Pilot reviews of Badminton Airfield
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| “ | Lovely place for a quite picnic or a wander. It's perhaps a 20min walk to neat Badminton village. Check out an OS footpath map 1st as there's a bridle path at the runway, but the arrows were confusing. So I walked (probably trespassed?) across a sheep pasture to the neat 20thC castle facade, turned left then right at the road. There's a community club that welcomes the public, (closed 2-5) & a post office/shop (closed Sundays), so 3pm Sunday just wasn't my day. Seems £10 when not an event day (Think PPR said £5 for microlights?, but as nobody was there thought it well worth paying £10 like the others for the neat grass cutting alone) A landing immediately after the displaced threshold from W hits a bump & a short area of runway tilt, from which I managed to extract a small but entertaining sideways pinball flipper effect. I recommend trying it. Huge displaced threshold when landing from W. with what appears to be 9 sinister looking buried metal posts that might be raised remotely across the runway. (All ATCs need a mid runway bollard button at hand to get more respect from disin' pilots?) ” |
| “ | Visited Badminton Horse Trials on show jumping day. Runway in use was 25RH and easy to spot just to the west of the main arena. Runway in great condition and a billiard table by comparison with home base (EGLM). Weather was fantastic with slight breeze from approx 190 so cannot comment on turbulence from nearby trees. Landing fee £25 but it was a major event and they charge £12 to park a car so actually pretty good value. A/G radio on arrival was very helpful - blind calls on departure. ” |
| “ | This year was my second visit to the horse trials at Badminton. First visit was in 2005 when we landed uneventfully using runway 25. As other reviews have stated the field is grass, well drained and in very good condition. The approach from the west is streight forward and the abbreviated PAPI help.
This year was a bit more entertaining. The wind was from the southeast making 07 the active runway (160/14 giving quite a crosswind component). The approach from the west means that you fly through a gap in the tree line about 200ish meters before touchdown (the runway threshold is displaced). This can (and did) cause significant turbulance immediately before touchdown. Next problem is that 07 has a significant downslope and with a touch of moisture on the grass makes stopping "interesting". The marshall near the end of the runway had to move quickly at times! As we watched there were several aircraft abandoning their first approach and having another go.
Departure was equally interesting. We were able to backtrack the full length of the runway and use the "displaced" exclusion for take off run. Wind now was 160/16. Half way down the runway is a copse of trees: around rotation point for most departing aircraft. This meant that the first part of the run was reasonably sheltered from the wind but the full force hit just as we became airborn! This was a bit exciting for the passengers (and me).
I will certainly be going back again and I would encourage others to fly in. It is great to fly over the miles of congested roads full of frustrated motorists trying to get too the event!
” |
| “ | Landing fee steepish on event days but I don't know whether it's always that dear, so worth checking if you don't want too much of a shock!
Grass runway in better condition than plenty of tarmac ones I've sampled! ” |
| “ | Flew into Badminton for the horse trials this year (07) and had a fantastic day out.
A bit of paperwork was needed, as they wanted PPR in advance, but the form was available to download from the event website and everything went very smoothly.
To avoid overflying the course we had to be on the ground before 10:50. Leaving we were able to get away before end of play due to the light wind allowing us to use 25 which put the climbout well clear of the course.
Lovely friendly reception in the air and on the ground -- we were marshalled to parking (causing a moment's concern as I discovered whether I still remembered the marshalling signals since passing air law!). All very well organised.
Great day out -- good one for the nonflying passengers if you have any 'horsey' types in the family! ” |
| “ | Badminton has a long, very well kept grass runway. There are PAPI's and approach lights. I flew in for the first time this year for the Badminton horse trials and was VERY impressed by the friendliness of all at the strip. ” |
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