West London's Airport run
Greater London Riders (GLR)
This great run has been sent to us by Nicole Wooding of Ealing. Nicole is a leading light in a friendly community group for bikers who live and work in London and the surrounding area. They do rideouts almost every Sunday, and pub meets on Thursdays and Fridays.
They welcome people from all backgrounds and identities and encourage cultural exchange.
Nicole Wooding, sat on this Blackbird then soon after bought one for herself!
This run is about seeking out the history of some of the many airfields, aerodromes or airports that today sit right under the nose of one of the largest international airports in the world, Heathrow. We'll ride on a route where we'll find some great roads to join them all up. Be sure to visit the Berkshire Aviation Museum, it is a gem.
Highlights of our "airport run"
Denham Aerodrome
There are records that flying has been taking place at Denham Aerodrome since 1915, when during the First World War, RAF Denham was established as a flying training school for Flight Cadets.
Our ride starts with a visit to Denham Airfield and the Crew Room café where you can order a fine breakfast before heading off. The Crew Room Denham Airfield.
Despite Denham being inside the M25 it and all of this route lies outside of London Mayor's ULEZ zone.
White Waltham Airfield
Opened in 1928, this large grass airfield is best known for its association with the Air Transport Auxiliary from 1940 to 1945 and also has a significant history of prewar flying training, wartime and postwar RAF use and postwar use as a flight test centre by the Fairey and Westland aircraft companies. In the mid-1950s it was HQ of RAF Home Command. It is now privately owned and is the home of the West London Aero Club.
Here Nicole was hoping to spot a Spitfire or Hurricane in one of the hangars.
Berkshire Museum of Aviation
The museum is on the edge of the site of the former Woodley Aerodrome and many of its exhibits relate to the Phillips & Powis company, later renamed Miles Aircraft, which was based there from 1932 to 1947. Other aircraft exhibited were built by Handley Page (Reading) Ltd, and by Fairey Aviation at White Waltham. Go to museum website
Nicole's group thoroughly enjoyed their visit. At £4 it was also great value!
"We were welcomed by one of the tour guides, a biker himself, he owned a Royal Enfield. Once Inside we were offered some tea (for a small price of £1), before embarking on a guided tour. Our very knowledgeable chaperone talked to us about the prototype models of helicopters and planes they have there. We sat in both the helicopter and a plane and were able to take lots of photos".
"On our way home we passed by Blackbushe Airfield (Pathfinder Café) and planned to go to Fairoaks Airfield (Hangars Café) but the café is closed on Sunday.. the aim was to see more planes!".
Blackbushe Airport
The airport started life in 1942 as RAF Hartford Bridge, but just 3 years later was renamed to RAF Blackbushe in order to save confusion with another similar sounding airfield in Norfolk. It was used by RAF squadrons throughout The Second World War for reconnaissance, defence and strike operations using Spitfires and Mosquitoes. It was also the home of the Free French Squadron.
If you need a break here, visit the Pathfinder Café.
Fairoaks Airport
Fairoaks opened as a private airstrip in 1931, but was signed up for military use in 1936 and became RAF Fairoaks during World War II.