Coventry / Baginton Airport

The demise of Coventry Airport has been on the back burner for many years, long before the hype on the proposed giga factory. If I recall correctly, there was a time when the airport had closed, but the radar had to be kept operational until such time a decision was made on the future. The reason for keeping the radar operational was due to the costs to reactivate the radar being phenomenal whilst the airport was mothballed. The memory bank has faded a lot, so I tried to do a search to confirm dates and facts, but as expected, the search kept throwing up the current news, so I'm happy to be corrected.

I have many memories of Baginton Airport as my family lived in the Baginton Fields Hostel until I was 3/4. My dad used to take me out in my pushchair to take a look around. I have a wonderful photo of me next to Amy Johnson's plane. We were also there in 1982 during the frenzy of Pope Paul II's visit. I always hoped it would become a real local airport. I recently bought a print of a gorgeous painting by Dame Laura Knight called 'A Balloon Site, Coventry' which shows a group of women hauling a barrage balloon during WW 11. It's on show at the Imperial War Museum and and was featured both in the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal within days of each other. I felt so proud of these women and of my home town, Coventry.

Anyone know what the Airport closure will mean for the Midland Air Museum?

Neil, I've read that the museum is not on land included in that owned by the proposed factory. Also that this land has a long lease on it. Now this information came from the Coventry Airport Facebook group so let's hope it's correct.

I've heard the same about the Midland Air Museum, however, the air ambulance will be impacted. I understand there are contingency plans in place for the air ambulance, to ensure the valuable service isn't interrupted.

Talking of museums and museum artifacts, while a lot of the former Coventry Air Museum have long since been moved. The RAF Hawker Siddeley Nimrod is still located at Coventry Airport, with an active preservation society who still look after it. I think quite a few artifacts were transported to Newquay Airport (former RAF St Mawgan), Cornwall, whether any are still there or not, I've no idea. I remember the old DC-3's, DC-6's, Lockheed Electra's, De-Haviland Dragon Rapides and others maintained, some flying cargo flights and others pleasure flights. Often a DC-3 would do the Bedworth Remembrance Day poppy drop. The Nimrod will never fly again, so currently it's facing an uncertain future. Also interestingly, the BBC News article state that the Midland Air Museum will be impacted. What that is supposed to mean begs a question... BBC News Coventry and Warwickshire Future of Nimrod aircraft uncertain, says society Also a link from the Nimrod preservation team: NIMROD XV232 Preserving the Veteran

It is important to understand that the Midland Air Museum on Rowley Road is a separate organisation to the former Airbase/Air Atlantic Classic Flight that was located on the airport proper. The aircraft mentioned above belonged to the latter organisation. The Midland Air Museum have their own lease from the council and are, I understand, not directly affected by the airport closure.