Pilot reviews of Old Buckenham Airfield

We visited Old Buckenham on 7th April. What a great place, wonderful, friendly welcome, great food and a real traditional feel to the whole experience. We met Jim who created and curates the outstanding WW2 Museum and he took time to explain the exhibits with such passion and enthusiasm it made the whole thing come to life. Everyone involved can be very proud of this special airfield. If you haven't visited, go. It's brilliant.

Only my second land away since obtaining license, easy to find web site very useful went on a Thursday so no radio paid a very friendly chap in the cafe, did not eat as meeting family to visit Norwich however next time will arrange to meet and eat at the cafe as food looked good.

only negative was the 30ft pile of hay bales directly at the end of R 25 that in a heavy PA28 on a very hot day was not what I wanted to see.

Will definitely be visiting again soon

Flew into Old Buckenham for the first time on Friday August 12th. Easy online PPR system, which worked, as they were expecting me when I made the initial call. Easy to find, and the 'fly in' advice on their website is spot-on. Helpful and informative A/G radio service and a good tarmac runway. Plenty going on, although I gather from others that isn't always the case if you visit earlier in the week. The most important bit - really good food in the cafe. The best-tasting fish and chips I've had at an airfield. I will be back for sure.

Visited Old Buckenham on 17/05/2016 in G-ROLY a 172 based at Netherthorpe. This was an easy flight almost, speaking to Waddington LARS and then Marham. The PPR was arranged online via the website and no one was available to speak to on the number. By all accounts the airfield is mainly open on the weekends and we visited on a Tuesday.

Despite this the airfield was easy to find and the tarmac runway was in good order. There was a cabin open for self service drinks but the coffee machine was not working. We settled for cold drinks and a chocolate bar. You then pay the landing fee and for the food and leave in a security box.

The airfield is obviously very active at some times with lots of history and military vehicles on site.

Would like to visit on a Friday or weekend to get a proper feel for the place as the café has good signs of being good for food!

Visited Old Buck on Thursday 11 June. A glorious day for my first visit and a very neat and tidy airfield - but my arrival at 2:45 was the only visit of the day in the movements book. The cafe was open and the staff friendly. Didn't sample the food, so can't comment on it.

I had (brief) business off the airfield and when I returned at 3:45 everything was locked. Couldn't sign out, but I did pay the landing fee on arrival, so no harm done.

PPR was a non event - I telephoned and was told by the friendly chap on the phone that it wasn't required and the radio would not be manned -,you should only expect it to be manned Friday to Sunday. So it was blind calls only.

The straight in approach to 07 from Snetterton is a breeze and seems to be preferred as you have less chance of inadvertently overflying a noise sensitive area.

Nice airfield - needs more visitors!

Visited today with a student, in their PA28. PPR done online, which is a nice touch, but you don't get any sort of confirmation (even if you give your email) as to whether or not you're successful, although it adds you to the "arrivals" box on the website.

Not a bad little place, but absolutely dead and left to self-serve food (which was very good For that kind of thing) selection of snacks and coffee/tea machine. I'll definately go back during a busy day to sample Jimmy's cafe, and the museum. Made traffic calls after receiving no response on A/G. Parked on grass which was perfectly usable, as did 2 other visitors, but then got a telling off before we departed for parking on the grass and that "we'd get stuck". Was also told this was NOTAM'd as closed over the radio, which is complete nonsense as it wasn't. Did see a notice online saying the valentines fly-in was binned due to wet grass, so can appreciate it may get bad/boggy, but it was perfectly usable and airfield ops need to pull their fingers out and review it. We were a heavy 180 Cherokee 2 up with 2/3 fuel, and a C172 also managed alright. Grass was wet, but certainly not a quagmire. Bit of a none-event in all fairness.

If ops could email me (no hard feelings) with a link to this NOTAM, I would be greatful, as I must have missed it when making informed flight planning decisions as PIC.

Visited Old Buckenham on 4th Feb 2015 and didn't have time to enjoy the self serve café but everyone was very friendly and very efficient. Very good experience - thoroughly recommend a visit.

I visited Old Bucks yesterday (9th August) and what a transformation. My last review in May 13 was OK for the ATC and ground but scathing for the food and cafe. This time it was so different. The staff at the cafe were so friendly and efficient. The food was what you would expect from a small airfield cafe. I would not say its the best cafe in the UK as per their web site claim but they are making great strides in improving the overall experience. The ATC and fuelling were as friendly and helpful as ever and the overall site was clean, tidy and well maintained. Well worth a visit.

We visited Old Buckenham last year in June with four people on the return leg Sywell-Wevelgem (EBKT) onboard Cessna 172S D-ELFB. All we can say it's a lovely airfield with a warm welcoming and great burgers at Jimmy's.

Visited Old Buckenham last Sunday (22 June). Very easy approach to 07 direct from Snetterton race track which stood out very well. Helpful and clear air/ground all the way who kept me informed of a couple of departures ahead. The Jimmys cafe is under new ownership and there was a refreshing choice of meals. I had a delicious spicy veggie burger politely served with a smile. The cafe area was noticeably clean and in fact the whole airfield looked tidy and well maintained. There were even all the up to date notams on the information boards - a proper airfield.

Added interest outside were various historic missiles on show as a sort of museum - most interesting to wander around.

Departure from 07 was straight forward, you have to hold at the taxiway entry to 07 to do checks before entering to back track. Once again a clear and helpful air/ground service. The Tacolneston mast restricted radio area is about 3 miles on the extended centre line which shouldn't be flown over. It's shown on the maps and easily avoided. I would also be careful to avoid Tibenham to the south - a very active gliding site.

All in all a splendid airfield to visit with an excellent cafe. I will be going again !

PPR was arranged online and the flying in guide was very useful. The racing track at Snetterton was easy to sight.

The runway was noticeably shorter than I am used to and arriving in a PA38 for Runway 25 made for an interesting if not challenging approach and landing (for me)! Not a criticism at all and I'd happily do it again.

I visited during the week so it was probably quieter than usual but there were a few people around and they were very friendly and helpful.

First visit to Old Buckenham on a thursday, decent runway condition, although the approach over the rubbish tip is a little unusual and threw up some lovely thermals on final approach. Make sure you read the website for the circuit pattern and noise abatement procedures, does make for quite a long circuit. Very good value at £10, but no radio service available, just blind calls, and almost nobody at the actual airfield, maybe it gets busier at weekends. Really easy to find however and Wattisham will give you basic service until you reach the airfield if you transit through their MATZ, most helpful.

All in all, not sure I'll go back, but worth a quick visit.

We'd like to thank the several thousand people who've been to and liked Jimmys Cafe at Old Buck. It AIMS to be the best airfield cafe in the UK. We decided to go for this aim because it seems there is too much competition amongst those trying to be the worst.

Everything is freshly prepared and cooked, so we don't do stale sandwiches and machine coffee. Unlike most we have fun and interesting things like Sinful Sundays every month (avoid if you're on a diet). We attract more people from the local area than from the sky, which is the only way these days to be able to offer any form of catering at an airfield.

The airfield itself has full hangars, is 100% let, profitable and about to host the biggest airshow in the county. In October it will hold one of the largest military shows in the UK.

We're also about to launch a website which will make every other airfield look like they're in the dark ages.

We always want to hear sane, rational comments and suggestions. If you have any please let us know. We will always listen and do our best.

May 5th 13 Old Buckenham

Took my first trip to Old Buckenham there website looked inviting and the cafe was listed as the best cafe in UK. ATC was very faint on approach but very helpful and the young man who dealt with fuel uplift was very efficient and helpful. Runway was ok ( a little unnerving coming over the scrap yard that occupies most of the runway but not a difficult landing) a beautiful airfield. Then we entered the cafe, rude ignorant and totally out of their depth. I went to pay for fuel and landing fee (seems strange to pay for landing fee when you have uploaded 55 litres of fuel) when I entered the small cafe seating area my wife was still in the queue for drinks and the conversation for 2 of the customers in front of her went like this: - Customer "2 teas and a packet of plain crisps please", Staff " please don't both of you speak at once or I won't be able to understand you (only one person spoke to him), Customer (slowly and clearly)" 2 teas and a packet of plain crisps please, Staff " what flavour do you want?", Customer "Plain", Staff turns round and looks at wall of crisps blankly, customer "its the red packet", Staff "I know I was just looking to see if we have any others" (not sure what he meant by that). After 7 minutes (I know I timed it) the customer obtained their tea and crisps. Next customer "two teas and two coffees please and can you make one of the coffees with less water as they like it milky", staff "you want one coffee?", customer "no I want 2 teas and 2 coffees but one made with less water because they like to add a lot of milk", Staff (big sigh rolling of eyes)" oh why did you say it clearly". By this time my wife and I just looked at each other and bought a can of coke which was selfserv from the fridge as we did not want to go four rounds of discussion and negotiation and decided to eat when we got back to base. Sad, very sad, I have never been to a worse cafe. I have been to some lovely ones, I can recommend Cromer, a small operation but the lovely lady did a mean bacon sandwich and brilliant cup of tea and all with a smile and cheery banter. Coddington lovely little cafe, Staverton (Gloucester) nice place nice food. I could go on but I just want to say that an airfield is made or lost on its food / Drink(where available) and its staff and that includes cafe staff. I don't care if it is just a single hob and a kettle operation as these or a large cafe, customer service makes you want to go back. Web site should remove the cafe comment as it must be against the trade descriptions act.

Visited Old Buckenham on a Thursday which meant the airfield was uncontrolled and therefore very quiet. Called the day before for PPR & a briefing & made blind calls on arival. The arrival procedure from the East is via a tall aerial which couldn’t be easier since it lines you up on final for Runway 25.

Since the restaurant was closed on a Thursday we were kindly given a lift into the village to sample the food at "The Gamekeeper" which I can recommend. We decided to walk back to walk off the large lunch which only takes 20 mins.

A very friendly airfield, which due to its 3 runways and 07/25 being a hard runway is great for my Cirrus.

They are planning a classic vehicle and fly in for 2nd January 2012, hopefully I will be able to visit as this little gem of an airfield needs all the support.

Lovelly little airfield with very friendly staff. Good fun mixing it with the KC135's and C130's out of Mildenhall while transiting the Lakenheath MATZ.

Recommended!

Local area nav is easy and interesting, plenty of active and disused airfields in the Norfolk area. Cross country is good too - only 30 mins to the coast, either north to Cromer or East to Yarmouth, or a bit longer takes you down to Ipswich and on to Southend and Kent.

A/G controllers are v. friendly and always accommodating, as is the CFI at Old Buck Aero Club.

A nice airfield to be based at, and to visit; especially as the summer months will (hopefully) be with us soon!

Don't forget the airshow Sun 24 June 2007 - see more at www.oldbuck.com

I found the Air trafficers to be a nice bunch of people, very accomodating.

Food was also very good with not much waiting around.

I will be returning in the near future.

Really recommend Old Buck for a cracking day out and will return in the summer when it is a little warmer.

Helped by the fact it was gloriously sunny and you could sit out on the grass in front of the café--if you dodge the wasps long enough.