Pilot reviews of Kirkbride Airfield
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“ | Flew in from Bagby today. It was really quiet inbound to Kirkbride which was surprising given the beautiful weather. The airfield is easy to spot due to the amount of hangars dotted around it as well as the disused runways. That said, a couple of lorries decided to cross the runway as I was about to open the thottle to depart the airfield. Was a great spot and will definitely be coming back in the summer. ” |
“ | Landed on the 26/6 as a fuel stop from Nottingham to Campbeltown. £2 a litre for AVGAS and as we bought 70+ he waived the £10 landing fee. Lot of Tarmac and wouldn't consider going to Carlisle or Prestwick for fuel after finding this place. ” |
“ | Visited Kirkbride on Saturday 5th May. We thought we could get lunch at the White Heather Hotel but as they were doing a wedding there was nothing available for visitors, so check if you want to eat here. (phone number in Pooleys).
PPR required first, numbers in Pooley.
There is a new concrete taxiway to new hangars and a grass parking area, it is a plenty wide enough for a PA28 size aircraft, just make sure you push your aircraft back towards the rear of the parking area in order that other can pass you on the taxiway. The hangar side of the taxiway has a bit of a drop off on the edge, so be careful, it needs some soil and grass seed on it to make it level with the concrete the same as the parking area side.
Landing fee a very reasonable £10 for a PA28, put it an envelope left for the purpose, seal it up and place in the box on the wall with your aircraft details written upon. Free coffee if required. A nice clubhouse with toilets but no food.
There is fuel here now, not sure of the prices. May be cheaper than paying £21.60 to land at Carlisle for it! ” |
“ | On my way back from Stornoway to London with my heli R44, I was planning to refuel in Carlisle but Carlisle avgas pump was out of order. With 20 minutes left in the tank, I was suggested to try Kirkbride, and what a nice discovery! Great welcome, they just had their brand new avgas pump in operation the day before and I was their first helicopter to visit them... I'll try to stop by next time I fly to North Scotland and get a gyro lesson... Those guy fly in constant autorotation and this should be a very good, fun and cheap exercise for helicopter pilots. Great stop for fixed wings as well of course... ” |
“ | Visited Kirkbride on Saturday 31 October. Been many times before, but 1st time this year. It is a surprisingly difficult airfield to spot, unless you know to look out for the huge ex-RAF maintenance hangars which stand out far better.
The main runway, last resurfaced for the RAF in the 60's (when it was a Maintenance Unit - it's main role from new) and hardly used by them since, is in very good condition, but parking is very limited due to an ongoing dispute with a local land-owner who has blocked off most of the parking area.
We were greeted by John Plaskett, long-standing club co-ordinator (who also did duty as A/G radio operator), who made a super cup of coffee in the very smart club-house. (There is no cafe as such, but if the club is open, they have a great selection of biscuits, chocolate and drinks - with an "honesty-box").
The landing fee of £8.00 is a snip (and we did a couple of circuits for that price too), and the friendliness is second to none. If you visit on a Sunday, the White Heather hotel (wartime use by the ATA ferry pilots) does great Sunday lunches, and you get to park your aircraft in the car-park (really! - Although you will have to wait for the land dispute to be settled before the taxi-way is open again).
If you like looking around old RAF airfields, this was a pre-war "expansion" airfield built as a maintenance unit and in use until the 1960's. Most of it is still in place. There is a picture in the club house taken from the air just after the war which shows over 1,000 aircraft awaiting "re-cycling".
On top of all this, the scenery flying up from the south has to be some of the best in England. Highly recommended.
” |
“ | Had a good trip today (15.11.08) to Kirkbride. Great spot and superb long smooth tarmac runway. We had been told Kirkbride had no facilities but we stumbled on the local club house when we looked to pay the £8 landing fee and found a great welcome and a hot coffee. Biscuits and snacks available.
There is a hotel which supposed to open weekends but wasnt this Saturday.
Will definitely go again soon. Probably a good idea to ask if the club house is open when you PPR ” |
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