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Starting in 1946, construction work began on the airfield to turn the site into what became known as the Royal Aeronautical Establishment, Bedford. The runway was extended 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.
It was the site of experimental aircraft development and was once described as “the finest research and development establishment outside the U.S.A."
This building is a "Kinetheodolite tower" (Cine Camera Tower) there was a further tower located elsewhere on the field. Two beams were projected up onto a taking off aircraft which would then lock the camera's on and follow it around ( hence the observatory dome)while trials were carried out over the field! the data being fed to computers for trajectory analysis
A trip down memory lane here. There was and old rover abandoned near one of the buildings with these inside, I remember it being my job to lick and stick these when my Mum had been shopping
It was the site of experimental aircraft development and was once described as “the finest research and development establishment outside the U.S.A."
This building is a "Kinetheodolite tower" (Cine Camera Tower) there was a further tower located elsewhere on the field. Two beams were projected up onto a taking off aircraft which would then lock the camera's on and follow it around ( hence the observatory dome)while trials were carried out over the field! the data being fed to computers for trajectory analysis
A trip down memory lane here. There was and old rover abandoned near one of the buildings with these inside, I remember it being my job to lick and stick these when my Mum had been shopping
