Sandown Airfield (EGHN)

WELCOME TO SANDOWN! From landing to departure the experience is first class. A/G was on the ball and on touching down you get the first ‘welcome to Sandown’. Busy busy airport, first time landing on an Astro Turf runway but it’s genius! Rapid vacation from the active via several points achieved to get parked by trained Marshall’s when you are then greeted by another volunteer with your second ‘welcome’.

There’s a superb picnic area built with loads of outside seating, further covered external seating and a cafe. Don’t be surprised by live bands, hovercraft runs and a massive BBQ either! On arrival a new pizza oven was being trialled and it alone is worth the trip in! From what I’ve read with previous reviews there is new management in town, run by Dan and Tracy. You absolutely need to experience this place if it’s been a while. You won’t be disappointed. Inside the cafe theirs even access to PC’s for visiting pilots, the atmosphere was off the scale.

Also at the airport, there’s a rocket (serious!), aviation museum, flight schools for light and microlight, a parachute DZ, hangerage, servicing, Avgas, live band nights, camping - this is truly blown me away. Congratulations to the management team, the volunteers and staff who have clearly worked extremely hard to improve this island airport. Runways 23 and 05 are grass and the rollers and maintenance guys were dishing out their TLC, no issues at all; and the new Astro Turf Runway is not what you think, and provides a stable all weather service to what was recently ranked as second best airport in the country.

In summary; look out folks, there’s a new number one in my book, and going by the very close second place in the rankings; Sandown is on track for first place next season, file it; and experience your own ‘Welcome to Sandown!’