Flying at historic RAF Manston

A aerial view of RAF Manston taken by Luftwaffe planes in 1939

We’ve just added a new trial flying lesson activity which takes place at Kent International Airport near Folkestone. Whilst researching the new venue, we found out the airfield has a rather interesting history.

RAF Manston as the airport was previously known, has always played a high-profile military role in both war and peace time. During the First World War planes used a very precarious-sounding cliff top grass runway and as you might guess, this led to several accidents, so the landing strip was moved to farmland at Manston.

The base quickly became important due to its strategic positioning near just a mile from the coast. Being so close to the front line meant Manston was a prime target during WW2 and the area was heavily bombed. This closeness to mainland Europe also meant many damaged planes limped back across the Channel to land at Manston.

In fact, there are some very eye-opening aerial photos of RAF Manston during the Second World War which make the airfield look like a warbird scrap yard, with the runways and aprons littered with broken down and battle-damaged planes!

A USAF Sabre from 513th Fighter Interceptor Squadron which was based at RAF Manston, now Kent International Airport

You can also read about Barnes Wallis, who actually used RAF Manston to test his famous bouncing bombs before they were dispatched on the Dambusters missions.

The museum is a fascinating place to visit and is open all year round (www.rafmanston.co.uk), so if you book yourself a trial flying lesson at Manston, sorry, Kent International Airport, you can make it a full day out for all the family by visiting the RAF musuem and discovering the fascinating history of the airfield.