North Coates Airfield extending runway to accommodate vintage aircraft (video)
PLANS to extend the runway at North Coates Airfield will see historic aircraft soar across Marsh village skies – and into Cleethorpes.
In six weeks, the volunteer run club in North Cotes will have a runway stretching 777 metres – more than 120 metres longer than the current one.
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Chairman: Mike Speakman is hoping to extend the North Coates Flying Club's runway to allow the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire to land. Picture: Rick Byrne
It means iconic Spitfires, Hurricanes and other Second World War aircraft can land at the small airbase just in time for Cleethorpes' Festival Of Flight.
For flying club chairman, Mike Speakman, having such historically-important airplanes at the base is beyond exciting.
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He said: "The current runway is too short and challenging for these very big airplanes to land safely.
"It will be quite an achievement for us and we will be really proud to have the Spitfire, Hurricane and other Second World War aircraft here.
"I have no doubt the public, as well as the flying club members, would like to see them there."
Festival Of Flight organisers have not said the Spitfire will definitely fly into North Coates but last year they did welcome a Hawkin Nimrod glider for the weekend.
The festival was a resounding success, bringing in 70,000 visitors to the resort and boosting the local economy by £3 million.
It will take place on Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9 this year and this year organisers have promised it will be even bigger and better before.
Mr Speakman added: "The Festival Of Flight is a wonderful attraction.
"People are slowly finding out that seaside towns are the best location for air displays.
"There is a great promenade for the spectators and a clear area for the display.
"It is a great boost for tourism and for the local airbase."
Volunteers have carried out the work themselves, which included realigning the runway, and are now waiting for the grass on the runway to grow.
View footage of a spitfire at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk
4 Comments
by aerovint
Thursday, March 07 2013, 6:13PM
“Please come to The Cleethorpes Festival of Flight on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th July 2013 not as stated in June. North Coates (Cotes) Airfield is kindly hosting several of the visiting aircraft.”
by bloodhoundmk1
Thursday, March 07 2013, 1:24PM
“Oh dear tony68 seems to have a bee in his bonnet with this story and is actually incorrect in his assumptions the Telegraph have got the name wrong. The village took the letter 'O' out of the title many years ago. The RAF did not, it has was known as North Coates Fitties in 1914 and retained that title right up to 1939 when it became RAF North Coates. The flying club followed suit and decided to keep the original title for historic reasons. So the Telegraph are correct on this occasion”
by tony68
Thursday, March 07 2013, 12:01PM
“*should! Ha!”
by tony68
Thursday, March 07 2013, 12:01PM
“When will the Telegraph learn that it is North Cotes, without a letter 'A'?
A local paper shuld at least have local knowledge; this isn't the first time.”