of flying. Their machines today are of course vastly superior in handling and performance, but, being so light the weather and wind especially can still exert considerable challenges. Plus of course, by their very nature, they can land in places that would be impossible with heavier and faster GA types.
AN INFESTATION OF FLEAS
In August 1995 it was arranged that a flock of 'Flying Flea' types, mostly from France, would descend on POPHAM. Aussie Brown and I decided to fly-down from WHITE WALTHAM to witness the event, Aussie flying the Piper PA-22 Colt tail-dragger G-GGLE. It was in so many ways, in retrospect, one of the most extraordinary flying events I have attended. Regarding the fifth picture, I think the fifth aircraft, on the right, was a local pilot leading them in to POPHAM.
To say that the affair was chaotic would be understating it. The French pilots were mostly completely disorganised - or so it seemed. They were certainly no respecters of normal aviation procedures - 'free spirits' in so many ways. Many landing out on the way across for fuel and/or directions. I am not at all sure that all the particpants arrived? And indeed, I can see no signs of a registration on the Lascaud Bifly, and therefore doubt if it had ever been subjected to official procedures.
In the event, early in the morning they arranged to give the few spectators around an impromptu air-show of sorts, and it really was 'a hoot', thoroughly entertaining.
I suppose I should mention the 'Flea' connection. When Henri Mignet designed his 'Pou-du-Ciel' in the 1930s as a cheap and easy to build type, for the amateur builder, the name in English is 'Flying Flea'.
POPHAM PICTURE GALLERY
Note: Seen at POPHAM in August 1995 are the Phillips ST1 Speedtwin G-GPST, and just beyond our trusty steed, the pretty rare taildragger Piper PA-22-108 Colt, G-GGLE.
2nd note: The aircraft in the foreground, G-BHXD, is Wassmer the built Jodel D120 Paris-Nice. The Wassmer factory was, (and perhaps still is?), on Issoire aerodrome in the Auvergne region of France, south of Clermont-Ferrand. Beyond to the left is my old favourite from Wycombe Air Centre, the Cessna 172 G-WACL, which I had flown down in.
A PERSONAL MEMORY
POPHAM has many fond memories for me. Not least the experience of trying to produce pictures for an article in Pilot magazine showing the delights to be seen when flying in or near the coast in southern England, when we landed twice at POPHAM. For a fuller account please see ROCHESTER AIRPORT.
ANOTHER AVIATION MYTH?
It is sometimes thought the Charles Church business of rebuilding and restoring Spitfires took place here, but it was actually at another location nearby - see ROUNDWOOD FARM. Started as a private strip it was developing into a bona-fide airfield by the early 1980s and today a whole heap of aircraft are based here, GA and microlights.
In the mid 1970s only one aircraft was listed as based here it seems; The Currie Wot G-AXOL registered to Mr J A Espin.
A CLAIM TO FAME
It is claimed that POPHAM is the only new licensed airfield in HAMPSHIRE since WW2.
IN MEMORY OF JIM ESPIN
An obituary for Jim Espin in Light Aviation magazine (March 2012) explained that in 1974 he took on the task of creating Popham virtually single handed. There was fierce local opposition initially but eventually he won his case, (questions were asked in the House of Commons), on the basis of being denied access to his own land – which is against ancient by-laws – a novel but quite correct argument.
Peter Davies
This comment was written on: 2019-02-05 15:37:58regarding the "second" photo of the microlight rally i would guess the aircraft is a Pegasus XL-R
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