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 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
01MAY25 1956Z | EGCN | EGCC | 6 Knots (Ciaran) | Cessna 414 Chancellor (C414) | -107 ft/m | 49 nm | 00:17 | View | |
28NOV24 2154Z | EGCN | EGCC | ISidiou5 | SAAB B17 Swedish Air For | -163 ft/m | 52 nm | 00:15 | View | |
29OCT24 0810Z | EGCN | EGCC | Timalshiwa | Lockheed T-33 T-Bird (T33) | -282 ft/m | 66 nm | 00:13 | View | |
22OCT24 1333Z | EGCN | EGCC | Kookulan | Unknown/Generic Undesignated (ZZZZ) | -214 ft/m | 48 nm | 00:17 | View | |
20OCT24 0006Z | EGCN | EGCC | Viperstrike95 | Cessna 525C Citation CJ4 (C25C) | -87 ft/m | 45 nm | 00:06 | View | |
16OCT24 1739Z | EGCN | EGCC | Ironbird | Beechcraft Super King Air 350 (B350) | -81 ft/m | 46 nm | 00:12 | View | |
15OCT24 0807Z | EGCN | EGCC | MDA009 | ATR ATR-72-600 (AT76) | -79 ft/m | 75 nm | 00:20 | View | |
13OCT24 2019Z | EGCN | EGCC | Quasar Core | Beechcraft T-6 Texan 2 (TEX2) | -85 ft/m | 127 nm | 00:35 | View | |
13OCT24 1506Z | EGCN | EGCC | Pappa_Razzi | McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom 2 (F4) | -128 ft/m | 59 nm | 00:05 | View | |
13OCT24 1148Z | EGCN | EGCC | Restoring 226 | GROB Tutor (G115) | -81 ft/m | 47 nm | 00:23 | View | |
13OCT24 1041Z | EGCN | EGCC | Shaun Dale | Unknown/Generic Undesignated (ZZZZ) | -319 ft/m | 50 nm | 00:16 | View |