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RAE BEDFORD - APRIL 2015
History
In 1946 Thurleigh became the site for the second Royal Aircraft Establishment site.
Two new runways were built in the post-war period to accommodate the Bristol Brabazon aircraft (which required a very long runway) that ultimately never went into production.
One local road was dropped into a cutting so that it would not sit above the level of the runway.
The site had several reasonably large wind tunnels, one supersonic and one large subsonic.
It also had a 'drop tower', the drop tower is now used as a skydiving training venue.
It was often touted as a possible site for the third London Airport (long before Stansted Airport took on that role).
The local community was strongly opposed and many rural buildings were adorned with slogans such as "Thurleigh -NO!", "No! No! No!" and "Maplin Now".
The supersonic tunnel was dismantled by 2005 and the building which held the fans and driving motors is now used as the set for the BBC popular science programme, "Bang Goes The Theory".
The RAE was deeply involved in the development of Concorde and was also a centre for the development of the Instrument Landing System.
Local villages were being circled by airliners in the middle of the night, with planes testing the ILS; the planes would take off, circle, and re-land continually.
On 13 March 1961, a Hawker P.1127 (XP831), the prototype of what would become the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, took its first regular flight at RAE Bedford.
Also in March 1967 the U-2 flew out of RAE Bedford.
During the 1970s RAE Bedford became home to numerous flight simulators, originally using model belts and camera technology, but later utilising computers.
In the early 1980s the Advanced Flight Simulator was constructed, allowing pilots to be immersed in a fully three-dimensional moving simulation.
Also in the early eighties, RAE Bedford oversaw the development of the Short Take Off & Landing STOL system for the Sea Harrier (the most visible part of which are the up-curved ramps (ski-jumps) on the decks of Royal Navy aircraft carriers).
This brought hundreds more takeoffs and landings that circled overhead which was ironic considering that Thurleigh has one of the longest runways in Europe and was previously one of the Avro Vulcan Bomber dispersal bases.
In recent years, engine housings and wings were developed/tested for the Airbus.
In April 1991 the Royal Aerospace Establishment (as the Royal Aircraft Establishment had been renamed) which operated the airfield at Bedford, was merged with other agencies to become the Defence Research Agency (DRA).
The DRA would later become the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.
In February 1994 the airfield was decommissioned after a lengthy study determined that flight operations should be centralised at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire.
The airfield has since been divided into two parts;
The southern part is now known as Thurleigh Business Park, and includes the runway, which is currently used for the mass storage of new cars.
The northern part is now Bedford Autodrome which also houses Thurleigh Museum.
The explore
It was about time that this local beauty spot was given a re-visit, so off we went to soak up some derp. Enjoyed this one, lots to look at in un-chaved condition. Explored with Hamtagger and a non member.
1. The wind tunnels can be seen in the centre of this picture. These were dismantled shortly after the main tunnel closed and can be seen their scale is breathtaking - nearly three stories high in some places.
2. The 'machine hall'. The propeller shape is a prop.
3. A photograph from the early 1960's showing the main drive compressor. The walk way marked 'x' is shown for comparison in the next photo.
4. The 'x' marks the high level walkway shown in the previous picture and together with yours truly who stands at 6' 4" plus, the scale of the tunnel can only be appreciated.
5.
6. Some props left over from tv/film sets.
7.
8. The other larger (13 feet i believe) wind tunnel exit. The plugs or bungs in their place are made from wood.
9.
10.
11. Some good reading here.
12.
13.
14. Towers of the generating plant. Interesting space behind these towers, as we found out!
15. Control room for the generating station.
16. One of my favorites of the day.
17. Across the airfield (not literally!) we went for a peep at RAE Bedford's new Control Tower which had just opened in this picture of 1957.
18.
19.
20.
21. See of cars instead of planes.
22. Nature now in control.
23.
Thanks for looking folks !
History
In 1946 Thurleigh became the site for the second Royal Aircraft Establishment site.
Two new runways were built in the post-war period to accommodate the Bristol Brabazon aircraft (which required a very long runway) that ultimately never went into production.
One local road was dropped into a cutting so that it would not sit above the level of the runway.
The site had several reasonably large wind tunnels, one supersonic and one large subsonic.
It also had a 'drop tower', the drop tower is now used as a skydiving training venue.
It was often touted as a possible site for the third London Airport (long before Stansted Airport took on that role).
The local community was strongly opposed and many rural buildings were adorned with slogans such as "Thurleigh -NO!", "No! No! No!" and "Maplin Now".
The supersonic tunnel was dismantled by 2005 and the building which held the fans and driving motors is now used as the set for the BBC popular science programme, "Bang Goes The Theory".
The RAE was deeply involved in the development of Concorde and was also a centre for the development of the Instrument Landing System.
Local villages were being circled by airliners in the middle of the night, with planes testing the ILS; the planes would take off, circle, and re-land continually.
On 13 March 1961, a Hawker P.1127 (XP831), the prototype of what would become the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, took its first regular flight at RAE Bedford.
Also in March 1967 the U-2 flew out of RAE Bedford.
During the 1970s RAE Bedford became home to numerous flight simulators, originally using model belts and camera technology, but later utilising computers.
In the early 1980s the Advanced Flight Simulator was constructed, allowing pilots to be immersed in a fully three-dimensional moving simulation.
Also in the early eighties, RAE Bedford oversaw the development of the Short Take Off & Landing STOL system for the Sea Harrier (the most visible part of which are the up-curved ramps (ski-jumps) on the decks of Royal Navy aircraft carriers).
This brought hundreds more takeoffs and landings that circled overhead which was ironic considering that Thurleigh has one of the longest runways in Europe and was previously one of the Avro Vulcan Bomber dispersal bases.
In recent years, engine housings and wings were developed/tested for the Airbus.
In April 1991 the Royal Aerospace Establishment (as the Royal Aircraft Establishment had been renamed) which operated the airfield at Bedford, was merged with other agencies to become the Defence Research Agency (DRA).
The DRA would later become the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.
In February 1994 the airfield was decommissioned after a lengthy study determined that flight operations should be centralised at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire.
The airfield has since been divided into two parts;
The southern part is now known as Thurleigh Business Park, and includes the runway, which is currently used for the mass storage of new cars.
The northern part is now Bedford Autodrome which also houses Thurleigh Museum.
The explore
It was about time that this local beauty spot was given a re-visit, so off we went to soak up some derp. Enjoyed this one, lots to look at in un-chaved condition. Explored with Hamtagger and a non member.
1. The wind tunnels can be seen in the centre of this picture. These were dismantled shortly after the main tunnel closed and can be seen their scale is breathtaking - nearly three stories high in some places.
2. The 'machine hall'. The propeller shape is a prop.
3. A photograph from the early 1960's showing the main drive compressor. The walk way marked 'x' is shown for comparison in the next photo.
4. The 'x' marks the high level walkway shown in the previous picture and together with yours truly who stands at 6' 4" plus, the scale of the tunnel can only be appreciated.
5.
6. Some props left over from tv/film sets.
7.
8. The other larger (13 feet i believe) wind tunnel exit. The plugs or bungs in their place are made from wood.
9.
10.
11. Some good reading here.
12.
13.
14. Towers of the generating plant. Interesting space behind these towers, as we found out!
15. Control room for the generating station.
16. One of my favorites of the day.
17. Across the airfield (not literally!) we went for a peep at RAE Bedford's new Control Tower which had just opened in this picture of 1957.
18.
19.
20.
21. See of cars instead of planes.
22. Nature now in control.
23.
Thanks for looking folks !
