ARRETON DOWN:Proposed site for Norman Aeroplane Co.premises in 80s.Not built,company used Sandown instead. Also there are reports that crop sprayers operated from "Arreton Manor" during the 70/80s
BEMBRIDGE:Harbour Farm:There is a private airstrip here-located just north of Bembridge Airport,in use 2002.out of use by April 2003
BINSTEAD:There is a private airstrip reported to be at approx 50 43 02N/01 21 54W,about 1 mile SE of Fishbourne,at Puck House Farm.Runway 18/36 Grass
BLACKWATER:In 1975 there was a private airstrip located near the junction of the A3026 and A3056,south of Newport.No further details known.
BRIGHSTONE(Approx 50 38N/01 24W) In 1993 a private strip was in use here.
CLIFF END: There are unconfirmed reports of RAF use of a site here between May and November 1918.
COWES MARINA:Helipad.
COWES Heliport: at Crossfield Avenue 50º45.88N/001º18.48W-for Regatta only - on the High School Playing Fields..
EAST COWES: EAST MEDINA AERODROME: In 1917/18 Saunders produced approximately 200 Avro 504 aircraft under licence. Many were flown out of the factory at Whippingham Road using a 40 acre site adjacent to the Folly Sheds works.
EAST COWES:Westlands have a helipad on the apron outside their hangar on the riverbank at 50 45 36N/01 17 22W
EAST COWES:There is believed to be some kind of Microlight strip .5 mile ESE of East Cowes or about .75 mile NW of Newnhams Farm.This is probably the same place as"Osborne Bay" a microlight landing site referred to in several Microlight directories as being at N50.44.83/W01.14.50(info via R Ward)
FRESHWATER Fruit Farm: there is reported to be a private strip in use here(2003),runway N-S approx 250 metres.Used by a microlight.Operated by John Craddock.
GOLDEN HILL FORT ,Totland:In February 1913 it was reported that the Government intended to establish a naval aviation centre on the western side of the Isle of Wight, near Golden Hill Fort.Nothing came of this intention.
LITTLE ATHERFIELD Farm: there is reported to be a private strip in use here(June 2005),runway E-W Approx Grid Ref 465800.
NEEDLES LIGHTHOUSE:50.39.70N/01.35.42W: A Helipad was built on top of lighthouse( now unmanned)in 1987.
NEWPORT/FOREST ROAD :N50:42:12 W1:20:17 //SZ468895: There was apparently some kind of airstrip here in WW2 - site now occupied by Snow's Garage..
NEWPORT/FOREST ROAD/KITBRIDGE FARM :N50:42:12 W1:18://SZ486895: There was a cropsprayers strip here in the 1960s.
NEWTON BAY:A decoy airfield("Q" site) was set up in this area during WW2.No details of it's exact location,or for how long it existed,are available at this time.
NO MANS LAND FORT:50° 44’40 N/1° 05’70 W: There are two helipads on this Fort in the Solent.The fort which has been converted into a luxury hotel/conference centre is for sale on the Internet at a price variously quoted as between £7,000,000 and £10,000,000.
PORCHFIELD:In 1979 there was a private strip near Porchfield at (approx) 50 43 17N/01 22 15W.At this time I have no further information as to how long the strip was operational or its precise location.
The PRIORY BAY HOTEL located about 2 miles north of Bembridge has a helipad for the use of guests.The pad is at 50' 42.33" North, 01' 06.09" West .
RYDE:Hospital Helipad
SEAVIEW:In May 1920 The Brompton Motor Company commenced used the sands between Seaview & Ryde as an aerodrome for Joy riding flights(Left hand picture below shows two aircraft at Seaview).August 29th 1928 Juan De la Cierva flew to Seaview in Cierva C8L G-EBYY, landing on the sands.(Right hand image below)
The SWAINSTON MANOR HOTEL at Calbourne has a helipad for use by guests(N50:40:54 W1:22:27)
THORNESS BAY There is a private strip here at approx 50 44 17N/01 21 54 W
VENTNOR:In 1911 there was a "Flying Ground " at Ventnor.Possibly the first use of it was on the 11th July when two "Bristol " machines arrived from Shoreham.After a stay of 3 days during which some exhibition flights were made the aircraft departed on the 14th.
During "Ventnor Week"(14th- 19th August)there was more flying activity.Two Bristol machines piloted by Mr Pizey and Mr Gordon-England came from Salisbury Plain - however Mr Gordon-England crashed 3 miles from Newport(without injury).Another arrival was Mr Valentine in a Deperdussin Monoplane who flew from Dean Farm on the Whitwell Road.At some time during this summer Mr Pizey (an instructor at the Bristol School on Salisbury Plain)apparently had some kind of mishap at Ventnor whilst flying Bristol TB8 No.43(subsequently rebuilt at Filton)
VENTNOR TOWERS HOTEL,Madiera Rd Ventnor has a helipad for the convenience of guests
WEST COWES:During Cowes Week a heliport operates just southwest of Cowes High School at 50 45 47N/01 18 39W
WHITWELL:There has been a a private strip here since 1987. Operated by Chris Marsh- who tells me the strip - originally 290 metres is now 400 metres(April 2007).
YARMOUTH:In 1975 a Mr H M Kendall operated a private airstrip about 1.5 miles east of Yarmouth( on the north side of the A3054 ).Nothing further known .
YAFFORD HOUSE:SZ451815: A private strip is reported to be in use here(2003)- runway NE-SW.Operated by Chris Bland who is the Lord Lieutenant of the Island
UNKNOWN LOCATION - ISLE OF WIGHT::In September 1905 Dr F Alex Barton and Mr L F Rawson built and tested a "Hydro-aeroplane" of very unusual design.Image below shows the machine being removed from the water on Sept 26th.
