- Flying Legends a huge successSaturday 15th and Sunday 16th July 2023 saw the famous Flying Legends airshow move to Church Fenton having left its previous home of Duxford. Organised by The Fighter Collection, it saw a plethora of warbirds …
- The Flying Legends are ready to go!Excitement is building at Church Fenton ahead of Flying Legends this weekend! Below can be seen the line up as of Friday 14th July, ready for the displays.
- Flying Legends to move to Church Fenton!It has been announced today, 21st February 2023 that Flying Legends, the renowned warbird airshow is to be held at Leeds East Airport on 15th / 16th July. The skies over Church Fenton will once …
- Sea Harrier taxy run to commemorate 40th Anniversary of the Falklands WarOn 2nd April 2022, to mark the 40th Anniversary of the start of the Falklands War, Jet Art Aviation carried out a taxy run of their magnificent Sea Harrier FA2 ZH798 around the airfield at …
- Private Flyer Show held at Leeds East again in 2022Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd July saw a return of the Private Flyer trade show to Leeds East Airport. Better weather than 2021 ensured a larger turnout of visiting aircraft. A number of photos from …
- Spitfire flights from Church Fenton, w/c 6th Sep 21A 2-seat Spitfire TR9 will be based at Church Fenton during the week of 6th Sep 2021, offering experience flights of varying lengths. For full details see https://www.spitfires.com/leeds. Operated by Spitfires.com, formerly Boultbee Flight Academy, …
- Private Flyer show held at LEA for the first timeFriday 6th August 2021 saw the inaugural Private Flyer trade show to be held at Church Fenton. The event was well attended by manufacturers and a large number of visitors by car. Unfortunately the weather …
- Summer fly-in 2021Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th July 2021 saw Leeds East’s inaugural summer charity fly-in be held. Due to a poor long-range weather forecast (which turned out to be completely wrong – never believe the Met …
- Private Flyer show to be held at Church FentonAn aviation trade show is to be held at Church Fenton on 6th August 2021. The Private Flyer show brings together the latest products, services and aircraft for demonstrations. More information can be found at …
- Two day fly-in announced for summer 2021Leeds East Airport are to be holding a fly-in on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th July 2021, for full details see the poster below.
- New training organisation arrives at Church FentonContinuing Church Fenton’s long history of pilot training, Aware Aviation have recently moved in to Church Fenton. Aware Aviation offer pilot training alongside aircraft sales, services and management. Their website can be viewed at https://www.aware.aero.
- New resident Sea Harrier FA2 arrivesOn Tuesday 2nd February 2021, Sea Harrier FA2 ZH798 arrived at its new home of Church Fenton. It has been bought from the MoD by a private owner and has been transported from RNAS Culdrose. …
- Derelict domestic site being demolishedThe derelict domestic site – abandoned since 1992 and not owned by the airfield owners – is now being demolished. The site has planning permission for over 100 houses, in a development named “Poppy Fields”. …
- Leeds East Airport – the first 6 yearsDave Butler, Church Fenton resident and keen photographer has been chronicling the many and varied visitors to Leeds East Airport since it opened in early 2015. The gallery below summarises the rich variety of aircraft …
- September 2020 Leeds East Airport updateOn 12th September 2020, Leeds East Airport held a small socially-distanced ceremony to unveil a new memorial to all who have served at CF over the years. The memorial is built on the site where …
- End of 2017 Leeds East Airport news updateAt the end of 2017, Leeds East Airport appears to be getting slightly busier, albeit the proposed VIP flights appear to have been “canned”. There are a good number of based aircraft, all within 3 …
- Leeds East Airport gains licence and ATZIn September 2016, Leeds East Airport became a CAA licenced airfield (EGCM), along with gaining an ATZ. It was also announced that “VIP” charter flights would begin operating to Cannes, Faro and Malaga from May …
- “Fighting Church Fenton” book updated and re-releasedDavid Mason, son of the late Peter Mason who during the late 1980s wrote the book “Fighting Church Fenton” has completely revised and updated the original book. The new book has many more photographs, and …
- CAA licencing and ATZ move closer for Leeds East AirportRecently, much work has been going on at Leeds East in preparation for formal licencing of the airfield. Leeds East’s new ICAO designator is EGCM, and the airfield will soon be appearing in the UK …
- Leeds East Airport new-year fly-in 2016As last year, Leeds East Airport will be holding a new year fly-in on Sunday 10th January 2016. For more details, please see the website http://www.leedseastairport.co.uk/news/flyin/
- News round-up November 2015On Saturday 26th September 2015, Church Fenton’s first airshow for 21 years was held, and was a great success. A fantastic flying display, including a number of cold-war jets, helicopters and no less than three …
- News round-up August 2015Since Church Fenton changed hands in December 2014, much has changed (for the better!). A quick summary can be seen below: A return of airshows to Church Fenton has been announced – the first “Great …
- Church Fenton now known as “Leeds East Airport”The first three months of 2015 have seen a hive of activity at Church Fenton. The airfield has now been renamed Leeds East Airport, and the site has seen a number of tasks carried out …
- Church Fenton in the mediaChurch Fenton airfield’s new ownership has made it in to local media recently, see the following links: Youtube video of revival fly-in York Press article on the revival fly-in BBC news article on the re-opening …
- Church Fenton revival fly in is a great successOn Sunday 4th January 2015 the first event of Church Fenton’s new life as a civilian airfield took place; the so-called “Revival Fly-in”. Perfect weather in the North of England led to a turn out …
- Future looking positive – Revival Fly-In to be heldThe identity of the successful bidder for RAF Church Fenton has now been made public; he is a pilot who intends to keep Church Fenton airfield operational. To celebrate the handover from the MoD to …
- Church Fenton airfield soldFollowing the formal tender process mentioned previously, it is understood that Church Fenton airfield has now been sold. The identity of the buyer has not been formally announced as yet, however I am hopeful that …
- RAF Church Fenton for saleRAF Church Fenton is now up for sale by formal tender, the closing date for bids being Friday 31st October 2014. For further details see the agent’s website
- Photographic survey of RAF Church Fenton now availableLeading aviation historian Aldon Ferguson has recently completed and published a photographic survey of Church Fenton. The survey contains a brief history; full schedule of RAF units operating from here; Building Schedule including use, NGR, …
- RAF Church Fenton joins the list of ex-RAF stationsDuring the week of 16th – 20th December 2013, the last aircraft vacated RAF Church Fenton for their new home at RAF Linton-on-Ouse. There had been planned a march through the village by the resident …
- RAF Church Fenton to close by the end of 2013On Monday 25th March, it was announced that RAF Church Fenton is to close by the end of 2013. This sad, but not wholly unexpected news, will lead to the end of the 86 year …
- A Day Above YorkshireEx-RAF pilot John Nowell has recently released a new book entitled “A Day Above Yorkshire”. This innovative photographic book takes you on a guided tour around Yorkshire, often viewed from the air and with a …
- 85(R) Sqn disbandsDue to cuts to RAF basic training as a result of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, 85(R) Sqn (part of Number 1 Elementary Flying Training School) were disbanded in August 2011. No Elementary Flying …
- Yorkshire UAS Friends and Families day 2011
- Avro Vulcan XH558 practice display at RAF Church FentonOn Tuesday 26th April 2011 I was lucky enough to be working from home when Avro Vulcan XH558 turned up un-announced and carried out two practice displays over RAF Church Fenton. This was the first …
- Visit to RAF Church Fenton by the authorI was recently very privileged to be invited by Group Captain Terry Jones, RAF Linton-on-Ouse station commander, to visit RAF Church Fenton for a guided tour. The day also included a flight in one of Church …
- 2434 Sqn open day a great successOn Saturday 26th September 2009, 2434 (Church Fenton) Squadron ATC held a very successful open / families day at Church Fenton in aid of Help For Heroes. Approx 25 aircraft visited, in weather which couldn’t …
- Spitfire BM597 re-visits its old homeOn Saturday, 5th September 2009, ex-Church Fenton gate guardian Spitfire Vb BM597 night-stopped at Church Fenton after performing at the proms in the park event at Harewood House. Some photos of BM597 ‘back home’ can …
- Memorial service held for Church Fenton airmenSunday 29th April 2007 saw a plaque dedication and memorial service being held at Thorp Arch Church, near Wetherby, for two Church Fenton based airmen who lost their lives as a result of enemy action …
- RAF Church Fenton stars in “The Royal”Anyone with Church Fenton connections who was watching “The Royal” on ITV on Sunday 1st April 2007 may well have recognised the location – it was no less than the ‘pan’ at Church Fenton. Starring …
- RAF Church Fenton now part of 22 (Training) GroupOn 30 October 2006, Church Fenton became part of 22 (Training) Group, when the Training Group Defence Agency was renamed. It was decided that use of a dormant Group number plate, that of 22 Group, …
- RAF Church Fenton Families Day 2006The RAF Church Fenton families day 2006 was held on Friday 30th June 2006. The flying display consisted of displays / flypasts by no less than 14 different RAF types – not bad for a …
- Dakota given some TLC at Church FentonC-47A Dakota N473DC recently flew in to RAF Church Fenton for some well-deserved TLC. Locally-based owner Paddy Green approached RAF Linton-on-Ouse to hire some hangar space at Church Fenton, and with 3 Hangar currently being …
- Major changes to University Air Squadron structure and RAF Elementary Flying TrainingOn 21st September 2005, it was announced by Defence Minister Don Touhig that there is to be a major shake-up in the way that RAF Elementary Flying Training (EFT) is organised. Currently, all University Air …
- Yorkshire UAS families day 2005The YUAS families day 2005 was held on Friday 1st July 2005. As last year, the weather was once again fantastic (my sunburn bears testament to this!). Aircraft in the flying display included Tucano, Tornado …
- Yorkshire UAS to again provide Tutor displayYorkshire Universities Air Squadron, based here at Church Fenton, are to supply the Tutor display for 2005, as in 2004. Hopefully there will be no problems with props this year, as there were last year, …
- Yorkshire UAS families day sees numerous displaysFriday 25th June 2004 saw Yorkshire UAS hold a families day at Church Fenton, quite possibly their best to date. Even the weather was kind! A mini fly-in was organised, with numerous civilian aircraft dropping …
- Yorkshire UAS to provide RAF Tutor display for the 2004 seasonThis year’s RAF Grob Tutor aerobatics display will be provided by Flight Lieutenant Chris Parkinson, a pilot with Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron, based at Church Fenton. Flt Lt Parkinson recently won the Wright Jubilee Trophy …
- Ex-Church Fenton station commander passes awayThe sad news of the death of Group Captain ‘Bill’ Sise has recently been announced. Gp Capt Sise was the station commander at Church Fenton at the time of its transition from fighter station to …
- JEFTS Fireflies complete final training sortieTuesday 24th June 2003 was a sad day for JEFTS Church Fenton, as it marked the final training sortie carried out by the unit. The aircraft will be returned to Barkston Heath shortly afterwards. This …
- Base to stay openAfter an MOD review of University Air Squadron training, the Defence Minister Adam Ingram has written to Selby MP John Grogan confirming that RAF Church Fenton is to stay open, and in the future may …
- 72 Squadron re-forming72 Squadron, most recently flying Wessex at RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland, is to become the new name for 1 Squadron of 1FTS, based at CF’s parent station, nearby RAF Linton-on-Ouse. 72 Squadron was of …
- JEFTS operation to end in 2003The RAF element of JEFTS is to cease to be in July 2003, bringing to an end what will have been a 5 year stay at Church Fenton. The reason behind the move is that …
- Developments at CFRecently, the new precision approach radar has been installed. Also, there are now a number of floodlights around the new bowser park. As JEFTS are leaving the base in 2003, the new fire station / …
- RAF Dakota spends a few weeks “up North”On Friday 14th September 2001, the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight’s Dakota ZA947 arrived at Church Fenton with an engine problem. The aircraft arrived at about 5pm on the evening the 14th, making its’ way …
- Canadian Air Force CP-140 pays a visitOn Monday 3 September, a Canadian Air Force CP-140 flew through Church Fenton. The aircraft did an ILS approach, then out and towards Pocklington, where it overflew the old RAF base as there was a …
- ex-ATC buildings are no moreThe old asbestos Air Training Corps buildings next to the main road through the base have been completely demolished, although I don’t know of any plans to develop the site.
- 4 Hangar is no more…In the week commencing 6th August 2001, there was a demolition team working on no 4 Hangar.
"With speed to the mark"