Popham airfield autojumble, classic vehicle rally & fly-in 4th May 09

[Manky Monkey]

Pretty much as it says in the title. Classic cars & bikes, a large autojumble, plus light aircraft regularly landing & taking off on the airstrip. An interesting day out for anyone auto minded.

Public entrance £5.00 per adult, OAP £3.00, children under 12 free.

The airfield lies directly on the north side of the A303 dual carriageway which runs roughly east-west about ten miles south west of Basingstoke in Hampshire.

From Basingstoke - take the M3 southbound.  At Junction 8, turn off on the A303 towards Andover and the South West.  Climb the hill on the dual carriageway and as you pass Popham Services (Little Chef & BP on left side, Little Chef & Esso on right side) you should be able to see the big orange airfield windsock on the other side of the dual carriageway.  Continue to about 1/2 mile and take the next exit left signed Micheldever Station & Overton.  Drop down to the bottom, turn right under the A303 bridge, turn immediately right again as if rejoining the A303 towards Basingstoke.  This is a two-way slip road and the airfield entrance brick and iron gates at the top of the rise on your left just 100 meters before you rejoin the A303.

From Andover - Take the A303 eastbound.  Note when you cross the junction of the A34 (Bullington Cross) and stay on the A303.  Discount one very small road on the left (to Norton), continue to the second main exit marked with countdown boards, signed Micheldever Station AND Overton.  Drop down the slip road, and at the end go straight on as as if rejoining the
A303 towards Basingstoke (this requires a little wiggle right and left) but the slip road is now signposted Popham Airfield. You will see the brick and iron gates of the airfield on the left, just 100 metres before rejoining the A303.

From Newbury - Travel south on the A34.  Pass Whitchurch.  Turn left on the A303 eastbound towards Basingstoke (Bullington Cross).  Follow latter part of Andover direction as above.

From Winchester - Take the A34 northbound.  Turn right on the A303 eastbound towards Basingstoke (Bullington Cross).  Follow latter part of Andover direction as above. 

Sat Nav SO21 3BD

[Manky Monkey]

Good to see everyone at the airfield today -Rick & JJ, Lunatic & PD, Janie & Dave, Jacko, Keith, hotrod Toad, Bear, Harley Bob, blah, blah, blah.
A very busy day. I was so glad I took the bike as I cruised past the stationary queue of classics waiting to get off the slip road of the A303 to the airfield. Some beautiful cars, quite a few rods & classic Yanks & plenty of bikes. Also a fascinating field of vintage aircraft. I've been to Popham plenty of times before & there's always been a huge bi-plane sat in the corner of the field. It's billed as the World's largest single engined bi-plane. For a donation to charity you can climb aboard & take a look around. I didn't think it actually ran, but today I witnessed it not only fire up but trundle down the grass airstrip & lumber into the sky. Something that big & that slow revving really shouldn't be able to stay aloft! Amazing.
Also a low level fly past & steeply banking climb by what I think was a World War 2 Mustang, though I'm sure I'll be corrected. A stunning machine whatever it was & too damn fast for me to snap. 
A great show with a really nice, enthusiastic atmosphere.
Photos online here:

Popham classic vehicle rally & fly in