Redhill Aerodrome

{{Short description|Aerodrome in Surrey, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Use British English|date=May 2013}} {{Infobox airport | name = Redhill Aerodrome | nativename = | nativename-a = | nativename-r = | image = Approach To Redhill Aerodrome (EGKR) in a Piper Cherokee.jpg | image-width = | caption = Approaching Redhill to land in a [[Piper Cherokee]] | IATA = | ICAO = EGKR | type = Private | owner = | operator = Redhill Aerodrome Ltd | city-served = | location = [[Nutfield, Surrey|Nutfield]], [[Surrey]] | elevation-f = 222 | coordinates = {{coord|51|12|49|N|000|08|19|W|type:airport_region:GB-SRY|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Surrey | pushpin_label = EGKR | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Surrey | website = {{URL|www.redhillaerodrome.com}} | metric-rwy = Y | r1-number = 18/36 | r1-length-m = 851 | r1-surface = Grass | r2-number = 07R/25L | r2-length-m = 897 | r2-surface = Grass | r3-number = 07L/25R | r3-length-m = 683 | r3-surface = Grass | r4-number = 06/24 (unlicensed) | r4-length-m = 500 | r4-surface = Asphalt taxiway | stat-year = | stat1-header = | stat1-data = | stat2-header = | stat2-data = | footnotes = Sources: UK [[Aeronautical Information Publication|AIP]] at [[National Air Traffic Services|NATS]]<ref name="aip">{{cite web|url=http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=123&Itemid=172.html |title=Redhill – EGKR |publisher=Nats-uk.ead-it.com |access-date=2012-10-31}}</ref> }}

'''Redhill Aerodrome''' {{Airport codes||EGKR}} is an operational [[general aviation]] [[aerodrome]] located {{convert|1.5|NM|abbr=on|lk=in}} south-east of [[Redhill, Surrey|Redhill]], [[Surrey]], England.

Redhill Aerodrome has a [[United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority|CAA]] Ordinary Licence (Number P421) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Redhill Aerodrome Limited).<ref>[http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/375/srg_asd_ordinarylicences.pdf Civil Aviation Authority Aerodrome Ordinary Licences] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628053955/http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/375/srg_asd_ordinarylicences.pdf |date=28 June 2007 }}</ref>

==Early history== The airfield came into use in the 1930s<ref>{{cite newspaper The Times |title= Redhill Aerodrome ready for use next year |date= 23 November 1933 |issue= 46609 |page= 11}}</ref> for private flying and it was used as an alternative airfield to [[Croydon Airport]] by [[Imperial Airways]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}}

[[No. 15 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School RAF]] was formed at Redhill on 1 July 1937. Training continued at the start of the [[World War II|Second World War]] using the [[Miles Magister]].{{sfn|Lake|1999|p=59}} The school was renamed to the [[No. 15 Elementary Flying Training School RAF]] on 3 September 1939.{{sfn|Lake|1999|p=62}}

The [[Fairey Battle]] was also flown particularly for use with the Polish Grading and Testing Flight which was formed here on 14 March 1940.{{sfn|Lake|1999|p=158}}

With the threat of a German attack on the airfield the Flying Training School moved to northern England in June [[1940 in aviation|1940]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}}

==RAF Redhill== [[File:Target Dossier for Redhill, Surrey, England - DPLA - 36eaf2cf016bb70270c49595b7924104 (page 1).jpg|thumb|right|RAF Redhill on a target dossier of the German [[Luftwaffe]], 1940]] With the withdrawal of the Flying Training School the airfield became an operational [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] station. First to move in were [[No. 16 Squadron RAF|16 Squadron]] operating the [[Westland Lysander]]. The Lysanders did not stay long and RAF Redhill had many short-term deployments, mainly of fighter squadrons.

In August 1942 the airfield had five squadrons based. By the end of 1943 the fighter squadrons had moved on and the airfield was used by support units until the end of the war.

===Squadrons=== {{columns-list|colwidth=25em| * [[Royal Air Force]] [[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|30px]] ** [[No. 1 Squadron RAF]] – [[Hawker Hurricane]] ** [[No. 16 Squadron RAF]] – [[Westland Lysander]] ** [[No. 66 Squadron RAF]] – [[Supermarine Spitfire]] ** [[No. 116 Squadron RAF]] – [[Airspeed Oxford]] and [[Avro Anson]] ** [[No. 131 Squadron RAF]] – Spitfire ** [[No. 219 Squadron RAF]] – [[Bristol Blenheim]], [[Bristol Beaufighter]] ** [[No. 231 Squadron RAF]] – [[North American P-51 Mustang|North American Mustang]] ** [[No. 258 Squadron RAF]] – Hurricane ** [[No. 287 Squadron RAF]] ** [[No. 303 Squadron RAF|No. 303 (Polish) Fighter Squadron]] – Spitfire ** [[No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron|No. 308 (Polish) Fighter Squadron]] ** [[No. 310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF]] – Spitfire ** [[No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF]] – Spitfire ** [[No. 340 Squadron RAF|No. 340 (GC IV/2 Île-de-France) Squadron RAF]] – Spitfire ** [[350th Squadron (Belgium)|No. 350 (Belgian) Squadron RAF]] – Spitfire * [[Royal Auxiliary Air Force|Auxiliary Air Force]] [[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|30px]] ** [[No. 504 Squadron RAuxAF|No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron AAF]] – Spitfire ** [[No. 600 Squadron RAuxAF|No. 600 (City of London) Squadron AAF]] ** [[No. 602 Squadron RAuxAF|No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron AAF]] – Spitfire ** [[No. 611 Squadron RAuxAF|No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron AAF]] – Spitfire * [[Royal Australian Air Force]] [[File:Ensign of the Royal Australian Air Force.svg|30px]] ** [[No. 452 Squadron RAAF]] – Spitfire ** [[No. 457 Squadron RAAF]] – Spitfire * [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] [[File:Royal Canadian Air Force Ensign (1941-1968).svg|30px]] ** [[400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron|No. 110 Squadron RCAF]] – Lysander ** [[400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron|No. 400 Squadron RCAF]] – Mustang ** [[401 Tactical Fighter Squadron|No. 401 Squadron RCAF]] ** [[402 Squadron|No. 402 Squadron RCAF]] – Mustang ** [[No. 411 Squadron RCAF]] ** [[412 Transport Squadron|No. 412 Squadron RCAF]] ** [[414 Electronic Warfare Support Squadron|No. 414 Squadron RCAF]] – Mustang ** [[416 Tactical Fighter Squadron|No. 416 Squadron RCAF]] – Spitfire ** [[No. 421 Squadron RCAF]] – Spitfire *[[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] [[File:Ensign of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.svg|30px]] ** [[No. 485 Squadron RNZAF]] – Spitfire }}

===Units=== {{columns-list|colwidth=25em| * [[No. 1 Aircraft Delivery Flight RAF]] * No. 1 Casualty Air Evacuation Unit RAF * [[No. 4 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit RAF]] * [[No. 15 Reserve Flying School RAF]] * [[No. 17 Wing RAF|No. 17 (Fighter) Wing RAF]] * No. 24 Balloon Centre * [[No. 39 Wing RAF|No. 39 (RCAF) (Reconnaissance) Wing RAF]] * [[No. 50 Wing RAF|No. 50 (Army Co-operation) Wing RAF]] * [[No. 83 Group Communication Flight RAF]] * [[No. 83 Group Support Unit RAF]] * [[No. 84 Group Communication Squadron RAF]] * [[No. 126 Wing RAF|No. 126 Airfield Headquarters RAF]] * [[No. 128 Wing RAF|No. 128 Airfield Headquarters RAF]] * [[No. 212 Maintenance Unit RAF]] * No. 950 (Balloon) Squadron * No. 970 (Balloon) Squadron * [[No. 1310 (Transport) Flight RAF]] * [[No. 2732 Squadron RAF Regiment]] * [[No. 2734 Squadron RAF Regiment]] * [[No. 2741 Squadron RAF Regiment]] * [[No. 2775 Squadron RAF Regiment]] * [[No. 2781 Squadron RAF Regiment]] * [[No. 2794 Squadron RAF Regiment]] * [[No. 2828 Squadron RAF Regiment]] * No. 3205 Servicing Commando * No. 3207 Servicing Commando * No. 3209 Servicing Commando * No. 3210 Servicing Commando * Canadian Casualty Air Evacuation Unit * 'Z' Composite Group }}

==Postwar== The airfield returned to civilian use in 1947 but was suspended in 1954. In 1959 flying resumed at Redhill when the [[Tiger Club]] moved in. The following year [[Bristow Helicopters]] started to use Redhill as an operating base and carry out helicopter maintenance for the next 40 years.

The airfield is still operated for private flying and training, with an emphasis on helicopter operators. Pilots can use three grass runways. Information on the aerodrome's state can be found on the operator's, Redhill Aerodrome Limited, website.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.redhillaerodrome.co.uk/index.php/pilot-information |title=Redhill Aerodrome |publisher= Redhill Aerodrome |access-date=2012-10-31}}</ref>

The aerodrome has its own Air Traffic Control<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redhillaerodrome.co.uk/index.php/pilot-information/atc |title=ATC |publisher=Redhill Aerodrome |access-date=2012-10-31}}</ref> and fire and rescue services.

The airfield has also been the venue for the flying displays and aviation trade shows, including the annual [[Redhill Airshow]] in the past, which was focused around a charitable cause.

[[File:Redhill (EGKR) Runway 26L From A Piper Cherokee.jpg|thumb|About to land on runway 26L, now 25L, in a Piper Cherokee]] On 17 May 2012 it was announced that the owners of Redhill Aerodrome had again submitted a planning application for a hard runway<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-18105052 |title= Redhill Aerodrome to submit new runway plan |publisher=BBC News |date=17 May 2012}}</ref> after the previous plan had been rejected in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-16223347 |publisher=BBC News |date= 16 December 2011 |title= Second council turns down Redhill runway plan}}</ref> Opponents at the time, including local MP [[Sam Gyimah]], argued that the runway would "create an unacceptable level of noise and pollution and destroy the landscape". In June 2013 the second application was also refused.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-22795296 |publisher=BBC News |date= 6 June 2013 |title= Redhill Aerodrome Concrete Runway Plan Rejected}}</ref> In February 2014 the aerodrome lost a planning appeal; it was appealing against the June 2013 decision to reject the planning application.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/redhill-aerodrome-runway-appeal-dismissed-6723358 |work=getSurrey |date=18 February 2014 |title=Redhill Aerodrome runway appeal dismissed by Planning Inspectorate}}</ref>

At the start of 2013, the [[Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance]] service relocated its helicopter to Redhill from [[Dunsfold Aerodrome]] in order to enable it to provide a night flight service across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-19991427 |title=Air ambulances to fly at night in Sussex, Kent and Surrey|publisher=BBC |date=2012-10-18 |access-date=2013-12-13}}</ref>

On 24 December 2013, the aerodrome suffered storm damage and flooding, with some light aircraft overturned.<ref name="ITV2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-12-24/planes-left-scattered-at-redhill-aerodrome-after-storm/|title=Planes left scattered at Redhill Aerodrome after storm – ITV News|date=2013-12-24|publisher=[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]|access-date=24 December 2013}}</ref>

On 13th April 2015, the aerodrome suffered a large fire, with a number of businesses destroyed.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/gallery/redhill-aerodrome-fire-9035542 | title=Redhill Aerodrome fire | date=13 April 2015 }}</ref>

==Redhill Airshow==

The Redhill Airshow was a "[[garden party]]" style event held at Redhill Aerodrome until 2006.<ref>{{cite web|author=Alistair White |url=http://www.redhillairshow.co.uk/ |title=Redhill Airshow, Vintage Fly-in, Garden Party & Collectors' Fair |publisher=Redhillairshow.co.uk |access-date=2012-10-31}}</ref> The show has seen [[flypast]]s by the [[Red Arrows]] and displays from the [[Royal Air Force]] solo display teams, the [[Battle of Britain Memorial Flight]] including the [[Avro Lancaster|Lancaster Bomber]] and other popular [[warbird]]s.

In June 2015, a smaller airshow was introduced under the title of the Redhill Aviation Festival.

==See also== * [[List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons]]

* [[Airports of London]]

==References== ===Citations=== {{reflist}}

===Bibliography=== *{{cite book |last1=Lake |first1=A |title= Flying units of the RAF |year=1999 |publisher= Airlife |location= [[Shrewsbury]] |isbn= 1-84037-086-6 }}

==External links== *{{official|http://www.redhillaerodrome.com}}

{{Royal Air Force}} {{Reigate and Banstead}} {{Transport in Surrey}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Redhill}} [[Category:Airports in England]] [[Category:Transport in Surrey]] [[Category:Airshows in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Airports in South East England]]