Castlebar Airfield

[Flyer1]

Hi Folks,

Does anyone know if Castlebar airfield is still in operation ?

[DonalMW]

Afraid not
It's a Woodies DIY now......

[Flyer1]

Looked like a cool spot from some pics. Ahh well.

Thanks Donal.

[shrtfld]

Castlebar - more memories.

It used to be a great fly in location in the good old days. It had a very active flying club with Tom Tuffy as CFI. He used to cover Galway as well for a while.

I did some early training with him. One technique you leared the hard way with him was the need for effective use of right rudder on take off. To get the message over he used to, lets say "tap" ones right thigh with the repeated admonishment of "more right rudder!" As I said those were the days and a lesson well learnt.

[alphaLaura]

To get the message over he used to, lets say "tap" ones right thigh with the repeated admonishment of "more right rudder!"

...So, really, you ended up with a fist-shaped bruise on your right thigh...

[N714GZ]

I've had instructors like that in the recent past! If it gets you out of a bad habit!

[mini]

That's a pity. Been away for many years but can remember "bumping" a Socato into (onto?) Castlebar.

What happened the members? where are the flying now?

[mixturerich]

Hi Folks,

Yes, Mayo flying Club ceased operating about 4 years ago. They initially moved the plane to Knock Airport, but that did not work out very well.

The club had a very clean, nice to fly, Cessna 150 EI-AMV(http://www.flyinginireland.com/eireg.php?Registration=EI-avm),
which they then sold - it now is based in Abbeyshrule, as far as I am aware.

The club has disbanded - with its former members mainly flying in Knock and Sligo.

It was an interesting Airport to fly into - the main road at one end and the train station at the other. You were not permitted to take off if a train was standing in the station. However, an American businessman used to fly a private jet in to the airport from time to time.

Cheers,

Mixturerich.

[Flyer1]

How long was the runway way back then folks ?

[mixturerich]

Hi Flyer1,

The runway was 610 metres.

Mixturerich.

[Comet]

Any of you guys know where the R.A.F. airfield in Castlebar was or is it the same location.
cheers

[Papa8]

Mayo Flying Club's Victor Mike is now used for training with Aeroclub 2000 based in Abbeyshrule

[StephenM]

Any of you guys know where the R.A.F. airfield in Castlebar was or is it the same location.
cheers

RAF Base in Castlebar? I've never heard of any significant British Military presence in Mayo. Is there anywhere that refers to it?

[hugoj_air]

from Comet
Any of you guys know where the R.A.F. airfield in Castlebar was or is it the same location. cheers

Hi Everyone just back from my hols when I seen this.

Castlebar RAF Landing Ground
"Just NE of Castlebar Town" so not the same location as the now closed airfield.
That area has been built up over the years so I would say very little of the site
would have survived. Would anyone know any more about the location. The grids
and lat/long below is my best guess for the site.

31/M15?91?
53.51?00N
009.17?00W
Site used by the RAF between 05.1918 and 01.1921
Grass
from Omagh Based RE8?s 00.05.1918 00.01.1919
105 Sqn RAF Detatched Flight [A Flt]
from Oranmore Bristol F.2b Fighter?s 00.01.1919 00.02.1920
105 Sqn RAF Detatched Flight
from Oranmore Bristol F.2b Fighter?s 00.02.1920 00.07.1920
2 Sqn RAF Detatched Flight
from Baldonnel Bristol F.2b Fighter?s 00.07.1920 00.01.1921
100 Sqn RAF Detatched Flight [D Flt] to Oranmore
All this activity took place just prior to the British withdrawl from ?Southern
Ireland?
I have no other details
The same site was used by Sir Alan Cobham's flying circus on 21.09.1933
and again on 10.05.1935.

Hugo.

[Tony Kearns]

The RAF aerodrome at Castlebar was located on the opposite side of the road from the later location and was last surveyed by the Air Corps for possible use in early September 1933, but not used by them, even during the Emergency.
Tony K