Shoreham Airport - Oldest Licensed Airfield in Britain
Shoreham Airport (IATA: ESH and ICAO: EGKA) - also called Shoreham (Brighton City) Airport - is owned and operated by Albemarle Shoreham Airport Ltd since Worthing borough Council and Brighton & Hove City Council sold it in 2006. Shoreham Airport is located just over a mile west of Shoreham-by-Sea within the boundaries of Lancing. Having been founded back in 1910 it is now recognised as the oldest licensed aerodrome throughout the UK.
Shoreham Airport came in to use during 1910 but wasn't officially opened until June 20th 1911. The first flying school at Shoreham Airport opened during 1913. During the First World War the aiport was used by the Royal Flying Corps until it became the airport for nearby Brighton, Hove and Worthing during the 1930s. A terminal building officialy opened on June 13th 1936 and, now being a Grade II listed building, is still in use today making Shoreham Airport a popular location for movies and TV shows looking to portray period airfield scenes.
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Map Postcard. John Walker # 80. Brighton Shoreham Rottingdean Lewes Patcham.
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Old Shoreham Bridge Nr Brighton c 1905 Postcard WH Borrow 0432
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OLD POSTCARD ST MARYS CHURCH SHOREHAM BY SEA SUSSEX CIRCA 1908
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SUSSEX - LANCING COLLEGE, Nr SHOREHAM ON SEA Postcard
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During the Second World War Shoreham Airport saw a wide variety of military aircraft including Lysanders, Spitfires, Hurricanes, Defiants and Bristol Beaufighters. As an air-sea-rescue establishment a Walrus aircraft also supported military activities based at nearby Shoreham Harbour.The airfield at Shoreham was bombed several times by the Luftwaffe and a Messerschmitt 109 german fighter crash landed near the terminal building as a result of ground fire. A US Air Force (USAF) B-17 Flying Fortress also crash landed on Shorehams airfield having been damaged on a raid over Germany.
Shoreham Airport only offered a grass landing area until the tarmac runway opened in 1981. Today the airport is mainly used by private light aircraft and flying schools in addition to aero maintenance and sales activities. A number of sightseeing and pleasure flights also operate from Shoreham.
The airport regularly plays host to the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA) Shoreham Airshow which sees flying and static displays by a variety of aircraft including fast jets, modern and vintage military aircraft and helicopters in addition to aerobatic display aircraft. The Shoreham Airshow has raised significant amounts for RAFA. Sadly, during the 2007 airshow, a vintage Hawker Hurricane aircraft involved crashed close to Lancing College killing the pilot Brian Brown.
