Breighton Airfield Webcam – Vintage Flying in Yorkshire

The Breighton Airfield Webcam looks out over a grass aerodrome in the East Riding of Yorkshire, where classic and vintage aircraft fly from the site of a Second World War bomber station. Three cameras share the player. The Clubhouse view takes in the clubhouse, the self-service fuel pumps and the open airfield beyond, the Apron camera looks across a paved apron and taxiway to a long row of hangars, and the third camera watches the windsock the operator labels Runway 10. The operator says its cameras point towards the runway thresholds and the windsock. On a quiet weekday the frame can hold nothing but grass and sky, while a dry, calm weekend can bring biplanes, light aircraft and visiting pilots taxiing in for fuel.

About Breighton Airfield

The airfield behind the Breighton Airfield Webcam sits in the south-west corner of the former RAF Breighton, about 10 kilometers (6.3 miles) north-east of Selby, at an elevation of just 6 meters (20 feet) on the flat land east of the River Derwent. Flying uses a single grass runway, 10/28, which is 802 meters (2,631 feet) long. The wartime concrete runways are no longer used but still show from the air, and one original T2 hangar, of three that once sheltered Halifax and Lancaster bombers under repair, stands north of the grass runway. Circuits are flown to the south at 305 meters (1,000 feet) to keep aircraft clear of Bubwith, Breighton and Wressle.

Construction began in 1941 and the station opened in January 1942 with 460 Squadron RAAF, an Australian unit that flew Wellingtons and later Lancasters before moving to RAF Binbrook in May 1943. No. 78 Squadron followed with Handley Page Halifax bombers, flying 6,017 bombing and 320 minelaying sorties and losing 182 aircraft before it left for Egypt in September 1945. From 1959 the base held three nuclear-armed Thor missiles under 240 Squadron, guarded by the Bloodhound missiles of 112 Squadron, and the RAF had gone by the mid 1960s. A memorial to both wartime squadrons stands on the airfield.

Tony “Taff” Smith founded the Real Aeroplane Company in 1989 to run his airstrip here, starting with a workshop, two hangars and four aeroplanes. The site now has thirteen hangars and more than forty resident aircraft, from a Miles Magister and a PT-22 to a 1936 Aeronca 100. Bucker Jungmeister and Jungmann biplanes have been built and flown at Breighton over the years, and the company’s rebuilt Hispano Buchon, a Spanish-built Messerschmitt 109, first flew in May 2006. The airfield is now run by the Real Aeroplane Charitable Organisation.

Weather and Climate in Breighton

This is low, flat country, and winters are cool and damp rather than harsh. Over the last ten years January has averaged highs of about 7 C (45 F) and lows near 2 C (36 F), and frosty mornings can leave the grass pale in the Windsock view. Spring warms slowly, with April highs around 12 C (54 F). Summer is mild, with July and August averaging about 21 C (70 F) by day and 13 C (55 F) at night, and long June evenings keep the Breighton Airfield Webcam in daylight well after the airfield’s 5 pm close.

Rain is spread through the year at roughly 45 to 80 millimeters (1.8 to 3.1 inches) a month, and October has been the wettest month in that recent record. Autumn highs run about 14 C (58 F) in October and 10 C (50 F) in November. In winter the operating day ends at sunset when that comes before 5 pm, so the flying window shrinks to the hours around midday. The flood meadows of the Lower Derwent Valley, just west of the airfield, can lie under water in a wet winter.

Things to Do Near Breighton

The closest outing is Wressle Castle, about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) south. It was built for Thomas Percy in the 1390s, slighted after a Parliamentarian garrison in the 1640s and gutted by fire in 1796, which left the south range and the remains of two towers. It is a Grade I listed ruin in private hands and usually opens to the public only a few days a year. In Bubwith, 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) north, the churchyard holds a memorial to 78 Squadron. The Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve follows the river from Elvington down to Wressle, flood meadows managed by Natural England and known for breeding and wintering birds.

For more aviation, the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington occupies another wartime bomber airfield about 14 kilometers (8.8 miles) north. Its collection includes a Halifax painted as “Friday the 13th”, a Victor K.2 tanker, a Tornado GR.4 and a Dakota. Selby Abbey, about 10 kilometers (6.4 miles) west, makes a good second stop in the market town. At the airfield itself, the Jeeves Kitchen cafe opens Thursday to Sunday, and visiting pilots can buy self-service 100LL and Jet A1 by card at any hour.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

More airfields, and another corner of Yorkshire, to watch next:

• Heathrow Airport Webcam
• Breda Airport Webcam
• Hawes Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Breighton Airfield located?

Breighton Airfield is in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, beside the village of Breighton and about 10 kilometers (6.3 miles) north-east of Selby, on the east side of the River Derwent. Its postal address is Selby YO8 6DS.

What can you see on the Breighton Airfield Webcam?

Three views. The Clubhouse camera shows the clubhouse, the fuel pumps and the airfield behind them, the Apron camera looks over a paved apron and taxiway towards the hangars, and the Windsock camera shows the Runway 10 windsock against a hedge line. Aircraft appear when they taxi, refuel or line up, which is most likely on dry, calm weekends.

What is the weather like in Breighton?

Mild and fairly damp. January averages about 7 C (45 F) by day and 2 C (36 F) at night, while July and August reach about 21 C (70 F). Rain falls in every month, typically 45 to 80 millimeters (1.8 to 3.1 inches).

What was RAF Breighton used for?

It was a Bomber Command station from January 1942, first for 460 Squadron RAAF and then for 78 Squadron’s Halifaxes, which lost 182 aircraft on operations. From 1959 it was a launch site for three Thor nuclear missiles until the RAF left in the mid 1960s.

Can you fly into Breighton Airfield?

Yes. Prior permission is not required and there is no landing fee, though donations are welcome. The runway is grass, 10/28 and 802 meters (2,631 feet) long, the radio frequency is 129.805 MHz, and circuits are flown to the south with no overhead joins. Normal hours are 9 am to 5 pm, or sunset if earlier in winter.

What aircraft are based at Breighton Airfield?

More than forty classic and vintage aircraft live in its thirteen hangars, including types such as the Miles Magister, the PT-22 and a 1936 Aeronca 100.

Is there a cafe at Breighton Airfield?

Yes. The Jeeves Kitchen cafe on the airfield opens Thursday to Sunday.

Source: Real Aeroplane Charitable Organisation