a sad day and the end of an era - Finningley's last day as an airport

[andygolfer]

Today is a very sad day, Doncaster / RAF Finningley switches off it's runway lights for the last time as the airport closes with plans to convert it to a warehouse park. I first visited there in 1977 for the Queen's Silver Jubilee Review of the Royal Air Force although had passed it on my way to Beverley many times beforehand when I was land surveying for the Beverley by-pass (A1079) where I sometimes used to see a Vulcan overhead as it came out of Finningley. I visited a few times more recently, mostly in relation to the Vulcan XH558 / G-VLCN) and to see the An.225 in November 2015.
A sad day for all those https://www.civilianaviation.co.uk/foru ... 69&t=44806 there too, hope they find other jobs quickly

So here are some of my memories of the airport - anyone got any to add to the theme?

1977 Royal Review when we had a far bigger air force:
VC.10 ( and look at the Nimrods in the background)
Finningley 1977 RAF review VC.10 XV106, 2 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

Finningley 1977 RAF review Nimrod XV254 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

Finningley 1977 RAF review Jaguars & Vulcan by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

Finningley 1977 RAF review Jetstream, dominie & dove by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

Finningley 1977 RAF review Vulcan, Victors &Phantoms by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

Finningley 1977 RAF review Harrier, 2 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

Finningley 1977 RAF review Hercules & Buccaneers by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

Finningley 1977 RAF review Lightning XR754 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

and here's HM the queen reviewing the personnel on the parade ground
Finningley 1977 RAF review Queen on inspection by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

and a few more here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125470545 ... 066555713/ , oh to have had digital photography and the gear I have today back in those days. I used one 36 shot roll of 35mm film that day!

34 years later in 2011, Vulcan XH558 / G-VLCN and the team when I had a day there after I ran a fundraising photo competition and was able to take the winners there for a day watch the preparation for a display, take off and return - a grand day out!
the Vulcan team line up Doncaster 30-07-2011 2427 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

XH558 safely home Doncaster 30-07-2011 2743 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

my last visit was in November 2015 I spent 2 days there and also at nearby airfields when the An.225 visited to move some very large and heavy equipment. Unfortunately I can't post pics of it as it's civilian registered (although not originally built for civilian use) , I'll cheekily post a link to my flickr album though: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125470545 ... 0321693328


so anybody else got memories of Finningley to share here? (it will always be Finningley for me)
Andy

[Mustang531]

I didn't get to the 1977 event, sadly. But I do recall that was when the Defence Minister fell asleep, when he was sitting next to the Queen.
I did attend nearly all the Air Shows from 1981, up to the last one in 1994. At the 1981 show it was the last time they performed a Vulcan scramble using four aircraft. Memorable and noisy.

[FraserP]

My father took me to a show in 1967 or 68 and still have fond memories of the RAF Harrier debut, Hunters ground attack demo, Andover display, high flypast of 4 x F100s from Lakenheath and, my personal favourite as we lived near Woodford, a white Vulcan safety scramble - possibly 21 aircraft? I also went to the 1992 show, when the USN Blue Angels displayed but don't have a clear memory of what else was there. Note to self - get up into loft and catalogue slide collection c1970 - 1990s in 4 packing boxes...

[SW Sky Blue]

A sad day indeed

[mancman]

Thanks for posting.

Another sad day in the UK's aviation history.

Here's a photo from happier times from my only visit in 1977.

XM648 Vulcan B.2 RAF July 1977 Finningley by Andy Bird, on Flickr

[binbrook87]

Another iconic piece of British military aviation passes into the history books. A very sad indeed and some great photos to remind us of happier times

[MR TERRY GREEN]

I really used to look forward to Finningley.They always had the odd aircraft not often seen.A lovely end to the airshow season.I also remember the Blue Angels display.Two 111 squadron F-4s on the flying site aswell in the green/grey colour scheme.

[Jason36]

Why is it closing as a airport.

[Professor_M]

Why is it closing as a airport.

viewtopic.php?f=287&t=225157

[Gladio]

Why is it closing as a airport.

Because its owner's believe that as an airport it is not viable as a business, and can obtain a better return from utilising the land for other purposes.

[baz1]

Why is it closing as a airport.

Because its owner's believe that as an airport it is not viable as a business, and can obtain a better return from utilising the land for other purposes.

that's if the council grant any planning permission, serves them right if any is refused.

[Professor_M]

Why is it closing as a airport.

Because its owner's believe that as an airport it is not viable as a business, and can obtain a better return from utilising the land for other purposes.

that's if the council grant any planning permission, serves them right if any is refused.

I was thinking the same thing too today - didn't the relevant local council put in the necessary measures to stop any redevelopment of Wellesbourne?

[baz1]

quite possibly they did the council can certainly put a spanner in the works if need be, hopefully/

[adderman]

I really used to look forward to Finningley.They always had the odd aircraft not often seen.A lovely end to the airshow season.I also remember the Blue Angels display.Two 111 squadron F-4s on the flying site aswell in the green/grey colour scheme.

The alternative challenge being to do Finningley from the outside on the Sunday morning before the visitors left, having been at the Leuchars show on the Saturday.
Oh how we loved the rush down the old A1!.

Either that or do it Friday night before sundown on the way up to Scotland.

[Mustang531]

Myself and a couple of mates would do the overnight train to Scotland arriving Perth early Friday morning, fry up in the cafe, followed by train to Dundee, then down to Leuchars. Spend a few hours sitting on the embankment on the road at the end of the runway. Some of the arrivals from the coast end were really spectacular and plenty of low level beat-ups of the base. Then train heading south and B&B in somewhere like Newcastle, then Saturday morning down to Doncaster to do Finningley. We were a lot younger then, would probably find it a struggle to do things like that now, both shows having long gone.

[warthog56]

A sad end for another military airfield. First visit was for the Battle of Britain airshow in 1968 when I was 14 years old. It was free to visit! Think that the following year there was a a charge of ten bob (50p) per car. Vulcans were based in those days so always guaranteed a Vulcan scramble and there was always a "smattering" of NATO participants - I seem to recall a four ship of F5's from Norway one year. The flying programme was pretty packed and there was very few "civil acts". Of course, we had the "touring" items which were covering (usually) Leuchars as well but we were spoiled in those days with BoB shows also at Coltishall, St Athan and even Biggin Hill. So much to see way back then. Now what do we have - Cosford, Yeovilton (maybe?) and Fairford! Make the most of it boys and girls as I saw a news report on BBC local news last week that said that the RAF at Coningsby are aiming to undertake 80% of training on simulators within the next 10 years. THe days of noise and action at our military airfields are numbered!

[F3]

Always happy to share some of my happiest memories of Finningley shows. Here's just a few:-

Finningley - Last Vulcan scramble '81 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Finningley - Concorde '81 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

At Homes 18 - Dominies Jetstreams + Jet Provosts form part of this 1990 Station Flypast @ Finningley - Copy (2) - Copy - Copy - Copy - Copy - Copy - Copy by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Finningley - Russian Knights '91 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Finningley - Blue Angels '82 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Finningley - Gnat + Hawk '93 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Finningley - Team 6 SwAF '94 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Finningley - Canberra T18 '94 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Finningley - Dominie fleet '94 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

[Mustang531]

Thanks for sharing another batch of photos, I remember all these. Nice line up of Dominies too, for the spotter, there were usually 17 out of the 20 in the fleet on show, one would be in the static at Leuchars, with the other two tucked away out of sight.

[3Greens]

Thanks Andygolfer for starting the thread. It certainly is a sad situation, hopefully some 'magic' formula will come forward to re-open the airport. Personally I have used it numerous times as it's handy for flights for me.
My first B-o-B event was 1969 when my dad took me and I had a fantastic day. Regrettably only had the Kodak Instamatic, so started the saving to get a better camera.
Could post a load but here's just a few from that I've picked

1972 show - took this from passenger window as my dad drove into the north gate. Dutch Navy SP-2H Neptune


1973 Show - The re were four RAF aerobatic teams displaying - 'Gemini Pair' 2 x T5 Jet Provosts from3FTS Leeming, 'BlueChips' 2 x Chipmunks from 2FTS Church Fenton, 'Red Pelicans' 4 x T5 Jet provosts from CFS Little Rissington, and 'Dragons' 4 x Hunters from 4FTS Valley here they are :


1975 Show






1982 Show - Displaying the 'captured' Argentinian aircraft from the Falklands War
Pucara


UH-1 Huey


Vulcan K.2 tanker XH561 50Sq- a hastily converted bomber into a tanker in a matter of weeks before the conflict


The summer of 1982 had brought 12 x F-4D's from the Illinois Air National Guard under 'Coronet Brave'


1992 Show - The US Navy 'Blue Angels' and their support TC-130G




Fingers crossed for a reopening

[Mustang531]

Thanks for sharing these extras, nice to see them.