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Samlesbury Aerodrome

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Samlesbury Aerodrome
Company typeManufacturing site
IndustryAerospace
Founded1922
Headquarters
Balderstone, near Samlesbury and Blackburn
,
England, United Kingdom
Area served
Lancashire Enterprise Zone
ProductsAircraft fuselage sections and components for Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk
OwnerBAE Systems (property owned by BAE Systems Pension Fund Scheme)
Number of employees
Approximately 3,000

Samlesbury Aerodrome is a former airfield located in Balderstone, close to Samlesbury and Blackburn within the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire. Currently owned by the defence firm BAE Systems, the facility serves as a manufacturing site for various aircraft models. Approximately 3,000 employees work at this location. The aerodrome is included within the Lancashire Enterprise Zone.

History

The site’s history as an operational aerodrome began in 1922 when plans were made to establish a municipal airfield to serve the nearby towns of Blackburn and Preston.[1]

Although construction on the airfield did not start until April 1939, progress accelerated during the Second World War after the Air Ministry directed English Electric (EE) to build flight shed number 1. The first Handley Page Hampden aircraft produced by EE completed its inaugural flight on 22 February 1940.[1] By 1942, Samlesbury had delivered 770 Hampdens.[2]

In 1940, a second factory was added and the runway extended to facilitate production of the Handley Page Halifax. By 1945, the site featured five main hangars and three runways, with a total of 2,145 Halifaxes manufactured by year-end.[2]

During wartime, the aerodrome also hosted Hawker Hurricane and Airspeed Oxford aircraft operated by the Communications Flight of No. 9 Group RAF, headquartered at nearby Barton Hall. The airfield experienced only one bombing incident when incendiary devices were dropped, some impacting Balderstone village.[1]

From the latter part of the war onwards, EE maintained large-scale aircraft production at Samlesbury:[2]

  • Various models of the de Havilland Vampire were built under subcontract between 1944 and 1952, totaling 1,369 units.
File:English Electric Lightning F6, UK - Air Force AN1564287.jpg
The entire Lightning series was manufactured at Samlesbury
  • The English Electric Canberra, designed and constructed by English Electric since the 1920s, was produced from 1949 to 1959 and again in 1964, with a total output of 631.
  • Samlesbury was the exclusive production site for both prototypes and production models of the English Electric Lightning, built between 1953 and 1972 with a total of 341 aircraft (including those produced under BAC).

In addition to aircraft assembly, EE undertook other projects during this era. Notably, they secured a contract from 1945 to 1948 to install radar, radio, and navigation systems on 200 Avro Lincoln bombers.[3] Components for other aircraft such as the Anglo-French supersonic Concorde and the ultimately unsuccessful BAC TSR-2 were also manufactured at Samlesbury.

Following English Electric’s merger into BAC in 1960—later becoming part of British Aerospace (BAE)—the facility collaborated closely with nearby sister plants at BAE Warton and Preston in producing fighter jets including the SEPECAT Jaguar and Panavia Tornado.

File:English Electric Canberra T4, India - Air Force AN2249711.jpg
Indian Air Force Canberra T4 Q497 stored at Samlesbury in 1986

Between the 1950s and 1970s, alongside ongoing production activities, Samlesbury was heavily involved in upgrading and refurbishing English Electric aircraft—particularly Canberras. Numerous aircraft passed through for refurbishment prior to return to RAF service or resale to international air forces such as those of Argentina, Rhodesia, India, Venezuela, Peru, and Ethiopia. A significant number of airframes were also dismantled on-site.[4]

In post-war references, this airfield was occasionally called Preston/Blackburn Airfield.[5]

Samlesbury Engineering

Main article: Samlesbury Engineering

Established around 1943 at the airfield, the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation (LAC) and its subsidiary, Samlesbury Engineering, operated as a Civilian Repair Organisation. They secured contracts to service Bristol Beaufighter and Beaufort aircraft. Post-war, Samlesbury Engineering expanded by taking over several English Electric facilities. Alongside manufacturing aviation components, the company supported LAC's Halifaxes and Haltons, which played a significant role during the 1948–49 Berlin Airlift. Subsequently, Samlesbury Engineering broadened its scope to include the production of buses,[6] coaches, and trucks.[7] However, as the business declined, they returned hangar facilities to English Electric and acquired Burnley Aircraft Products, relocating to their premises on the airfield’s southern side. During WWII, Burnley Aircraft Products had assembled and tested Beauforts and Beaufighters at Samlesbury and had been engaged in highly confidential aircraft interception radar trials involving Beaufighters.[8]

Leveraging their expertise in aviation and vehicle engineering, Samlesbury Engineering constructed the turbojet-powered Bluebird K7 hydroplane in 1954 for Donald Campbell’s water speed record attempts.[9][10]

Light aircraft

Following the conclusion of WWII, RAF No.1 Gliding School relocated to Samlesbury, operating gliders such as the Slingsby Cadet TX.1, TX.3, Grunau Baby, and Sedburgh TX.1. This unit was disbanded in December 1949.[11]

In 1958, Samlesbury Engineering launched a new subsidiary also named Lancashire Aircraft Company, tasked with producing a modernized version of the Edgar Percival E.P.9 utility aircraft, for which it had acquired full rights. This updated model was called the Lancashire Aircraft Prospector. Initially manufactured at Blackpool (Squires Gate) Airport, production shifted to Samlesbury in 1960. Only six units were completed before operations moved to Lympne Airport in 1963; the venture ceased there in 1964.[12] Subsequently, Samlesbury Engineering divested its vehicle division and was absorbed into BAC.[13]

File:Barritault JB.01 Minicab G-AWEP at Sywell.jpg
Minicab G-AWEP in 2021

Roland Beamont served as chief test pilot and flight operations manager for EE.[14] Residing near Samlesbury Hall on the airfield’s southern edge, Beamont frequently commuted between Samlesbury and Warton in his Barritault JB.01 Minicab—a variant of the Gardan GY20 Minicab—registered as G-AWEP.[15][16]

In 1961, Beamont facilitated the relocation of the Blackpool and Fylde Gliding Club from Blackpool to Samlesbury.[17] By 1966, all club activities had moved there. EE provided hangar space free of charge on Friday and Saturday evenings for glider storage during weekends. Although BAC designed a dedicated hangar for the club, it was never constructed as they shifted to their own airfield at Chipping in April 1973.[18] The club subsequently adopted the name Bowland Forest Gliding Club.

File:Slingsby T.61 Venture T.2 ‘ZA656’ (G-BTWC) (35533941412).jpg
RAF Slingsby T.61 Venture T2 ZA656 (G-BTWC)

The gliding club was succeeded in June 1984 by RAF’s 635 Volunteer Gliding Squadron (VGS), which relocated from RAF Burtonwood. This squadron operated motor gliders including the Slingsby Venture T2 and Grob Vigilant T1.[11]

By 2009, all BAE flight operations had transferred to Warton’s longer runway, prompting 635 VGS to move to RAF Topcliffe, effectively ending flying activities at Samlesbury. The aerodrome’s ICAO designation EGNG was reassigned to Bagby airfield in Yorkshire.

BAE Systems operations

Currently, the Samlesbury site functions as a cutting-edge manufacturing and aerospace centre under BAE Systems. Following the 2006 sale of BAE Systems Aerostructures to Spirit AeroSystems, the latter occupies a smaller section of the Samlesbury facility. Spirit AeroSystems produces components for Airbus and various other commercial aircraft at this location.

File:Samlesbury Aerodrome..jpg
Aerial view, April 2014

In 2006, ownership of the property was transferred by BAE Systems to its Pension Fund Scheme. Plans have been underway to transform the airfield into a technologically advanced aerospace business park. The initial phase of construction commenced in November 2007, with an anticipated duration of one year. By 2008, development started on a new main entrance and visitor centre situated on the western perimeter of the site, which is now operational.

Employing more than 3,000 personnel, the facility currently manufactures fuselage sections and other components for aircraft such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, and McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk. Additionally, a substantial building has been erected to accommodate BAE office staff. The eastern portion of the main runway is now occupied by BAE’s Academy for Skills & Knowledge (ASK) training centre.

After the closure of the remaining runway in April 2015, a solar farm featuring 9,000 photovoltaic panels was installed at the airfield's western extremity. By 2016, this installation had prevented over one million kilograms of carbon emissions and generated energy cost savings amounting to £300,000.

Gate guardians

Historically, two actual aircraft served as gate guardians near the former main entrance. One was a Lightning F.53 (ZF580), which was removed in February 2013. This Lightning bore generic RAF markings reflecting its post-service appearance after returning from the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF), where it had flown under serial number 53-672. The aircraft returned to the UK around 1986 with approximately 2,305 flight hours when British Aerospace supplied Tornado jets to the RSAF under the Al Yamamah agreement. The removal of this Lightning aircraft sparked local discontent.

Until November 2009, a Canberra PR.7 (WT537) also served as a gate guardian but was taken away for restoration at the now-defunct RAF Millom Aviation and Military Museum in Haverigg, Cumbria. In summer 2015, full-size plastic replicas of an F-35 Lightning II and an English Electric Lightning—moulded from the original plane—were installed as new gate guardians at the site.

Enterprise zone

Since February 2012, the aerodrome has been one of the two designated locations within the Lancashire Enterprise Zone, alongside BAE Systems' Warton Aerodrome.[19] The Samlesbury site spans an area of 74 hectares (180 acres).[20] Development of this site is managed collaboratively by BAE Systems, Lancashire County Council, and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership.[19]

Newly established roads within the zone have been named to honor notable figures in British aviation history, such as Roy Chadwick Way, Sir Frederick Page Way, and Petter Court.

National Cyber Force

In 2021, it was revealed[21] that the UK's National Cyber Force headquarters would be established at the aerodrome. By 2023, projections indicated that approximately 3,000 personnel would be stationed at this location.

Accidents and incidents

  • On 3 November 1947, a Vampire F.3 aircraft (VP732) experienced engine failure during takeoff and crashed while attempting a forced landing on farmland. The aircraft struck a dried pond bed and narrowly missed nearby trees. The EE test pilot, Johnny W. C. Squier, escaped unharmed and landed close to his residence adjacent to the airfield.[22] The plane, intended for delivery to the Royal Canadian Air Force as serial number 17043, was declared a total loss.[23]
  • On 7 May 1950, a Slingsby T.7 Kirby Cadet glider (TX.2 VM645) crashed during launch operations. The aircraft belonged to RAF 635 Glider School of the Air Training Corps and was written off after the incident. The sole pilot on board survived.[24]

Bibliography

  • Emslie, Keith, and Keith Clarke. Blackpool & Fiddlers. Bowland Forest Gliding Club, 2019. Available at: https://www.bfgc.co.uk/BFGC%20History.pdf (Accessed 31 January 2023). Archived version: https://web.archive.org/web/20230131172330/https://www.bfgc.co.uk/BFGC%20History.pdf (URL no longer active).
  • Ferguson, Aldon P. Lancashire Airfields in the Second World War. Newbury, UK: Countryside Books, 2004. ISBN 1-85306-873-X.
  • Longworth, James H. Test Flying in Lancashire from Samlesbury and Warton Aerodromes Volume 1: WW1 to the 1960s. Preston, Lancashire: BAE Systems, 2012. ISBN 978-0-9573755-0-5.
  • Longworth, James H. Test Flying in Lancashire from Samlesbury and Warton Aerodromes Volume 2: From the 1960s into the 1980s. Preston, Lancashire: BAE Systems, 2013. ISBN 978-0-9573755-1-2.

Template:Defunct airports in the United Kingdom Template:Borough of Ribble Valley buildings

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Smith
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Longworth
  3. ↑ Longworth
  4. ↑ Ransom & Fairclough
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Pooleys80
  6. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ↑ Longworth 2012, pp. 23, 27, 28.
  9. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  10. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Ferguson 2004, p. 181.
  12. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  13. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  14. ↑ Longworth 2013, p. 15.
  15. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  16. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  17. ↑ [1]
  18. ↑ [2]
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lt1
  20. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Lancashire_23Aug12
  21. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  22. ↑ Longworth 2012, p. 40.
  23. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  24. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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