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Full Sutton Airfield is a small unlicensed grass airstrip in the East Riding of Yorkshire, about 8 nautical miles east of York, occupying part of the former World War Two bomber station of the same name. Operated today by the Full Sutton Flying Centre, it offers PPL, Night Rating and IRR training from a single grass runway, with the working prison of HMP Full Sutton sitting close to the northern side of the field.
Full Sutton Airfield is an unlicensed grass aerodrome near York, operated by Full Sutton Flying Centre Limited. It occupies part of the site of the former RAF station of the same name and today serves as a training and touring base offering PPL, Night Rating and Instrument Rating Restricted instruction alongside aircraft hire. For a visiting VFR pilot it is a relaxed, low-key general aviation field, notable chiefly for its wartime pedigree, its brief post-war career as a motor-racing circuit, and its unusual neighbour, HMP Full Sutton, which sits immediately adjacent to the airfield.
The airfield lies around 8 nautical miles east of York in the East Riding of Yorkshire. It is sited adjacent to, and south-east of, Full Sutton Prison (HMP Full Sutton), which occupies part of the former RAF station to the north-west of the active runway. Pilots should be aware that overflying the prison is not permitted.
Full Sutton has a single grass runway, 04/22, measuring 2,359 feet in length. Both runway directions are equipped with lighting. The airfield is not licensed for night use.
An Air/Ground service is provided under the callsign Full Sutton A/G on 132.325 MHz. There are no navaids or instrument approaches published for the airfield.
Pilots must not overfly HMP Full Sutton, which lies to the north-west of runway 04/22, immediately adjacent to the airfield boundary.
The prison buildings of HMP Full Sutton, sited to the north-west of the runway, are a prominent and unmistakable landmark for pilots identifying the airfield from the air, though they also mark the area that must not be overflown.
The airfield was built from 1943 as a Class A bomber station and opened in May 1944, making it the last airfield constructed for RAF Bomber Command. No. 77 Squadron RAF arrived on 15 May 1944 flying Handley Page Halifax Mark III and VI bombers, later converting to the Douglas Dakota in July 1945 before moving to RAF Broadwell at the end of that month. The station then passed to RAF Transport Command use before being placed under Care and Maintenance in spring 1947. It reopened in 1951 as a training base for 104 Refresher Flying School during the Korean War period, and on 26 February 1952 a Meteor T7 (WF831) undershot an approach and collided with a goods train on the railway line south-west of the airfield. In the later 1950s the site also hosted motor racing, with a circuit of 3.2 miles that was Britain's longest at the time; Jim Clark set a notable record here as the first driver to lap a British circuit at an average speed of over 100 mph in a sports car, although low crowds led the organising club to switch its events to the Rufforth circuit the following year. In April 1959 a Thor missile installation under the charge of No. 102 Squadron arrived at the airfield, remaining until the squadron's disbandment on 27 April 1963, which marked the end of the site's RAF service. HMP Full Sutton opened on part of the former station in April 1988.
The airfield is run by Full Sutton Flying Centre Limited, which provides flying instruction towards the Private Pilot's Licence, Night Rating and Instrument Rating Restricted, employing two flying instructors. Facilities include a clubhouse, hangars, a control room and on-site aircraft maintenance. Aircraft available for hire have included the Cessna 150, Cessna 172, Piper PA-28 Cherokee 140, Piper PA-28 Warrior 160, Slingsby T67 Firefly and Cessna 310, with solo hire available from 08:00 to 20:00 seven days a week. Prior permission is required before any visit, reflecting both general PPR practice and the airfield's proximity to HMP Full Sutton. The field previously held a CAA Ordinary Licence permitting public transport flights and instructional flying, but this was given up in 2011, and the airfield remains unlicensed for night flying.
