Pilot reviews of Old Sarum Airfield
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| “ | Old Sarum.VIsited June 26th 2014 Lovely airfield flew in from Denham .Received transit from Boscombe down. There is a museum on site where you sit in many cockpits.Jaguar,Jet provest,Canberra,Harrier,Hawk,Hunter.Very pretty airfield. Nice cafe with sitting inside or out with a good view of the runway. ” |
| “ | Visited 1 May 2013 2-up in a Skyranger Swift from Sywell. Simple on-line PPR the day before. Interesting microlight circuit join onto (uphill hump) 06. Friendly Control check-in at restaurant. Chose healthy salad option with garnish of double fish cake and chips, tasty. Visited on-site museum of a/c and (accessible!) cockpits moved 2012 from Boscombe Down. Sat in quite a few and imagined...! Museum blokes friendly and keen to help/explain (and turned on all cockpit lights). Good value for £10 (or our old-folks £7 concessions). Didn't have time to visit nearby Iron Age Hill Fort. Easy self-service fuelling (once you find the On-switch for the pump, doh). Suggest you allow four hours on the ground to take advantage of museum and fort. ” |
| “ | We visited Old Sarum today,very busy with ga traffic and a couple of parachutist.Well worth a visit especially at weekends as Boscombe Down is usually closed.Cafe is busy with a friendly ambience.We took advantage of a free landing courtesy of Flyer Magazine,and avgas is very reasonable compared to most other airfields. ” |
| “ | A delightful airfield and very friendly, I can't understand why it has taken me so long to visit. Yesterday was the first time for me but it won't be the last, an excellent cafe and very good runway and reasonable landing fee. Lot's of activity with interesting a/c of all kinds, also parachuting if your into that sort of thing. ” |
| “ | We fly in to Old Sarum once each year and take the taxi into Salisbury for some shopping and a wander around. The shopping is excellent and the Best Western is an old coaching inn where they serve food in the very attractive old stable yard. A good destination to take a reluctant flyer like me to! ” |
| “ | Dispite the Wx forecast saying it was going to snow from the west we headed from Fairoaks to Old Sarum for lunch. Flight there was very smooth and fantastic visability all the way. The airfield was very busy with mad people jumping out of serviceable aircraft and flex wings buzzing every where, however Radio had everything under control and joining the circuit was stress free. Runway was a little boggy but with the amount for rain we have recently holding up very well. Cafe was really busy but service was quick, and athe free landing fee finished the day off very nicely, always a great place to go summer or winter. ” |
| “ | Flew to Old Sarum 8th October. Southern approach since Boscombe MATZ was active. Busy circuit - 3-axis microlights with a decent speed are better staying out in the GA circuit.
Everyone very helpful and friendly - especially with a R?T fault before departure - many thanks ” |
| “ | Flew to Old Sarum on March 22nd, despite the MATZ being closed there was a fair bit of activity in the various DZs around the airfield so one has to be cautious about his approach. But there's plenty to see around, between Old Sarum, Stonehedge and all the other artifacts which are best seen from the sky.
The r/w is in good condition and the a/g friendly. ” |
| “ | We flew into to Old Sarum last Saturday on the way back from Dunkerswell to Fairoaks for 'Afternoon Tea' It was a lovely sunny day ( not really used to sunny day flights) and managed to geta seat outside on the terrace. The Club house has been updated and looks really modern with an excellent cafe. It had been a few years since my last visit and I must say it was better than I remembered it, I won't leave it so long till I next visit. ” |
| “ | Despite the recent publicity following the demise of the resident flying club, Old Sarum is very much alive and well. It's an excellent little airfield; well-run, friendly and welcoming. It has a nice, wide, flat(ish) grass strip which isn't prone to waterlogging in the winter and an excellent restaurant. I thoroughly recommend a visit.
Do familiarise yourself with the arrival/departure procedure if you're coming while Boscombe Down MATZ is active (as it is every weekday between around 0800 and about 1800). It's not a difficult procedure and Boscombe Down are very helpful. It just entails coming in and departing via Alderbury VRP at 800' agl. At weekends you can join overhead as you would at any other airfield. ” |
| “ | Somewhat humbled by Peter de Weerdt . . .
He is of course absolutely correct to point out that the runway I was aiming for was in fact 06 not as I posted 09 !
I will be going back to Old Sarum . . there's something about the charm of the place.
Thanks Peter !
All the best,
Nick Carey-Harris ” |
| “ | We flew into Old Sarum last month, and although I like the airfield tremendously I have real issues with the circuit discipline exhibited by SOME pilots encountered here.
Having joined overhead I found that I was following a Piper J5, and was was overhauling him rapidly in the Piper Arrow I was flying. Putting in a radio call to explain that I was extending my circuit downwind to maintain separation. I positioned just west of the castle for base to 09, remaining slightly high due to the castle.
Turning on to 09 I declared " final" but was concerned to see a Cessna turning on to base between the castle and the airfield. This aircraft continued on base leg and then turned on to 09, calling "final".
Rapidly cleaning up the aircraft I called that I was carrying out an orbit, stating that someone had cut in front of me. There came a radio response from the Cessna that I "looked like I was still at circuit height". As if that was justification for ignorning both of my radio calls.
I have no idea who the pilot was, or which aircraft he was flying, he may well have been visiting. I deliberately did not seek him out once on the ground as I did not want to ruin the day completely.
Anyone visiting should be aware of the varied mixture of aircraft (and pilots) using Old Sarum and the problems that arise as a result. It definitely makes flying in to this airfield . . er . . interesting. ” |
| “ | Visited Old Sarum today. Reasonable runway with a fair up-slope on 24, simple taxyways and easy parking. Nice cafe - can't remember what the A/G was like as my mate was doing the radio (though see below). Coming in from the North East over Boscombe, the CMATZ was not active but the ATZ of Boscombe was - wasn't aware of this sort of status but since we thought that all the indicators were that the CMATZ was closed, I would have previously thought that meant the airfield was closed - not true. Having spoken to Thruxton first and then Boscombe we were just about on top of Old Sarum by the time we called them but they didn't seem to mind. ” |
| “ | visited in June on a nice Saturday afternoon, pleasant and friendly grass field. Easy to find as to the north of Salisbury and the cathedral easy to see. Good Cafe some interesting building and nice GA atmosphere. would go again. ” |
| “ | I visited Old Sarum 2 days ago with my wife who hates flying but I convinced her of the convenience for a nice trip to Salisbury for cream teas etc.
Easy to find, just pass close to the cathedral at 800 ft QFE and then turn right. Be careful, I made an error when departing as Boscombe had closed they made the circuit RH but I took off and turned left as per the instructions in my VFR guide.
Taxi to the town £7.20 or bus back from the town plus a 8 minute walk £1.80. ” |
| “ | This was my first grass airfield and the beautiful condition of the runway made it a pleasure and very confidence building.
Good, cafe that doesn't 'proper meals' I had a brilliant chicken and leek pie. ” |
| “ | A great airfield, friendly staff, fantastically helpful and knowledgeable instructors and a good mix of aircraft at sensible rates: C42s, PA28s, Cub, Arrows, Bulldogs and a Seneca. Try some aerobatics tuition while you're there.
It's a good place to visit with reasonable nearby B&Bs. ” |
| “ |  Idylic shot of Stampe and Jungmann standing on the grass apron at Old Sarum. Flown in from Goodwood along with a chippie that unfortunately is not shown in this photo.
Old Sarum is a beautiful place to fly into with excellent food. Surrounded by Wiltshire countryside and that haunting prehistoric ring at the western end of the runway. It is also only a few miles south of Stonehenge. To visit Old Sarum is a must, however I cannot vouch for such a beautiful day and to be able to fly in the company of historical and wonderful aircraft such as these. ” |
| “ | We visited yesterday and had a most enjoyable time. The food at the club was excellent and my father, who is an aircraft enthusiast who spends all his time at Shoreham Airport, enjoyed spotting and photographing some unusual aircraft. Our problem was finding the airfield! We had been once before, but there is no sign visible at the entrance to show the way to the airfield or the flying club from the road. It would be most helpful if one could be erected. ” |
| “ |  Lovely grass airfield, with WW1 hangars stuffed full of every type of GA going. Comfy and reasonably priced café, and wonderfully accommodating staff. I visited with a wheelchair-using friend who had a trial flight there and people couldn't have been more helpful. Note to self though--must go back on a sunnier day. Stunning location -- I oohed and ahhed over the castle on every circuit, in spite of the murk. ” |
| “ | Many times I will return to Old Sarum:
- very nice ATC officer and good facilities - fantastic views of Boscombe Down when you approach from the east (in the weekend) - Stonehenge is only a few miles away - and Salisbury is a lovely town to visit
” |
| “ | Flew in to Old Sarum for an overnighter and we were extremely impressed by the friendly nature of the airfield.
Fantastic views of the city and cathedral when approaching from the South (approach via the Alderbury VRP from the south is expected). There is a bus from the park and ride a short walk away which takes you right into Salisbury centre. ” |
| “ | Old Sarum.
A nice airfield with many really nice friendly people. Runway and facilities all in good condition too. Well worth visiting. E. ” |
| “ | Flew into Old Sarum a few weeks ago, nice little airfield only a short hop from Bournemouth. Grass surface resonably smooth, and parking well organised. No problem to see from the air with the line of dark coloured hangers. Boscombe Down nearby also visible!
Good Cafe area with room to sit out and watch the busy traffic on the airfield.
Recommended. ” |
| “ |  Fantastic place for GA.The people there are actually interested in flying. Good atmosphere generally. Nice little grass strip, so it makes for an interesting landing if you're spoiled by a massive runway at an international airport as I am.
” |
| “ | Lovely airfield, very friendly. A short walk up the road takes you to a Park and Ride Bus Station where you can get a bus into Salisbury which is a very nice town with lots of shops, restaurants and a splendid cathedral. Bus links back to the Airfield are frequent and cheap. A Great place for a day out. ” |
| “ | Have to agree; always a pleasure to visit. Friendly welcome and helpful. Restaurant good. Nice Listed building hangars and interesting aircraft to see.
Well worth a visit! ” |
| “ | Friendly grass airfield
Food excellent Cheaper landing fee if you uplift fuel Be aware of Boscome Down ” |
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