Beach Airstrips

Pembrey and the Atlas covered here:

www.airforce-technology.com/news/raf-a400m-atlas-beach-landing/

Quote: "The British Royal Air Force’s (RAF) A400M Atlas aircraft has carried out beach landing trials on Pembrey Sands beach in southern Wales.

The trials were conducted for the first time and involved 206 Squadron members and engineers front-line squadron LXX based at RAF Brize Norton.

During the trials, the Airbus-built turboprop military transport aircraft performed take-off, landing and taxiing manoeuvres. The test proved the aircraft’s tactical capabilities on a range of surfaces, including natural surfaces.

In addition, it allowed the military aircrew to practice and hone their skills in flying the tactical airlifter.

206 Squadron pilot flight lieutenant Cheng said: “The advanced flight deck of the A400M and cutting-edge fly by wire controls made this task easier to fly than other platforms. We are now looking forward to the challenge of conducting this operation using night vision goggles later in the trial.”

Saunton Sands again in 2006. Links to the original are no longer working.

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:C-130_Mk...ip._MOD_45151000.jpg

Several others have been used in the past, particularly for Air Ambulances.

Askernish
Breachacha Sands
Bowmore Sands


I presume they used the bay here
www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72157648858263496

I am sure I have read that the RAF used the large bay North West of Leverburgh in WWII.

Also Southport and Hesketh Sands, the former is still used I think or until recent decades anyway.

If you mean Chivenor, it is marked, but in a very faded colour - possibly a product of the monochrome microfilming process.

I know from experience in the seventies, that some colours fail to register unless you fork out for colour stock!

My initial focus was on the beaches being used by Hercules & A400 training and testing , ie Saunton and Pembrey ( I think Pendine is not used?) but there have been many instances of Pleasure Flights and Aerial Joy RIdes using beaches particularly in the 1920s ( Avro 504 and DH9, etc) and in the mid 1950s (Auster and Hornet Moth among others), thinking in particular of Skegness and Cleethorpes beaches in Lincolnshire

In addition Record attempts originated from beaches, for instance the Lochheed Electra from Ainsdale Beach
www.airfieldresearchgroup.org.uk/forum/l...out-sculpture#136050

and
www.airfieldresearchgroup.org.uk/forum/l...out-sculpture#136050