Manston Airport

[wedinnorthcyprus]

Just wondered if there were any members on here that used Manston during the war. I have some nice commemeration tins of chocolates which i thought would be nice to give away.

[MoBry]

I wasn't at Manston during the war but, when we lived in Ramsgate, I remember the US forces at Manston. They'd have a band playing in the annual town pageant but there was, if I remember rightly, some resentment at the troops' presence. On the night before they withdrew from Manston, one of their planes flew over and created a huge, thumping bang, don't know if they were breaking the sound barrier or what, but it woke everyone up (as was the intention) and there were a lot of very grumpy people the next day glad to see the back of the US forces.

[Dalartokat]

Well treasure those thoughts for Manston Mobry as it was closed down and sadly looks like it will never be an Airport again. It's looking like it will be one big housing estate in the future.

[Fesenjan123]

I come from Deal, just down the road from Manston. Such a shame that this airport has never 'taken off' if you'll pardon the pun. Several companies have taken it over but never made a success of it because unfortunately most of the passenger catchment area is the sea. Loved watching Concorde take off and land here and the fabulous air shows they put on. Nowadays it's used as a training airport for the likes of Virgin Atlantic etc so that their pilots can practice their take off and landing. I flew from there a few times and it was a very friendly, quick and efficient airport.

[Fesenjan123]

It' also has the longest runway in the country, that's why Concorde used it. With the High Speed rail link now at Ramsgate, which is just down the road, it's a viable option for a new airport, making a lot more sense than Boris Island or a third runway at Heathrow, but housing developers will win the day.

[Dalartokat]

I come from Deal, just down the road from Manston. Such a shame that this airport has never 'taken off' if you'll pardon the pun. Several companies have taken it over but never made a success of it because unfortunately most of the passenger catchment area is the sea. Loved watching Concorde take off and land here and the fabulous air shows they put on. Nowadays it's used as a training airport for the likes of Virgin Atlantic etc so that their pilots can practice their take off and landing. I flew from there a few times and it was a very friendly, quick and efficient airport.

Fesenjan123 Manston Airport is closed and does not have a licence anymore and cannot operate. Only one company left on the outskirts that can fly helicopters. Only when the Airport was operating did it train pilots.