This year marks the 100th anniversary of Woodford Aerodrome. It has been a huge part of the history of aviation, first for being a major assembly plant for Lancaster Bombers during World War II, and later being where all 136 Vulcan Bombers were assembled, including XH558
As Woodford is no longer in the sim we will fly into Manchester
A.V Roe and Co. was founded by Manchester-born Sir Edwin Alliott Verdon-Roe, alongside his younger brother Humphrey, in 1910, making it the first aircraft manufacturing company in England.
In 1924, faced with the closure of their Alexandra Park airfield in South Manchester, Avro began the search for an alternative space.
All flying at Alexandra Park ceased by the end of August 1924, and on 17 September all remaining effects at Alexandra Hall were auctioned off.
Woodford's New Hall Farm was purchased that year and the move to the 205-hectare site was complete by 1925.
Woodford became Avro's main assembly plant during the Second World war, and between October 1941 and March 1945, 4040 Lancaster planes were assembled and test flown at Woodford.
Due to their bomb carrying capacity, Lancaster planes were used in the famous 'dam busters' raid on the great Ruhr dams in 1943. Woodford Aerodrome was directly involved, with 27 Lancasters kept in a secure hangar on site, where inventor of the bouncing bomb Barnes Wallis visited them. The Lancasters were also converted to fit the bombs on site at Woodford.
After the Second World War, many large aviation businesses closed down and Avro's factory space was reduced, but Woodford Aerodrome remained open to finish its projects.
However, by 2010, the future of the aerodrome looked bleak after the Government instigated the first ever Strategic Defence and Security Review, which prompted cuts to Britain's armed forces.
Woodford Aerodrome closed its doors on 25 August 2011.
To celebrate the 100 years of Woodford Aerodrome. We will be flying from each of the main Stations that housed the Vulcan, to come back home and enjoy the party.
Preferred Aircraft anything Military
Date | Departure | Arrival | Pilot | Aircraft | Landing rate | Distance | Flight time | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
03NOV24 1211Z | EGBW | EGCC | Timalshiwa | Lockheed T-33 T-Bird (T33) | -117 ft/m | 99 nm | 00:19 | View | |
22OCT24 1431Z | EGBW | EGCC | Unknown | Boeing FA-18E Super Hornet (F18S) | -425 ft/m | 83 nm | 00:18 | View | |
20OCT24 1031Z | EGBW | EGCC | Kingsman9965 | Beechcraft Super King Air 350 (B350) | -298 ft/m | 85 nm | 00:22 | View | |
20OCT24 0614Z | EGBW | EGCC | 6 Knots (Ciaran) | Aveko VL-3 (VL3) | -29 ft/m | 75 nm | 00:13 | View | |
20OCT24 0350Z | EGBW | EGCC | Asgard2006 | Airbus A320 neo (A20N) | -134 ft/m | 178 nm | 00:44 | View | |
20OCT24 0323Z | EGBW | EGCC | Rock57 | Cessna T182 Turbo Skylane (C82S) | -70 ft/m | 76 nm | 00:34 | View | |
20OCT24 0020Z | EGBW | EGCC | Viperstrike95 | Cessna 525C Citation CJ4 (C25C) | -161 ft/m | 73 nm | 00:10 | View | |
18OCT24 1227Z | EGBW | EGCC | Ironbird | Beechcraft Super King Air 350 (B350) | -198 ft/m | 91 nm | 00:21 | View | |
15OCT24 0835Z | EGBW | EGCC | MDA009 | ATR 42-600 Highline 03 | -191 ft/m | 83 nm | 00:19 | View | |
14OCT24 1750Z | EGBW | EGCC | Restoring 226 | Cessna 206 Stationair (C206) | -151 ft/m | 81 nm | 00:33 | View | |
14OCT24 1720Z | EGBW | EGCC | Shaun Dale | Unknown/Generic Undesignated (ZZZZ) | -185 ft/m | 96 nm | 00:25 | View | |
13OCT24 2100Z | EGBW | EGCC | Quasar Core | Beechcraft T-6 Texan 2 (TEX2) | -6 ft/m | 116 nm | 00:28 | View | |
13OCT24 1522Z | EGBW | EGCC | Pappa_Razzi | McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle (F15) | -194 ft/m | 78 nm | 00:10 | View |