Hinton In The Hedges Airfield

As well as the main hard runway, 06/24, listed in the flight guides, Hinton has a triangle of three grass runways: 06/24, 09/27, 33/15. These are clearly visible on Google Earth, bordering the central grass area. The grass runways are well drained and maintained, so generally usable all year. Do not attempt to land on the other hard runways; these are definitely disused.

It's not unusual to find three runways in use at once, with general traffic using 06/24, gliders being towed off 09/27, and tugs and gliders popping back onto 33/15. If there's parachuting going on, these will naturally be coming down from the upwind quarter, and everyone else will be circuiting to keep out of their way. Keep your eyes open, give general calls to "Hinton Traffic" to let everyone know where you are and where you are going, and it's best not to try and land when the drop zone calls "Canopies in the overhead"!

There is no landing fee; Avgas is reasonably priced. By the parachute club you'll find decent toilets as well as a caravan selling bacon sarnies etc. By the gliding club, there's another caravan owned by local LAA pilots, where you may find tea, biscuits and conversation.