TobyVickers wrote:When I was due to start work on the IoW late last year it did occur to me whether anyone did, had or could operate a passenger air service to the Island to avoid crossing by water. Did they seriously fly that in there though :shock: ? I know people with bigger back gardens than Sandown Isle of Wight International Airport
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/lol.gif)
Channel did the occasional DC3 to Sandown when Pompey was still open,
I seem to remember my dad taking us kids out to see one there one summer,1966 - 69 ish..and the AA liveried Rapide.
Sandown's main runway was longer back then, and the touchdown
zones were grass over psp planking,plus it had the second (cross) runway too.
If you look at the satellite view here
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?oi=eu_map&q=Sandown&hl=en
you'll see at threshold end of 05 the road that cuts across used to be controlled by a barrier, to allow use of full length, and where the second runway was, running almost north-south. Back then the 'tower' and clubhouse was on the north-west side, further along from the Hangars
The last scheduled service (that I know of) was by Brymon, used a Dash 7
on a route from Bhx to IOW (Bembridge) and on to Jersey and return, later replaced by a British Midland 'Twotter', ended in @1988.
There was an attempt to do a Bembridge to Fairoaks service,but I think this foundered when Pilatus ceased to be involved with BN.
ttfn
Pete