Post by airsicksteve on Jul 28, 2017 13:33:06 GMT
A hugely disappointing notice from the airfield website;
"We endeavour to keep the aircraft in operable condition and to help us ‘exercise’ the aircraft we usually have two open days per year where any aircraft that are serviceable will carry out full power taxi runs along our main runway. This makes for an incredible spectacle and an ideal opportunity to get close to the aircraft.
However, due to the unprecidented level of commercial activity on the airfield at this time, we have had to take the difficult decision to cancel the planned August Open Day which was scheduled to take place on Sunday 27th August 2017.
We are sorry to disappoint so many regular attendees who we know look froward to the taxi days. It is currently expected that the Spring Open Day will take place as usual on Sunday 27th May 2018 however please do keep a watch on this space for future updates."
The commercial activity relates to the storage and testing of vehicles on the field, obviously far more profitable than the aviation side, which has all but stagnated.
The last of the remaining Cathay 744s (B-HUJ) was nearing final destruction on the 19 June, with only the forward fuselage/cockpit section visible. All other airframes have been in long-term storage, with no new additions to either storage or scrapping facilities.
Preservation work continues on the individual aircraft of the CWJ collection and the Cold War Jets Museum is still advertised as open on Sundays. The airfield is closed to all other visitors outside of that time, unless on specific airfield business.