Restore the RAF Yatesbury Airfield

The former RAF Yatesbury airfield dates back to WWI and the only reaming airfield with complete suite of buildings and hangars in the country. The hangars are listed Grade II* and believed to be the only remaining of it’s type in the world.

At the public inquiry, evidence was submitted by English Heritage that established that the site is of international, as well as national, importance. It retains “the best preserved flying field of the First World War period, bounded by one of the most complete suites of technical and hangar buildings of the period up to the end of the First World War period” and “the most complete of all 56 of the Civilian Training Schools built in the inter-war period”. At the time of its construction, this Flying School was singled out for praise by Flight Magazine which stated that “…they have unhesitatingly made at Yatesbury a model school whose pattern few will equal and none will better”.

English Heritage and Wiltshire County Council have spent great efforts to support the restoration of the airfield yet they failed to extend support at these difficult times by relaxing the onerous legal agreement they forced the owners to sign.

Jamal Khanfer has fought and waited 8 years before he succeeded in securing a planning consent, which ensures its survival for future generations. Jamal has sacrificed every thing possible to secure the consent financially, personally and gave up his very promising career.

The project is funded by RBS who have in October 2008 stopped funding the project. The project, however, remains widely supported by the local community and many associations as well as nationally and internationally.