Henstridge Airfield

Henstridge Airfield Henstridge Airfield is a friendly and active GA airfield near Shaftesbury. Visitors are always welcome! Bristows departed for Redhill in 1958.

There is a coffee shop on weekdays and a busy cafe at the weekend.. Henstridge Airfield was a wartime Fleet Air Arm training airfield. Work started on the airfield in 1941, but it was not until April 1943 that it was Commissioned as HMS Dipper. Seafires, Spitfires and Masters operated here until the end of the war. The airfield became relief landing ground for RNAS Yeovilton, slowly running down u

ntil finally passing out of MOD ownership in 1957. In 1953, Alan Bristow established Air Whaling Limited at the airfield, flying Dragonfly, Hiller and Westland S55 helicopters. In 1955 he set up Bristow helicopters Ltd, also at Henstridge operating four Widgeons in the Gulf on oil exploration. The MoD then sold the old airfield in lots but there has hardly been a time since commissioning in 1943 when flying in one form or another has not taken place at the airfield. Of the original five runways, only one -07/25 - survives. A tarmac runway in good condition 750m long by 26m wide. The Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and the Yakovlevs formation display team are based at the airfield. The Wessex Strut of the PFA, have been holding fly-ins here since the seventies, and the airfield has become their adopted headquarters. THE PRESENT/THE FUTURE

At present, the airfield operates from serviceable, but somewhat time-worn buildings pending a move - when funds permit - into new purpose built accommodation. Although the present accommodation might be a little rough about the edges, the atmosphere in the clubhouse always attracts favourable comment as a friendly and welcoming venue. A new build of a number of hangars has recently been completed, offering much sought after covered accommodation for resident aircraft. All vacancies are presently taken, but if you would like to talk about the hangars, outdoor parking or future projects, please telephone Ops - 01963.364231 - to discuss.

Exciting Clubhouse News!Charlotte Russell has opened Coffee Shop “No.23” serving Barista Coffees, Teas, cold drinks, cak...
28/01/2025

Exciting Clubhouse News!
Charlotte Russell has opened Coffee Shop “No.23” serving Barista Coffees, Teas, cold drinks, cakes, sandwiches, Paninis and snacks. No.23 is next to the control room and is open Mon-Fri 10-4
The main cafe remains open Weekends and Bank Holidays.
See more here
https://henstridgeairfield.com/

Free landings for Coffee Shop and fuel customers until end April! (Mon-Fri only).
All other flights, except students subject to £12 landing fee payable in clubhouse.

24/12/2020

On Saturday we enter Tier 3.

The Airfield will be closed to all visiting traffic.

You can Fly on your own or with Family..

The radio will not be manned on marginal days.

Fuel will only be available on such days by prior request.

You MUST NOT land away..

The Clubhouse/café will have to close.The toilets will remain open.

All social distancing and hygiene rules apply.

IF you have recently been to,escaped from or had contact with people from Tier 4 areas
You MUST NOT visit the airfield for ten days from the date of your exposure.
If you feel unwell whatever Tier you come from Do Not visit the airfield..
This one I am not asking of you I am TELLING you.
Anyone breeching this will be invited to Stay away permanently…

22/12/2020

Until we are told differently…
The Airfield will remain open,Closing to visiting traffic again from close of play Thursday 24th..
With the exception of maintenance flights,or fuel uplifts which must be pre-approved by email.
Thursday the 24th looks flyable and maybe the last day before Government intervention.The Radio
Will be manned and the café open offering a limited menu from 12 – 14:00..
The Airfield will be closed to All on the 25th..Based pilots can fly from the 26th onward,BUT I am
Asking that you don’t land away…I plan to open the café on the 26th and 27th again limited menu
From 12-14:00 and please book.
The radio will not be manned on Marginal days and fuel will only be available by prior request..
The Website will be updated as things change.

18/12/2020

Dear All,

This Sunday the cafè is fully booked for Sunday / Xmas lunch.

Due to the current pandemic we are cautiously limiting the number of bodies in the clubhouse.

If you have not already booked you will not be able to access the facilities.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Geoff.

02/12/2020

Clubhouse Re-Opening December 2020

We have 30 compliant seats available and will be operating two sittings 10 -11:50 and 12:10-14:00.
BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL,if you don’t book we may not be able to serve you,please book the day before
If possible by phone or text to 07813 901643 or email to [email protected] if you are
Booking on the day it must be by phone so we can confirm that we have space.If you can give us your
Choice of food when you book it will be easier for us and quicker for you.Last orders on the day will be
11:20 and 13:30.

You must use Hand sanitiser on the way in and one member of each family group must sign in,you are
Welcome to use the phone thing as well but you Must sign our book.You must wear face masks when not
Seated,and socially distance..You Must not move furniture or alter doors or windows.Anyone not adhering
to these rules will be asked to leave.Family groups can Request table sizes on booking.

Take away food.Please order at least an hour before you want it and we will confirm when it will be ready
Dependent upon other commitments at the time.Take away food to be collected from the car park door.

The Menu is the menu please don’t ask for stuff that’s not on it……Specials will be advised when available.

MENU

Large Breakfast: 2 sausages,2 bacon,2 eggs,tomatoes,mushrooms,beans and toast..£8
Small Breakfast: 1 sausage 1 bacon 1 egg tomatoes,mushrooms,beans and toast…£6.50
Add Hash browns or black pudding….add 50p each
Breakfast rolls…Bacon..OR..Sausage..OR ..Egg..£4 extra fillings add £1 each

Chilli and rice or chips..£7.50
Chicken Curry with rice or chips..£7.50
Spaghetti Bolognaise with Spaghetti…£7.50
Ham egg and chips..£7
Sausage Egg and Chips with Beans or without…£7
Chips..£2.50
Cheesy Chips..£3.50
Cheesy Chips and Bacon…£4
Sandwiches’..white or granary bread….. £4.50……Toasted plus 50p
Baguettes £6

Sandwich and Baguette fillings
Ham,Ham and Mustard,ham and cheese,ham and tomato
Cheese,cheese and tomato,cheese and onion
Tuna mayonnaise,tuna mayonaise and cheese
Bacon,Bacon and egg
Sausage,sausage and onion.
Egg mayonnaise..sometimes available
Salami and salad cream,salami cheese and mayonnaise
Other options or combinations maybe available.
But WILL be Expensive

27/11/2020

COVID 19.Update…

The DfT have announced today that the restriction to GA flying and training flights will be lifted from December the 2nd.
But that such flights must take place in line with Tier restrictions…
So from the 2nd….Based aircraft can return to normal flying,with the request that you don’t land away in a Tier 3 area,without
Compliant reason and having informed us first…
The radio will not be manned on marginal days so Blind calls are essential,clubhouse facilities wont be available on these days
And fuel will only be available by prior request.
On good weather days fuel will be available from 9.30 till dusk with the Clubhouse open for tea,coffee and snacks
with toilet facilities available.All House distancing,signing in and Hygiene rules apply..
Final detail on the re-opening of the café facilities will be announced as soon as necessary clarification is received..
Visiting Traffic will be by Strict Prior Permission,such permission must be sought by email to [email protected]
And confirmed from the same,Flights from Tier 3 areas will not be accepted unless a permitted exception is substantiated…
House rules will apply whilst on site.
Please note the Air Ambulance is fully operational and must be given priority throughout…

05/11/2020

COVID 19 Update…

With immediate effect and until further notice Henstridge Airfield is closed in line with the DfT guidance for ALL sport and leisure Flying.

Flying for the purpose of work,where it is not reasonably possible to work or provide those services at home..Is Permitted

There will be No flying training.

Engine health,maintenance check flights and flights to maintain currency,MAY be permitted if there are NO alternative options available.

No PERMITTED Flight will occur without individual prior approval..Full flight details must be submitted giving 24 hours notice and
Approval must be received before the runway is used..

Fuel will be available For permitted flights for both Based and Visiting Aircraft.Notice of requirement for fuel should be given the day before

Notice of all requirements must be given by email to [email protected]

The radio will not be manned blind calls to Henstridge Traffic on 130.255 are essential..

The Clubhouse will be closed and NO facilities will be available..

The Café will not operate at the weekend even for take away food…

Regards,

Geoff

16/10/2020

Clubhouse.Update….
As the risk from COVID continues to rise alarmingly,
I am trying a find ways to keep the facilities open at weekends..
BUT it has to be safe for you and the Staff that will be serving you…
I asked last week that people booked,which didn’t really work…

SO
GOING FORWARD

On Saturdays and Sundays,the Clubhouse will offer two sittings,10am
Till 11.50 for Breakfast and or rolls..12.10 till 2pm for lunches..Last orders at 1.30.
The break from 11.50 – 12.10,will enable us to clean the dining area..
We will accept bookings of up to 25 for each of the 4 sittings..bookings for Saturday
By close on Friday,for Sunday by close on Saturday..via [email protected].
Or with me in clubhouse on Saturday for Sunday..Sunday Specials will be posted in the
Clubhouse and on the website.
PLEASE BOOK
We ask that you specify your meal choice on booking and the time you wish to eat..
From there we will do our best..if you have to cancel or are going to be late.Text..07813 901643.
Bookings will be acknowledge no later than 9am on the day they are made for..
IF you don’t book,we will only be able to serve you if we have room,and some seating may well
Have to be outside..You will have to be patient as we will prepare your meals as we can between
Those for those who have booked…
The Menu is the menu…Please stick to it or the Specials offered…
Take away orders by phone to 01963 364231 will be accepted on the day,but we will tell you when
You can collect…
YOU MUST…
SANITISE YOUR HANDS ON ENTRY and SIGN IN IN THE VISITORS BOOK..you can use the app
Thing as well but you must sign the book…YOU MUST KEEP DISTANCE &YOU MUST SIGN OUT AS YOU LEAVE…

YOU MUST NOT……MOVE ANY FURNITURE OR CLOSE WINDOWS OR DOORS IF OPEN…

06/10/2020

SUNDAY SPECIAL

Spam Fritters, Chips and Mushy Peas.

Bread and Butter Pudding with custard for afters.

£8.50 per person.

Covid 19 Update. Clubhouse and Café.As we move into autumn and the weather deteriorates, we loose the advantage we have ...
01/10/2020

Covid 19 Update.

Clubhouse and Café.

As we move into autumn and the weather deteriorates, we loose the advantage we have enjoyed in our outside seating.
Leaving us only with our dining area which will still have to have some exposure to the elements to achieve ventilation.
We have to achieve social distancing, so numbers have to be restricted, we can seat 35 at acceptable distance.

THE ONLY WAY WE CAN SEE TO GO FORWARD, is to introduce a booking system for the inside seating.

So starting from NOW…

The café will serve food on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 until 1.30 on a strictly pre booked basis.

You will need to book by email to [email protected] by close on the Friday before, indicting your food choice and
the time you wish to eat, either 12, 12.30, 1 or 1.30 your food will be ready at the time you choose or just as soon thereafter as we can.

We will confirm your bookings before 9am on the Saturday.

IF you need to cancel text on 07813 901643 as early as you can on the day. If you are going to be late please give us an hours notice.
IF you don’t book we will not be able to guarantee inside seating, but if the weathers ok you will of course be welcome to sit outside

And you will have to accept delays if we are busy with food orders.

A Menu slightly reduced in choice is attached below, if Specials are on offer they will appear on the website on the Friday.

A take away service will continue to operate, but please ring your order through on 01963 364231. We will let you know the time we can have it ready for you.

YOU MUST USE HAND SANITISER ON YOUR WAY IN.
ONE IN ANY GROUP MUST SIGN THE VISITORS BOOK.

You are welcome to use the app thing AS WELL. BUT YOU MUST SIGN THE BOOK

PLEASE DO NOT MOVE FURNITURE OR CLOSE WINDOWS OR DOORS THAT ARE OPEN FOR A PURPOSE.

YOU MUST KEEP APPROPRIATE DISTANCE FROM ONE ANOTHER.

The clubhouse dining area will be open for snacks and drinks from 9am until 4pm every day with the exception of……………………………..
BUT if the café is operating and you haven’t booked you must please vacate by 12.
Toilets will be available when the Clubhouse is open.

MENU. See Below.

The Airfield.
Will continue to operate as normally as it can.
The radio will not be manned on days that are marginal, so your radios must be working and please make proper and accurate calls to Henstridge Traffic.
Fuel will not be available on these days except by prior arrangement.
VISITORS are strictly with prior permission, By telephone. Fuel and landing fee payments by transfer when you get home.
IF you want food at the weekend you must book as above.
Operating hours. Visitors 9 – 5 {or dark} Monday to Sunday, based aircraft flying outside these hours must let me know in advance.
Access to the Hangars is still via the traffic light and crossing the runway. If the light is on respect it, if it’s not please look carefully.
Visitors MUST be met southside and escorted. If you are taxiing please give cars time to get out of your way.

Geoff

Address

Marsh Lane
Henstridge
BA80TN

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441963364231

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