History Cotswold Airport

the raf kemble main entrance area in 1967 pre-war hangar in left background , spitfire gate guardian

from 1966 until 1983, kemble housed red arrows, raf s aerobatic display team, operated folland gnats , bae hawks. after red arrows moved raf scampton, station used air force maintenance facility, a-10 thunderbolt aircraft, followed northrop f-5s, mcdonnell douglas f-15 eagles, lockheed c-130 hercules , boeing kc-135 stratotankers.

following end of cold war, air force left station , returned ministry of defence (mod). british army made use of site store surplus vehicles , equipment, , military flights ended @ station in march 1993.

civilian use

the mod leased buildings on former station before selling site ronan harvey, local businessman, in march 2001.

in 2009 kemble airport renamed cotswold airport. view looks east.

there threat of closure because of mistake cotswold district council made relating planning permission when sold ministry of defence. however, no longer case, , planning status of airfield has been changed of airport. in july 2007, airfield again threatened council after local residents filed noise-pollution complaints.

in june 2008, threat of closure eased after cotswold district council allowed flying continue, in september 2008, north wiltshire district council sought overturn decision in high court said original decision flawed.

in august 2009, airport awarded cleud (certificate of lawful use) commercial airport future assured airport , development end can occur. resource group (formerly lufthansa resource technical training ltd) have relocated easa part 147 approved basic training facility cotswold airport purpose-built facility opened in spring 2010. has effect of bringing numerous jobs local area supporting local infrastructure, such shops , hotels. there 50 engineering students stationed there year-round.

the central area of airport, looking east. air show in progress.

the current airport @ site renamed cotswold airport in 2009, having operated kemble airport or kemble airfield.

cotswold airport has caa ordinary licence (number p863), allows flights public transport of passengers or flying instruction authorised licensee (kemble air services limited). airfield has tarmacadam runway can , has accommodated large aircraft such boeing 747.

aston down airfield lies 3 mi northwest , has been mistaken cotswold airport visiting pilots. formerly belonged raf used gliding cotswold gliding club.

hangars light aircraft , helicopters