It’s Time To Scramble!

Published on 26 August 2009

The skies over North Weald will once again come alive to the sounds of the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Norwegian F16 Jet Fighters flying above the historic and still very active North Weald Airfield. It’s Time To Scramble! for the ‘Spirit of North Weald Fly-in and Community Day’ is on Sunday 13 September 2009.

The event is in support of the Royal Air Force Association’s 2009 Battle of Britain Wings Appeal and promises to be an enjoyable day with something to interest all the family. The gates will will open to the public and visiting aircraft at 9am and the entry price is £3, reduced to £2 for the under 12s and over 60s. A free bus service for pedestrians will run from outside the North Weald Airfield Museum in Hurricane Way, North Weald, Essex, CM16 6AA.

Download - It's Time To Scramble! leaflet (pdf 642 KB)

Visitors are invited to experience the sights and sounds of a wide variety of aircraft from bi-planes to supersonic fighters at close quarters and from 10am also enjoy the stalls, exhibitions, displays and children’s amusements.

The event, a Fly-in and not a formal Air Display, is being staged by The Squadron (North Weald flying services) and Epping Forest District Council, supported by North Weald Bassett Parish Council, Weald Aviation and users based at the Airfield as well as local community groups.

F16 Fighters from the 132 Wing Royal Norwegian Air Force will be flying in on Friday 11 September to commemorate the Norwegian Air Force's 65th Anniversary and celebrate their close bond with the North Weald community. Norwegian Air Force veterans who flew Spitfires from North Weald in WW2 along with the Mayor and community representatives from the Norwegian city of Bodo will be attending.

One of the highlights of the weekend will be at 3pm when the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will fly past in salute as the Norwegian F16 jets take off and fly-by at the start of their journey back to Bodo Air Base in Norway.

Aircraft on Show

A wide selection of veteran aircraft representative of the Airfield's long and epic past will be parked alongside the Community Area, together with a wide variety of home based and visiting aircraft, including the Norwegian F16 Fighters.

Other aircraft on show include:

• The world’s only flying Hawker Hurricane Fighter Bomber, the latest aircraft to join the renowned Hangar 11 Collection of WW2 aircraft such as Spitfire, Mustang and Kittyhawk fighters
• An RAF Tucano trainer from the Royal Air Force 72 [R] Squadron. This aircraft is used to train fast jet pilots, recently Prince William
• Herts Air Ambulance helicopter
• A selection of North Weald based veteran jets such as the RAF’s Jet Provost, Vampire and 2 Gnats (as used by the famous Red Arrows) will be displayed on the Weald Aviation flight line
• Also on show will be former cold war aircraft like the Soviet Mig 17 and Delfin, as well as the US Sky Raider, Huey Helicopter and 2 huge Skymaster transports

All aircraft are subject to operational requirements and weather conditions.

In the Community Area


• Children’s rides, bouncy castles, refreshments and a bar
• Epping Forest District Council Services, including displays from the Epping Forest District Museum in Waltham Abbey, Countrycare, Recycling and Waste and Emergency Planning Services
• Essex County Fire and Rescue Service with appliances from Epping and Ongar, plus a display by the Airfield’s volunteer rescue service
• Essex Ambulance Service
• Metropolitan Police helicopter from Lippitts Hill
• Essex Police helicopter
• North Weald Bassett Parish Council Community stalls and displays, with a Symbolic Bonding presentation to the Norwegian visitors at 1pm
• RAFA Battle of Britain Wings Appeal display
• North Weald Airfield Museum
• Vintage cars
• WW2 Re-enactment group

Unfortunately due to the nature of this event we cannot allow dogs, except Guide Dogs, onto the airfield on Sunday 13 September 2009.

A Note To Pilots

Please fly in and visit our Airfield to help raise funds for the RAFA’s 2009 Battle of Britain Wings Appeal. There will be no landing fees for visiting aircraft but PPR is essential. North Weald Airfield will be open to visiting aircraft from 9am to 7pm but no movements will be allowed during the F16’s departure and Battle of Britain Flight fly-by.

Telephone the Airfield on 01992 524510 for a slot time and briefing.

A ceremony for the dedication of the new Hawker Hurricane Gate Guardian at North Weald Airfield took place earlier in the year. View the news release below.

• Veterans Return For Airfield Gate Guardian Dedication

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