BL Mini nostalgia, but can you guess the airfield?

[TobyV]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqACkmcHjrM

The mini drives onto the airfield at 0:20 seconds into the clip. I'm 99% sure I know where it is, probably fairly easy to guess for many of you too!

[Vancouver]

Haven't a clue, but nice to see Raymond Baxter. Minis, with my bulk and height I could never wear one, I always felt it was like driving a roller skate.

[airboatr]

RAF Gaydon?

[Airspeed]

Out on a limb here.... green buses with white stripe are used around Kingsbridge (and possibly in every other town in the UK??)
But if the Mini drove through Kingsbrige then to an airfield, the nearest looks like Bolt Head.
So, Bolt Head is my answer.

[PeteP]

I have to admit this one's got me intrigued, Toby.

Mike's idea of identifying the location by the bus livery was a good one but I think he's a bit wide of the mark with Bolt Head. If I recall correctly, that was a wartime grass airfield and I doubt it would have a big tower like that or the amount of tarmac that shows from time to time in the film.

Joe's guess at Gaydon seemed a good one especially as BL took ownership of it round about 1978 but then I looked at the tower to make sure. This is the one in the film:



... and here is Gaydon's - they look very different to me.


(Photo courtesy of johnbrenand.co.uk)

That tower in the film is very distinctive with such a large VCR but I just can't place it at the moment.
Pete

[TobyV]

The tower is the give away. It did feature in one or two TV programs of the time (so I've read, it's before my time!). I'll give two hints:

1) It's a large airfield which was disused but largely intact at that point in time (it isn't anymore)
2) It's not (to my mind) a place you'd associate with the motor industry

Keep guessing

[Nick M]

Radlett?

http://www.controltowers.co.uk/R/Radlett.htm

Cheers,
Nick

[TobyV]

...and there's actually a clue to the location on the Mini itself

[TobyV]

Didn't see your post Nick! Yes it's Radlett (I think). The Mini has "MF" as the last two letters in the block of three at the beginning of its reg, which was Greater London at that time.

[Nick M]

It certainly looks a bit like the tower at Radlett doesn't it? There seems to be a further evidence of a link between Radlett and BL at this link: http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/ar-cars ... utemaster/.

Anyway, thanks Toby. Nothing I like more than peering at photos of random control towers whilst drinking wine, eating garlic bread and waiting for dinner to 'reduce'!

Nick