Sywell Aerodrome is the local aerodrome serving the town of Northampton, Wellingborough, Kettering and Rushden, as well as wider Northamptonshire. The aerodrome is located northeast of Northampton and was originally opened in 1928 on the edge of Sywell village. The aerodrome caters for private flying, flight training and corporate flights. There is one fixed-wing flying school, one microlight school and a helicopter school. The 1930s Art Deco hotel has bar and restaurant facilities. Aviation related industries and businesses are also located at the aerodrome. Northampton Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee. A viewing area is provided for aircraft spotters.
The aerodrome opened in 1928 and during the Second World War the aerodrome, as RAF Sywell, was used as a training facility and later an important centre for the repair of Wellington bombers; extensive sheds from this time still remain on the site. Among World War II pilots who underwent training at Sywell were Pierre Clostermann and Paddy Finucane, who soloed here. Many aerial shots for the film Battle of Britain were taken over the airport and nearby area.
Expansion
Since 1999, the aerodrome sought planning permission for a hard runway, which was intended to allow operations to continue over the winter, when the grass runways often become waterlogged. The organisations STARE and CPRE campaigned against this change, arguing that it would lead to more and larger aircraft flying over the area and disturb its "rural tranquility". Permission was granted for the runway on 22 November 2007 by the Department for Transport, and though campaigners vowed to fight the decision they were unsuccessful and construction of the runway began in 2008. It opened during summer 2009 and enabled safe operations during the winter of 2009/2010 and onwards. In February 2010, the final inspection of the newly completed all-weather hard runway was carried out by the CAA who confirmed that it could be licensed for use.
Operations
Sywell has three all-grass operational runways and a fourth all-weather concrete runway. The aerodrome's operational hours are 0900-1700 during winter and 0800-1700 during summer. The aerodrome offers an Aerodrome Flight Information Service to pilots.
The aerodrome also houses the Sywell Aviation Museum dedicated to telling the wartime history of the site and the airmen that used it.
Brooklands Flying Club
Brooklands Flying Club was based at Sywell, with a fleet of four Aero AT-3 aircraft and a Cessna 172. The club offered training for a Private Pilot's Licence, night rating and IMC rating. The club opened in 2005 under the same name of the previous company that had been located on the airfield.
Training
Other flight training organisations on the airfield include:
Sloane Helicopters
Flylight Airsports
The Blades
aerobatic display team are based at Sywell, where their five Extra EA-300 aircraft are hangared. They perform aerobatic displays at major events around the country, in Europe, and in the Middle East. The team is the only one fully licensed by the CAA to carry paying 'passengers' in aerobatic displays, out of Sywell, or at many other locations.
The Light Aircraft Association, is the UK's body for amateur aircraft construction, and recreational and sport flying. It used to hold its annual rally at Cranfield Airport, and then at Kemble Airport. In 2006, the LAA lost so much money through poor attendances resulting from poor weather that in 2007 and 2008, much smaller "regional rallies" were held. These were unpopular and in September 2009 a revived LAA Rally was held at Sywell. This proved successful, and as further well-attended rallies took place at Sywell since, the long-term future of the LAA Rally seems secure.
