Pilot reviews of Compton Abbas Airfield

“I and three friends flew into Compton Abbas on Bank Holiday Monday 5th May from North Weald. We received a very warm welcome and the food was excellent as was the service. The runway was surprisingly wet, but we were warned of this when we called for PPR, this was my first visit but it will not be my last, the views from the airfield are stunning and it was great to see the airfield so busy, there were many visitors of the none flying kind, just watching the aircraft and taking pictures as well. A great destination.”

“Flew down to Compton from Fairoaks with 2 other friends for the first time for lunch last Saturday, the weather was excellent but wind was 12kts from the south which made life a little interesting on final. Loads of people about, food was very good and the very frendly staff. Tigermoths and Pitts doing their bit to entertain the crowds. We could have stayed longer, a great place to visit.”

“just a great place to visit i went on sunday on 5 Aug 07 with mark another member from flying club from shoreham we both have low hours idid find 08 a bit of a challenge, as it was a ssw wind but touch down was smooth, just the approach was a bit of all over the place best place yet,plan to go back in couple of weeks time took vedio with but got it flat battery............?”

“I have flown into Compton Abbas on many occassions and find all of the staff to be of a very welcoming and friendly towards visiting pilots and guests. Clive and Annabelle go out of their way to ensure your visit is a good one.

Beautiful scenery surrounds Compton Abbas with stunning escarpments carved into the countryside local to the airfield. Sited on top of a hill 800 odd feet above sea level, take offs on runway 26 are stunning as the land disappears dramatically below you as you climb out over Spread Eagle.

The restaurant is top notch to! Great food and drink. There is a nice patio outside only a few yards from the runway affording an uninhibited view of all arrivals and departures.

I love the place!!

”

“Lovely airfield to visit. A great place to take a non-flying passenger. The view is superb, the welcome is very friendly and the facilities are right up there with the best. Caution: wind sheer on final approach (particularly to 08) particularly when a southerly component is present. Both runways have a downslope towards mid-field, but nothing excessive. Also, there is a piece of concrete (I'm guessing 10ft square) some 200m into 26; It's slightly off to the left-hand side. Best to avoid it unless you want to be launched back from whence you came.”

“Lovely airfield to visit. A great place to take a non-flying passenger. The view is superb, the welcome is very friendly and the facilities are right up there with the best. Caution: wind sheer on final approach (particularly to 08) particularly when a southerly component is present. Both runways have a downslope towards mid-field, but nothing excessive. Also, there is a piece of concrete (I'm guessing 10ft square) some 200m into 26; It's slightly off to the left-hand side. Best to avoid it unless you want to be launched back from whence you came.”

“Very picturesque, with interesting museum on site. A great place to spend a sunny afternoon.”

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“Visited Compton Abbas in April 2007. The airfield wasn't too difficult to find arriving from the South West. Very good A/G radio service and the landing fee was not too expensive. The airfield is set in stunning scenery and well worth a visit on a day with good visibility. I had a main meal at lunch time for around £7.00 and it was very good so I highly recommend the restaurant. There was some building work under way at the club house so I expect it will be even better soon than it is already. The only negative thing I have to mention is that the grass runway surface was rather bumpy....in fact it was terrible and our PA38 didn't like it at all. I've not used many grass landing strips but it was certainly the worst I've seen so far.”

“A pleasent little airfield in attractive surroundings, busy and cheap to land at (there was a MG owners convention in the car park whilst I was there). However, my Arrow didn't like the poor landing surface - be prepared to hit plenty of big bumps on take off and on landing which makes things a bit fruity. You want to get off that surface as fast as possible!. Perhaps having made a couple of trips Sywell I've been spoiled?.

Oh, the food is expensive. I forked out £4.50 for an adequate sausage sandwich.

”

“Went here this morning from Gloucestershire. Called for PPR before we left and had a good chat with plenty of good info on which bit of the runway was best ! In on 26. As it was my first grass strip landing - didn't feel as bumpy as I was expecting. Great and humourous staff greeted us to take my £8 landing fee. Couple of delightful ladies served tea and a much needed sausage bagette (NOTE - no bacon butties after 11 !!). Watch others enjoy the delightful weather outside. Is this really November in the Northern hemisphere ! (11C). Just after power checks treated to a runway beat up by 2 YAK's in formation..... Easy take off (advised to keep to the left of 26 for a better run and aim for the hill to the NW once off the ground). On my list of great places to be.”

“flew in to Compton Abbas last week on the way home from france for a fuel stop as they are open until sunset, and cheaper to land than bournmouth. lovely location and very interesting collection of planes and a mussem there. there was a YAK aeros display just after landing that was wotht a look.

the only thing a did note was the grass runway was rather bumpy for landing and take off compared to other grass strips been to.

worth a visit

”

“I've flown into Compton Abbas twice during the past couple of months and can vouch for it being everything people say about it.

The location is superb, the food excellent, and the staff cannot do enough to help. It can ba a little difficult to locate on a sunny day, however it's worth the effort of making the trip.

Highly recommended.

”

“So many people say it's worth a visit, I thought I'd follow the crowd...

It's certainly an attractive little airfield. The way the ground drops away from the field gives great views whilst sat under the wing eating sandwiches. The locals are friendly and ready to offer advice. Didn't get chance to try the food, but there was a good mug of tea.

Interesting landing... the runway's a bit bumpy and with a crosswind I didn't win any spot landing prize. The slope didn't effect the approach as much as I expected though.

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“After reading lots of reviews and hearing lots of good reports about the airfield I set of for my first visit on 16th July. The landing was very smooth apart from the slight down hill gradient - not at all apparent from the air. This resulted in me floating almost a 1/4 of the way down the runway. Once on the ground the facilites are excellant as are the veiws of the surrounding area, well worth the trip. Takeoff was a rather bumpy affair and a little unnerving if you’re not used to grass strips.”

“As a result of comments on this site and others i knew my first vist would be tricky when i called and was advised of southerly wind i was prepared for the worst .Finals was a fight and i tried to hit the numbers but floated for what seemed an age .I dropped onto the grass and i let out a shout for joy!only to hit a bump and be thown 5 ft in the air again.We settled back down again and turned off and parked.I suggested to a guy taking photos i pay him to destroy evidence of my arrival.He told me the last 10 arrivals had been identical ! Had a splendid cup of tea at this lovely place.”

“19th June 2005: After a very hot and busy flight from Shoreham, the laid-back RT at Compton Abbas was delightfully simple, mostly from pilot to pilot! The airstrip was unbelievably bumpy, and it was only when watching other landings from our lunch table that we realised we were not the only ones to struggle to float onto a downhill runway (08). A beautiful day, sun, aerobatics from the Moth, hunting birds catching their lunch and us eating ours. A great visit.”

“What a fantastically friendly airfield.

Not too hard to find, a good cafe/bar/restaurant with a lovely view.

Well worth the landing fee, with reasonably priced fuel too.

There are a lot of airfields in the south west which could learn a lot from Compton Abbas.

As Arnie would say; I'll (definitely) be back !

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“Been there at last. Eventually got there with my dad, not a bad pilot really, but not as good as me!! The airfield was a lot busier than when I learnt to fly there, not even a seat for a cup of tea and a cake, very nice by the way. I think a longer trip from Netherthorpe could be the order of the day sooner rather than later.”

“Well...just having read my son's review, visited Compton 28/3/05..but not with him!. Lots of activity which made for interesting landing and departure!. Will visit again when/if my son gets his act together and requalifies!”

“I learnt to fly at Compton many years ago courtesy of the RAF!!! It was a very friendly place with great instructors, seem to remember one instructor was a little mad! Once I have revalidated my license this is the first place I will fly with my newly qualified dad.”

“Good basic grub in caff. Superb position to watch goings on.

Landing fee and lunch bought if you get your aircraft cleaned there.

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“Flew in on 22 Jun, Air Race weekend so a tight arrival slot, and couldn't have enjoyed myself more despite the overcrowding. Nice helpful people and a museum too. And possibly the best view from an airfield in the country. Madonna should go there and learn to fly instead of whingeing about the (very minimal - she should try living in a helicopter MATZ) noise.”

“Took a detour into Compton Abbas on Sunday. Very friendly as usual, and the added bonus of two Yaks doing formation aerobatics over the field about 5 mins after I arrived! Bit bumpy on the approach to 08. ”

“Visited today and a really nice friendly GA aerodrome that made us very welcome. Landing fee was £8 (inclusive of VAT). Will definitely go again and probably camp overnight.”