Darley Moor Airfield

Darley Moor Airfield

Airways Airsports Logo
IATA: none – ICAO: none
– GPS: N52°58.68 W001°44.58
Summary
Airport type Private
Owner/Operator Airways Airsports
Location Adjacent to A515, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, UK
Built 1942
In use 1942 - 1955 (RAF)
1955 onwards (civilian)
Elevation AMSL 580 ft / 177 m
Coordinates 53° 58′ 40″ N, 1° 44′ 35″ W
Website www.airways-airsports.com
Map
Darley Moor Airfield

Location in Ashbourne

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
02L/20R 2,132 650 Grass
Darley Moor Airfield from above

Darley Moor Airfield and Road Race Circuit is situated on a high plateau adjacent to the A515, two miles south of Ashbourne, Derbyshire, England. The airfield is operated by Airways Airsports providing training in almost every type of leisure flying. The Second World War runway was transformed into Darley Moor Racetrack holding regular events since 1965[1] for motorbike and more recently cycle racing.[2]

History

The airfield was built in 1942 and opened during June 1943 it was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War for training purposes by No. 42 Operational Training Unit.[3] Following the war it was in use until 1954 for ordnance servicing and storage. Since then it has been in use in its current form — motorsport, leisure aviation and agriculture.

It is close to another WW2 airfield in Ashbourne that is now an industrial estate.[4] Nearby towns and villages include Ashbourne in the Derbyshire Dales [5] to the northwest is Snelston and South is Cubley

In 2010–2011 Airways Airsports developed the airfield by building a large hangar [6][7] to store aircraft used on a daily basis.

Race track

The majority of the RAF concrete runways were converted into Darley Moor Racetrack by the West Midlands Racing Club initially taking a 12-month lease, laying a new surface and with an agreement that racing and practice would be restricted to a 6-hour period between midday and 6 p.m.[1]

Set amongst farmland, the peripheral and centre areas are used for arable crops and grazing.

The circuit is now primarily used for motorcycle races and track days, run by Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Race Club (D.M.M.R.R.C.) The track is also used for closed circuit road cycling events.[8]

Airfield

The airfield is in "G" airspace. Proximity to East Midlands Airport places the ceiling at 4000 ft AMSL before restrictions apply.[9] The airpark covers 80 acres and while the main runway runs approximately north-south there are grass strips allowing takeoff/landing in all wind directions.

References

  1. 1 2 Motor Cycle, 1 April 1965, p.411 Racing Line by David Dixon. "When a club goes to the expense and trouble to find a new circuit, members ought to give their support. I hear ... the West Midlands Club are in bother with their new Darley Moor circuit ... At a cost of £2,000 the track is being resurfaced but will not be finished in time for a meeting next Sunday ... out of 500 members only 20 stalwarts have answered a call for a work party to get the circuit in shape...the Good Friday meeting may also have to be cancelled. Darley Moor is on a 12-month lease, with an option on a five-year lease. To placate local residents, practice and racing will take place only between midday and 6 PM". Accessed 2013-08-12
  2. ↑ "Motorcycle Racing and Road Racing - Darley Moor MotorCycle Road Race Club 2011 Ashbourne (UK)". Darley Moor M.C.R.R.C. 2010-03-26. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
  3. ↑ "Darley Moor". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "RAF ASHBOURNE AND DARLEY MOOR: A Tale Of Two Airfields". Wildtrack Publishing. 2010-03-26. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
  5. ↑ "Ashbourne, Derbyshire - Official Web Site". Alan J. Fagg. 2011-03-08. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
  6. ↑ "Planning » Application Summary". Derbyshire Dales District Council. 2001-05-30. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
  7. ↑ "REPLACEMENT HANGERS AND ANCILLARY BUILDINGS, DARLEY MOOR AIRFIELD, DARLEY MOOR FOR MR. C. DAWES". Derbyshire Dales District Council. 2008-04-04. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
  8. ↑ "British Cycling Events at Darley Moor Rack Track 2011". British Cycling. 2011-07-01. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  9. ↑ "Amendments for England East". Civil Aviation Authority. 2009-09-24. Retrieved 2011-07-09.

External links

Coordinates: 52°58′08″N 1°45′04″W / 52.9688°N 1.7510°W / 52.9688; -1.7510

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