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Popham Airfield is a busy unlicensed grass airfield in north Hampshire, sitting alongside the A303 between Basingstoke and Winchester. It is a well-known centre for flight training, microlighting and gyroplane flying, and its relaxed, classic grass-strip character makes it a popular VFR destination for visiting pilots.
Popham Airfield (ICAO: EGHP) is an unlicensed general aviation airfield in Hampshire, England, run as a community-focused grass-strip operation rather than a licensed commercial aerodrome. It is home to AirBourne Aviation, a flight training school offering instruction on microlights, light aircraft and gyroplanes, alongside aircraft hire and light aircraft maintenance facilities. For the simulator pilot, Popham offers the appeal of a genuine grass-runway airfield with a strong GA community atmosphere, regular fly-ins and a café right on the airfield.
Popham lies in Hampshire, alongside the A303 road, roughly 6 nautical miles southwest of Basingstoke and about 4 nautical miles south of Overton. Being an unlicensed airfield, it does not have its own controlled airspace or ATZ; pilots should refer to current charts for any surrounding controlled or regulated airspace when planning a visit.
Popham has two grass runways, both lit. Runway 08/26 is 2,886 ft long, and runway 03/21 is 2,786 ft long. There is no ILS or other instrument approach facility at the field.
The airfield operates on an Air/Ground basis rather than full ATC, with the callsign Popham A/G on 129.805 MHz. A separate operations frequency of 131.405 MHz is used by the resident flight school. There are no navaids or instrument approaches associated with the field, and it should be treated strictly as a VFR destination.
Pilots are expected to book in and out with the airfield radio desk and to check current field conditions (open, restricted or closed) before flying, as the status can depend on ground conditions and aircraft weight, particularly after wet weather. It is recommended to turn on the radio before taxiing, since the grass taxiways can be as hazardous as the runways in poor conditions; wide, gentle turns and minimal braking are advised to avoid rutting the wet grass surface.
The airfield is easily identified from the air by its position directly alongside the A303 trunk road, a prominent linear landmark running through this part of Hampshire. Basingstoke lies to the northeast and Overton a short distance to the north, both useful as general orientation points when inbound to the field.
On 7 April 2007, Neville Duke, a Royal Air Force fighter ace of the Second World War and a well-known post-war test pilot, made an emergency landing at Popham in a light aircraft after feeling unwell in flight. He collapsed shortly after landing and died later that evening, an event that remains part of the airfield's history. Popham later expanded to two grass runways from an original single strip, gaining additional hangarage as its flying activity grew.
Popham remains an active centre for general aviation, home to AirBourne Aviation's flight training operation covering microlights, light aircraft and gyroplanes, together with aircraft hire and light aircraft maintenance. The on-site café is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and Saturday to Sunday from 9am to 4pm, with extended evening hours during fly-in barbecue events. The airfield hosts numerous events through the year, including a Microlight trade fair in May, a Motorcycle Mega Meet, Classic Car Show and Vintage Aircraft Fly-in in August, and a New Year's Day Fly-in, alongside evening BBQ fly-ins that regularly attract large numbers of visiting aircraft. Being unlicensed, pilots should check field conditions and book in before departure, and prior permission should be sought before visiting. Detailed scenery for Popham Airfield is available for Microsoft Flight Simulator, produced by Burning Blue Design in collaboration with AirBourne Aviation.
