Pilot reviews of Enstone Airfield

“I've flown into and out of Enstone a number of times. The welcome is always friendly with a generally efficient (although sometimes too much so!) A/G service. Self serve coffee / tea making at OSF on the North side of the field always providing a good welcome. Nice long runway with a slightly confusing displaced threshold, and a couple of grass runways (the North side grass is owned by a maintenance outfit on the field). Limited briefing facilities that I saw, but I was always pre-briefed so never really looked into what was there. Well worth a visit.”

“We flew into Enstone from Leicester on the second leg of our day out, 5 aircraft and 10 people decended on Enstone on a peacefull Sunday afternoon. We made our tea and coffee and sat outside in the sun. A very pleasent airfield, the displaced threshold could use a lick of paint as it's a little difficult to see on approach but the runway is in very good shape. Vey warm welcome, nice airfield.”

“Lovely lady ATC nice scones and (as usual in UK) terrible coffee! Have tried to get used to tea ! wonderful pub lunch near to the field where a v. friendly local took us to free of charge, hopefully airfield it stays forever ...one of my favourites malevolenza coffee!!”

“Visited Enstone for the Flyer fly-in on Saturday 1st July (Enstone Flying Club). A great airfield that I will definately use it again. Very helpful staff on the day, all appeared to be volunteers. It was a bit too hot to fly, so maybe next time they could sort out the weather!!”

“Flew in 5th April. Radio service seemed to be one way only and despite making frequent calls to give our position we had to go around twice as aircraft either cut us up in the circuit or entered the runway on our final approach! Backtracking, we just prayed that our calls were being monitored - they were, fortunately. Other than that, friendly and welcoming, but nowhere to sit outside in the sunshine - the picnic tables were still in storage. Good cinnamon cakes!”

“Visited Enstone yesterday, 5th April 2006. Large runway, but only part of it used for 'the strip'! Very friendly reception at the Enstone Flying Club, who even offered to run us to the local hostelry for lunch, but had to decline as we needed to get back.

Looking forward to the Flyer Fly-In there in July 2006.

”

“Enstone ... visited from Elstree14/08/05, avoiding danger area "Weston on the Green" make sure you do too.. had loads of runway despite the longest displaced threshold known to man (well me anyway) very very friendly people, parked up, walked to village (cab next time!) excellent pub grub and minerals - walked back which was sad because we should have asked the guy with the horse and trap for a ride- olde world type village and well worth a visit... back to the airfield for tea and homemade cakes with honesty cup so impressed left a tip! Then watched the Red Arrows perform at Blenheim and they flew low overhead Enstone..brilliant!! recommended? definitely!!!”

“A biased review from a based pilot!

PPR required. Enstone is home to two clubs, Oxfordshire Sport Flying (north side) which is mainly motor gliders and home to the tower, and Enstone Flying Club/Pegasus Microlights (south side) which is home to the fuel pump (AVGAS)! Both club houses offer DIY hot and cold drinks, snacks, cakes, etc. In my highly biased opinion I'd suggest heading south for better coffee and authentic WWII Nissen hut charm! You can book in/out and pay landing fees at either club and internet flight planning facilities are available at Enstone Flying Club.

The main runway is over 1nm long, in good usable condition along the full length with a marked runway section in the centre of 1100m. Everything from flexwing microlights to the odd Citation jet operates here. The 800m southside grass strip is in fair condition and regularly used by visiting taildraggers if there's a crosswind. On busy circuit days both hard and grass runways can be used in parallel to avoid go-arounds, call final for "southside grass" or "hard" as appropriate. The northside grass strip is privately owned. If there's a northerly component to the wind I'd suggest landing short in either direction on the hard runway to minimise the rotor from the trees to the north, the effect is less noticeable on the grass runway.

All circuits are to the north, with a tight inner microlight/motor glider circuit at 600' QFE, light aircraft circuit 800' QFE. Overhead joins preferred, but avoid overflying all villages when joining/leaving and everyone will be happy. Last take-off at 1930 local or sunset, whichever is earlier.

At weekends there can be a displaced threshold due to motorsport activity on part of the runway (watch for cones), and beware of fence posts on the northern edge of the hard runway when taxiing. Enstone Radio is almost always manned at weekends, less often during the week. Brize Radar (124.275) is the nearest LARS unit and I suggest using them as Enstone is within the Oxford AIAA.

Look forward to seeing you there.

”

“Dropped in to Enstone today (Saturday) and it was quite busy with a mixture of fixed-wing and microlights. Catering was a "DIY" coffee and a chocolate bar. The A/G was very helpful and there are some interesting PFA type aircraft in the hangar along with some bits from the Bristol Freighter that crashed there some years ago. Easy to spot and worth a visit.”

“went to enston today thsanks to the free landing ticket in the pilot mag but wortht the trip nice friendly place easy going ga friendly big runway and self services cafe, normal landing £7.00 i believe. would definatly go there again. Chears”

“Visited the Northside private airstrip. Found the Enstone controllers to be good. Also able to get a quick snack to eat, which we found good value.”