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MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Retford Gamston Airport (EGNE) is a small licensed general aviation aerodrome two miles south of Retford in Nottinghamshire, close to the village of Gamston. Originally built as a wartime RAF station, it now combines flying training and private GA traffic with automotive test operations on the same site, so pilots must plan for shared use of the airfield.
Retford Gamston Airport is a small English airfield just south of Retford, close to the village of Gamston in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire. It holds a CAA Ordinary Licence and is used mainly by private light aircraft and several based flying schools, with two AOC holders (IAS Medical among them) also operating from the field. What makes it distinctive for a visiting pilot is that the site is now run as a dual-use facility, combining general aviation with automotive testing for Thatcham Research, so briefing and PPR are essential before arrival.
Gamston lies in uncontrolled airspace two miles south of Retford and adjacent to the A1 and M18 road corridor, in the Bassetlaw area of Nottinghamshire. The airfield sits within reach of Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire traffic, and pilots are advised to be fully briefed before departure since the runway in use, taxiway and parking areas can vary with ongoing automotive testing.
Gamston has two paved, lit runway pairs. The main runway, 03/21, is 4897 ft in the 03 direction and 4891 ft in the 21 direction, hard surfaced and lit; the shorter runway, 14/32, measures 2801 ft as 14 and 2790 ft as 32, also hard surfaced and lit. Historically the airfield had three runways in a triangular wartime configuration, of which only the present pairing remains in common use; in June 2022 the main runway 03/21 was narrowed to allow a parallel car test track to be built alongside it.
The airfield callsign is Gamston Radio, providing an Air/Ground Communication Service (A/GCS) on 130.475 MHz. There is no ILS or other instrument approach aid at the field.
PPR (Prior Permission Required) and the wearing of hi-viz clothing are mandatory for all inbound non-based flights, reflecting the mixed aviation and vehicle-testing environment on the airfield. Standard overhead joins from the east, on the dead side, are preferred. Pilots are asked to follow the published circuit guidance and noise preferential routings to avoid noise-sensitive areas, with full joining procedures and circuit diagrams available in the airport's user guide and via SkyDemon.
The airfield lies close to the A1 and M18 road corridor, which provides a useful lead-in feature, with the town of Retford two miles to the north and the village of Gamston immediately adjacent to the site.
Gamston was built as a Royal Air Force aerodrome with three runways in a triangular layout and entered service in December 1942. It closed in 1945, and between then and its 1953 reopening the site hosted motor racing organised by the Nottinghamshire Sports Car Club, including a non-championship Formula One race on 7 August 1950 won by David Hampshire in a Maserati 4CLT-48. In May 1953 the airfield reopened as a satellite for nearby RAF Worksop, with No. 211 Advanced Flying School (later No. 4 Flying Training School) based there flying Gloster Meteors and de Havilland Vampires. Gamston Aviation Limited purchased the operation in July 1993 and ran it as a civilian general aviation airport. In 2021 the site was bought by Thatcham Research to carry out motor industry testing, with aviation activities continuing alongside; in June 2022 the main runway 03/21 was narrowed to create a parallel car test track.
Retford Gamston Airport operates as a dual-use facility combining general aviation with automotive testing, and holds a CAA Ordinary Licence permitting public transport flights and flying instruction. It is home to several private flying schools and two AOC holders, including IAS Medical. Avgas 100LL and Jet A1 fuel are available, delivered directly to the aircraft by bowser, and hangarage and parking are offered on both short and long-term bases. Rescue and fire-fighting cover is provided at Category 1 as standard, with Category 2 available on request and Category 3 on remission. The on-site Apron Café and Bakery is open Wednesday to Sunday. Normal operating hours are Monday to Friday 08:00 to 18:00 local, Saturday and Sunday 09:00 to 18:00 local, and bank holidays 09:00 to 18:00 local, with the airfield closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day; service outside these hours can be arranged for an additional fee. PPR and hi-viz are mandatory for all visiting non-based flights.
