Airfield Aerial Views

[Bridon Bear]

I don't know if anyone might find this useful...apologies if it is old gen but found a link to this site in old bookmarks I had from 4 years ago This site has very good quality aerial views of the majority of airfields in the UK. It is fully zoomable and is ideal for those with UK photographic scenery to have a dekko at what the layout is like to familiarise when cross country flying to land away.

It even includes Smeartharpe airfield where I passed my BMFA 'A' test for R/C flying back in 2005.

Thought I would throw in bit of interesting history on this airfield for those who may be interested Smeartharpe Airfield which is in East Devon was built in 1943 and known as RAF Upottery. During WWII, the USAF had C-47's based there and took part in a big D-Day parachute drop. Details are, just before midnight on June 5th 1944 eighty one C-47 aircraft took off from Upottery carrying over thirteen hundred men of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment who were dropped in enemy held territory behind the Utah beach on the coast of France. Their task was to secure an exit corridor and fight off German counter attacks until the arrival of troops from a seaborne landing a few hours later.





http://content-delivery.co.uk/aviation/airfields/

[Nigel H-J]

Brilliant, have not seen this before and very many thanks for posting. Looked up at the old RAF Swinderby site and noticed that the hanger we used to store our gliders has since been taken down and also they have put up a new housing estate where the billets used to be. Now looking around at other airfields.

Regards
Nigel.

[Kevin Farnell]

Thanks for the link, Mr Bear.

Very interesting and now added to my favourites folder. Some pictures could do with updating e.g. BHX (EGBB), which still shows the runway extension under construction. This was completed about 3 years ago.

Cheers

Kevin

[Bridon Bear]

Yes Kevin....the link was something I found at least 4 years ago but too useful to discard

[Airspeed]

Good work, Brian!
That's bookmarked on my machine.

[511Flyer]

Alan Trussell has compiled a library of UK airports, airfields, and farm strips, for FS 2004, but they also apply to FSX. He has been working on this for a very long time, but has finally been able to upload it to Avsim. Just search for his name if you are interested.

There is a lot of information on each card, and also shows screenshots of the airfields as seen in VFR photo scenery. Swinderby was mentioned, so I've posted that one here for your perusal.



Den.

[Nigel H-J]

Thanks Den.

Regards
Nigel.

[Airspeed]

That shows some perseverance and dedication! Ta Den

[511Flyer]

Alan was actually working on it for 6-7 years, and also having to contend with poor health during that time. He posted his progress on the Visual Flight Forums in the Add-on scenery thread. If you go there, you might get a blank screen, just hit refresh and it works. This has been a problem for some time.

I'm glad that some of you may get a benefit from it. It justifies Alan's mammoth effort.

[Hot_Charlie]

Thought I would throw in bit of interesting history on this airfield for those who may be interested Smeartharpe Airfield which is in East Devon was built in 1943 and known as RAF Upottery. During WWII, the USAF had C-47's based there and took part in a big D-Day parachute drop. Details are, just before midnight on June 5th 1944 eighty one C-47 aircraft took off from Upottery carrying over thirteen hundred men of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment who were dropped in enemy held territory behind the Utah beach on the coast of France. Their task was to secure an exit corridor and fight off German counter attacks until the arrival of troops from a seaborne landing a few hours later.

The 506th PIR being very well known in modern times due to "Easy" Company of their 2nd Battalion, whose aircraft depart from Upottery.