Dunsfold Aerodrome

Dunsfold Park Ltd

Company type	Private
Industry	Aviation, Business park, Filming location
Founded	2002
Headquarters	Surrey , England
Area served	Surrey, England
Products	Aerodrome operations, Business park facilities, Filming location for television (Top Gear)

Dunsfold Aerodrome (previously identified by the ICAO code EGTD) is a non-licensed airfield situated in Surrey, England, close to the village of Cranleigh. The airfield spans areas within the villages of Dunsfold and Alfold.

Originally established by the Canadian Army alongside civilian contractors, it was developed as a Class A bomber airfield intended for use by the Army Co-operation Command. Between 1942 and 1944, it operated under the command of the Royal Canadian Air Force and was designated Royal Canadian Air Force Station Dunsfold. When managed by the RAF, it was known as RAF Dunsfold.

After World War II, the site was utilized by Hawker Siddeley and subsequently by its successor company, British Aerospace. From 2002 until 2020, it served as the primary location for filming the BBC television series Top Gear.

In December 2016, planning consent was approved to develop 1,800 residential units on this land, which involved dismantling the existing track and related aerodrome structures such as the runway drag strip.

Construction and military service

The construction of Dunsfold Aerodrome commenced in 1942, undertaken by the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Engineers with assistance from members of the Canadian Forestry Corps. The project required clearing approximately 200 acres of woodland before building could proceed. Utilizing equipment supplied through the Lend-Lease arrangement, Canadian engineers employed heavy earth-moving machinery imported from North America and innovative techniques like pipe-pushing charges to detonate explosives beneath tree roots, enabling swift land clearance.

The entire construction process was completed in just over six months—a significantly shorter timeframe compared to similar wartime airfields that often took up to a year. The finished facility featured three concrete runways arranged in a traditional triangular layout, perimeter taxiways, dispersal zones, along with temporary hangars and living quarters.

Initial squadrons stationed at Dunsfold included No. 400 Squadron RCAF from 4 December 1942, followed by No. 414 Squadron RCAF starting 5 December 1942, and No. 430 Squadron RCAF from 8 January 1943. These units operated aircraft such as the Curtiss Tomahawk and North American Mustang I, conducting tactical reconnaissance operations.

By late 1943, control of Dunsfold shifted to No. 139 Wing RAF, which flew Mitchell II medium bombers. This wing emerged from No. 139 Airfield Headquarters RAF and comprised squadrons including No. 98 Squadron, No. 180 Squadron, and No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF, the latter staffed by members of the Netherlands Naval Aviation Service. The wing executed bombing raids on occupied European targets until October 1944 before relocating to mainland Europe to support advancing Allied troops.

Afterward, Dunsfold accommodated No. 83 Group Support Unit RAF, responsible for servicing and testing aircraft such as the Spitfire, Typhoon, and Tempest before their deployment in operations. In February 1945, this unit was redesignated as the 83 Group Disbandment Centre and later contributed to repatriating Allied prisoners of war during the final stages of conflict.

The Royal Air Force declared the aerodrome inactive in 1946; it was then leased to Skyways Ltd. for civil aviation purposes. Skyways operated various aircraft including the Avro York, Avro Lancastrian, Douglas C-54 Skymaster, as well as the de Havilland Dragon Rapide and de Havilland Dove. The company played a role supporting the Berlin Airlift and refurbished surplus RAF fighters such as the Spitfire and Hurricane for use by the Portuguese Air Force.

Throughout its operational history, several units were based at Dunsfold at different times:

• Detachment from No. 21 Squadron RAF (Mosquito VI), between 17 April and 18 June 1944
• No. 128 Airfield Headquarters RAF, active from 4 to 28 July 1943 (including squadrons 231 and 400)
• No. 231 Squadron RAF, stationed from 6–11 July and again from 21–28 July 1943 (Mustang I)
• No. 276 Squadron RAF, present from 10–14 November 1945 (Supermarine Walrus)
• No. 400 Squadron RCAF
• No. 414 Squadron RCAF
• No. 430 Squadron RCAF
• No. 98 Squadron RAF
• No. 180 Squadron RAF
• No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF
• No. 402 Air Stores Park
• No. 415 Air Stores Park
• No. 2791 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 2826 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 2879 Squadron RAF Regiment

Post-war use

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Six pre-production Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1s at Dunsfold Aerodrome, 1968.

In 1950, the lease for Dunsfold Aerodrome was obtained by the Hawker Aircraft Company from the Air Ministry. This airfield quickly evolved into a key location for the advancement, upkeep, and evaluation of jet aircraft. Throughout the 1950s, it gained international recognition primarily due to the development and manufacture of the Hawker Hunter fighter. Additionally, a limited number of Sea Hawks were produced here, and existing Sea Furies underwent refurbishment for naval deployment.

From 1953 until 1958, Airwork Ltd rented two hangars at Dunsfold to carry out overhaul and refurbishment work on North American F-86 Sabre and Supermarine Attacker aircraft intended for both the Royal Navy and overseas clients.

The newly established Hawker Siddeley Group conducted the maiden flight of its experimental Hawker P.1127 at Dunsfold in October 1960. This aircraft was instrumental in pioneering vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) technology and directly contributed to the creation of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, recognized as the world’s first operational VTOL jet fighter-bomber. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Dunsfold remained a pivotal site for Harrier testing and development.

In 1961, production and flight testing of the Folland Gnat were relocated from Chilbolton, Hampshire to Dunsfold. The airfield also became the final assembly and flight test hub for both the Harrier and subsequently the Hawk advanced trainer aircraft.

After undergoing several mergers, Hawker Siddeley was integrated into British Aerospace (BAe) in 1977. The facility continued to function as BAe’s flight test centre for both the BAe Hawk and BAe Harrier series. On 2 July 1986, BAe’s deputy chief test pilot Jim Hawkins tragically lost his life when the prototype Hawk 200 crashed near Dunsfold during a test flight.

On 24 June 1999, British Aerospace declared a gradual shutdown of operations at Dunsfold as part of a corporate restructuring initiative. Final assembly of the Hawk had already been moved to Warton in 1988; meanwhile, production of the Sea Harrier ceased in 1998, and manufacturing of the Harrier II shifted to Brough in 2000.

Following the closure, the gate guardian aircraft—a Hawker P.1127 XP984—was transferred on long-term loan to the Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, where it remains exhibited.

21st century

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Aerial perspective of the aerodrome

In 2002, Dunsfold Aerodrome was acquired by The Rutland Group after being sold by BAE Systems, the successor to British Aerospace. This acquisition led to the creation of Dunsfold Park Ltd. Between mid-2002 and 2020, the location served as the filming venue for the BBC motoring show Top Gear. The programme utilized a hangar as its studio space while sections of the runways and taxiways were adapted into the test track.

During summer months, the test track functions as a venue for cycling competitions, hosting events as part of the Surrey Cycle Racing League’s closed-circuit series.

From 2005 until 2019, Dunsfold Park was home to the annual Wings and Wheels air and motor show, usually staged in late August. This event consistently drew crowds exceeding 25,000 visitors each year and generated significant charitable contributions benefiting organisations such as Help for Heroes and the Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance.

Additionally, Dunsfold Park Ltd has hosted various entertainment initiatives including the Dunsfold Drive-In cinema, along with the classical music series known as Strings & Wings.

In October 2020, a second Boeing 747-400 aircraft (registration G-CIVW) was delivered to Dunsfold to complement G-BDXJ for use in filming activities and training exercises. This plane, previously operated by British Airways, was transferred from Cardiff Airport. Later that year, in December 2020, a third aircraft—G-BNLY—arrived. This particular plane is one of three Retrojet Boeing 747s adorned with the distinctive Landor Associates livery from the late 1980s to early 1990s and carries the name City of Swansea.

Dispute over Aviation Usage

The legitimacy of the aerodrome’s operation as an aviation facility has been a contentious issue for an extended period. Its activities have been regulated through a succession of temporary planning permissions that impose limits on flight numbers and restrict operational hours. In April 2011, Dunsfold Park Ltd asserted that aviation activities were not subject to restrictions, contending that such use either existed before current planning regulations or was safeguarded by a 1951 consent authorizing the “construction, repair, and flight testing of aircraft”. This assertion faced opposition from local parish councils, environmental organizations including the Campaign to Protect Rural England and Friends of the Earth, as well as multiple Members of Parliament.

In June 2011, the application submitted by the company for a certificate confirming lawful use was denied by Waverley Borough Council, and an ensuing appeal was rejected in April 2012. The planning inspector concluded that the 1951 consent did not grant unlimited flying privileges, a position later upheld by Lord Justice Sullivan in a 2014 ruling by the High Court.

Residential Development

Back in 2006, Dunsfold Park Ltd put forward plans for a new community featuring around 2,600 residences, alongside a school, healthcare amenities, and transportation connections to the A281. The development aimed to exemplify principles of green and sustainable living.

This proposal was evaluated under the UK Government’s 2007–08 eco-town program but was ultimately dismissed due to its scale falling short of the minimum threshold of 5,000 homes and inadequate public transport infrastructure. Despite resistance from local authorities and community members, environmental advocates such as Friends of the Earth and academics like Professor Roland Clift endorsed the plan, highlighting its promise as a sustainable redevelopment alternative to expanding aviation operations.

The project was refused permission by Waverley Borough Council and subsequently rejected on appeal in 2009 by then Secretary of State John Denham. In 2013, ownership transferred when The Rutland Group sold the site to Trinity College, Cambridge, which entered into a development partnership to advance updated proposals.

Planning consent for 1,800 homes on the location was granted in December 2016. Future redevelopment plans involve dismantling the test track along with remaining aerodrome facilities.

Memorial

A tribute, financed through public donations, was established outside the nearby Alfold Barn pub located on the A281 road between Guildford and Horsham. The Dunsfold Society organized the memorial's dedication on 20 July 1992, marking exactly half a century since the first aircraft—a Royal Canadian Air Force Tiger Moth—landed at Dunsfold. During the ceremony, fly-pasts were conducted by a Tiger Moth and a Lockheed P-3 Orion from the current 320 Sqn RDNAS.

Museum

On-site, volunteers maintain a museum featuring a collection of Second World War memorabilia related to Dunsfold, which is open to visitors on Wednesdays. The museum was founded by the late Reg Day, who served with 98 Sqn RAF at Dunsfold during 1943–44.

Incidents and accidents

On 7 January 1944, two RAF bombers collided in the vicinity of Dunsfold, resulting in crashes.

On 20 November 1975, a Hawker Siddeley HS.125 registered G-BCUX was performing a test takeoff from runway 07 when it encountered a bird strike shortly after becoming airborne. The pilots attempted to return to the runway but overran it and collided with a vehicle traveling on the A281 road. The aircraft came to rest in a field and was consumed by fire. Tragically, all six occupants of the car lost their lives, while one crew member among the nine passengers and crew sustained injuries.

On 2 July 1986, Jim Hawkins, British Aerospace's deputy chief test pilot, died when his developmental Hawk 200 ZG200 crashed into farmland just beyond the southern boundary road of the airfield.

On 5 June 1998, a Hawker Hunter (G-HHUN) crashed at Dunsfold ahead of that weekend’s airshow. The pilot, John Davies, was fatally injured.

Appearances in media

A former Boeing 747-200 from British Airways, registration G-BDXJ and named City of Birmingham, was acquired by Aces High Limited—a company specializing in providing aircraft for film and television productions—and relocated to Dunsfold. It underwent modifications and was used during filming for the 2006 James Bond movie Casino Royale, with multiple scenes set at Miami International Airport shot at Dunsfold.

Since then, the airfield has become a favored site for various film and TV projects due to its extensive runway, hangars, and versatile facilities.

Film

Several prominent motion pictures have been partially filmed at Dunsfold Aerodrome, including:

• Batman Begins (2005)
• The Da Vinci Code (2006)
• Casino Royale (2006)
• Last Chance Harvey (2008)
• Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010)
• Red 2 (2013)
• The Theory of Everything (2014)
• London Has Fallen (2016)
• War Machine (2017)
• Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
• Golda (2023)

Television

Dunsfold Aerodrome has served as a location for various television productions, either fully or partially, including:

• Top Gear (BBC) – the airfield was utilized as the show's test track and studio base for more than ten years.
• Fifth Gear (2006) – featured a notable sequence in which a Volkswagen Touareg pulled a Boeing 747 along the runway.
• Primeval (ITV)
• Spooks (BBC)
• Come Fly with Me (British TV series) (BBC) – filmed scenes on the Boeing 747 set located at the aerodrome.
• The Day of the Triffids (BBC, 2009)

External links

• Official site of Dunsfold Aerodrome
• Aces High official website
• Website of the Dunsfold Airfield History Society