Airfield search

Aston Down (Minchinhampton)

Major
Also known as: AFC Minchinhampton / Aston Down Aerodrome / Aston Down Business Park / Minchinhampton Aerodrome / RAF Aston Down / RAF Minchinhampton
County: Gloucestershire
Current Status: Aviation / Farmland / Industry
Date: February 1918 - February 1976; subsequent limited flying to present
Current Use: Limited flying
Used By: AFC (main user) / RAF (main user) / Civil (limited flying)
Landing Surface Types: Unpaved, later paved
Aircraft Roles: Aircraft ferrying / Aircraft preparation/storage (main role) / Communications / General aviation (limited flying) / Trainer (main role)

The following organisations are either based at, use and/or have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield (as at 01/09/2011):

  • Adtech Polymer Engineering Ltd
  • Alyss Toys Limited
  • Autonumis Ltd
  • Avon Scientific
  • Bramblecrest
  • Cherington Parish Council
  • Cotswold Gliding Club - owner/operator
  • Defra
  • Education Essentials
  • Edwards Trade Storage
  • Grass Strip Aviation Ltd
  • La Hacienda Ltd
  • Leda Properties Ltd
  • Loudspeaker Technology Ltd (ATC)
  • MASCo Salvage
  • Metalwash Ltd
  • Minchinhampton Library
  • Minchinhampton Local History Group
  • Minchinhampton Parish Council
  • Sapperton & Frampton Mansell Parish Council

Main unit(s) present:

  • No 2 FP
  • No 2 (Home) FU
  • No 3 TEU
  • No 4 Sqn
  • No 5 MU
  • No 5 OTU
  • No 5 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit
  • No 5 (Training) Sqn AFC
  • No 6 (Training) Sqn AFC
  • No 7 Aircraft Storage Unit
  • No 8 (Training) Sqn AFC
  • No 9 FP ATA
  • No 9 FPP
  • No 12 Gp Pool
  • No 20 MU
  • No 27 Gp Comms Flight
  • No 52 OTU
  • No 52 OTU (Fighter Leaders School)
  • No 52 OTU (Fighter Command School of Tactics)
  • No 55 OTU
  • No 81 Gp Comms Flight
  • No 83 GS
  • No 84 Gp Support Unit
  • No 98 Sqn
  • No 180 Sqn
  • No 187 Sqn
  • No 1311 Transport Flight
  • No 1689 (Ferry Pilot Training) Flight
  • No 2717 Sqn RAF Regiment
  • No 2719 Sqn RAF Regiment
  • No 2724 Sqn RAF Regiment
  • No 2742 Sqn RAF Regiment
  • No 2757 Sqn RAF Regiment
  • No 2759 Sqn RAF Regiment
  • No 2777 Sqn RAF Regiment
  • No 2804 Sqn RAF Regiment
  • No 3206 Servicing Commando
  • No 3207 Servicing Commando
  • British Hospitals Air Pageant
  • Central Flying School
  • Cotswold GC
  • University of West England GC
001Aerial 1982:3.jpg

Aerial view of Aston Down airfield, c. 1982/3. © Dave Welch.

002geograph-323428-by-Philip-Halling.jpg

A pillbox and hangar at Aston Down, 28 January 2007.

003Control Tower - 17 July 2014.png

The control tower at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg

004Ident Letters - 17 July 2014.png

Ident Letters at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg

005Signals Square - 17 July 2014.png

Signals Square at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg

006Airfield Warning Signs - 17 July 2014.png

Airfield warning signs at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg

007Runway 04:22. Looking south from the runway 22 threshold - 17 July 2014.png

Runway 04:22, looking south from the runway 22 threshold, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg

008Runway 16:34. Looking south east from the runway 16 threshold - 17 July 2014.png

Runway 16:34, looking south east from the runway 16 threshold, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg

009Taxiway at the north west of the airfield. Looking south from the runway 16 threshold - 17 July 2014.png

Taxiway at the north west of the airfield, looking south from the runway 16 threshold, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg

010Hangar : Aircraft Storage Shed (Building 51) - 17 July 2014.png

Aircraft Storage Shed at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg

011Hangar : Aircraft Storage Shed (Building 52) - 17 July 2014.png

Aircraft Storage Shed at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg

012Hangar : D Type Aircraft Shed - 17 July 2014.png

D-Type Aircraft Shed at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg

013Balloon Filling Hut - 17 July 2014.png

Balloon Filling Hut at Aston Down, 17 July 2014. © Richard Flagg

014geograph-6791744-by-Philip-Halling.jpg

A First World War hangar from Aston Down, now at Much Marcle, 30 March 2021.

015geograph-6791746-by-Philip-Halling.jpg

A First World War hangar from Aston Down, now at Much Marcle, 30 March 2021.

'Ferry Pilot', 1952. Courtesy of British Pathé

Footage includes shots of Leighterton and Minchinhampton. Courtesy of eyeplays

Parent(s)/HQ Airfield(s):

Little Rissington

Satellite(s):

Charmy DownChedworth

Decoy Airfield(s):

Horsley

Satellite Landing Ground(s):

Berrow / Overley

Associated Airfield(s):

Leighterton

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