Solent Airport - 4 November 2018

Solent Airport is my local airfield and I am proud to support it as an enthusiast although I have no commercial connection with any part of its operation.

The present day Solent Airport, owned by Fareham Borough Council and managed by Regional and City Airports, is on an historic site, the former RNAS Lee on Solent (HMS Daedalus). Weathering various threats to its future as an airfield, it has emerged as a developing GA location and a popular destination for visitors from across the UK and Europe. Significant among the regular operators are the AW189 helicopters of HM Coastguard and the Spitfires of Goodwood based Boultbee Flight Academy.

Political, commercial and enthusiast support has seen the development of welcoming facilities including a spacious car park, thoughtfully designed viewing area with a small play area for younger visitors and a well-run and popular café. For the visiting enthusiast, photography is particularly easy from the southern end of the airfield although caution is required away from the viewing area due to construction on other parts of the Daedalus site. To the north of the airfield, decent approach shots to 23 are possible with a long lens although this area also requires some caution during the early stages of construction of the Stubbington by-pass.

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