Pilot reviews of Sandown Airfield

“visited Sandown on saturday a very freindly airfield with nice wide and flat runway and well maintained. cafe very clean and new looking with very pleasant staff. it was a lovely glear day and there are some great views as you fly in over the sea.This is an airfield that you must visit.”

“Visited Sandown a few weeks ago for my wife's first trip in the new [second] love of my life. Sandown staff very friendly, as ever. A call whilst downwind ensured that they had summoned a taxi which was ready by the time we'd chocked up and signed in.

A taxi into town and lunch on the beach was then followed by a very pleasant flight back to Old Sarum via the Needles.

The strip at Sandown is wide and flat, although rather prone to waterlogging in the winter. There is also a footpath that crosses it at more or less the centre point. An astonishing number of walkers seem to think that it works on the same principle as a zebra crossing. It's only a matter of time, I would have thought, before one of them causes an accident.

All in all, Sandown is an excellent little airfield and I thoroughly recommend a visit. I do hope that they get the restaurant rebuilt soon. It's a bit of an eyesore at the moment.

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“Flew into Sandown from Ireland for my first Spamfield. What a beautiful airfield and in a beautiful part of the world. Controllers dealth with well over two thousand movements over the weekend effortlessly. I will be back, hope the people responsible for burning down what must have been a wonderful club house have a very miserable existance.”

“Nice lilltle place. Made very welcome as they let us land, pitch our tents and park C172 overnight for £15. They even gave us use of a 5ft long BBQ to cook off. Morrisons superstore was only 2mins walk behind the airfield. Happy days!!!

Oh, and by they way, shame on you whoever it was that burnt down the cafe next door to the control tower....Why???

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“Flew in to Sandown on Tuesday this week.

Once again I was NOT disappointed.

Great airfield, great facilities, friendly and helpful staff.

Simon.

PS. Video of flight to Sandown and back to Elstree can be found here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbRGLtDH3Mk

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“With Antonietta and Ralphetino we take delight in the friendly place unfortunately the previous week 4 people killed there so we were more careful than usual on take off despite the bad news very friendly place nice food but Antonietta upset with the puddings asked for Italian quality and got his just deserts but Ralphetino finished both his puddings and those that were left by the rest of us!! well worth a visit and thank you Sandown ... ”

“I flew into Sandown on the 8th July from Andrewsfield in my Jabiru, flew along the coast from Newhaven to Selsea and then across to the IOW. The views were great. The ATC is brilliant, coping well with lots of traffic, the bacon bap and mug of tea was also great value. I really reccomend Sandown it is a great destination.”

“I love Sandown. Always made to feel extremely welcome. It's a great example of a destination that would cost a lot more, and take a lot longer to reach if you didn't fly. (Ferry etc).

ATC are very helpful and relaxed.

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“Visited Sandown yesterday, 2nd June 2007,for the sixth time this last year. This is a top destination as you get a great sense of achievement, having arrived somewhere which would normaly be imposiible to visit just for a day trip.

Instead of doing the usual trip to Shanklin to scoff cream teas I did a long walk for the day, around the circuit plus up into the Downs to the south of the field.

I thoroughly recommend this place, a first class visit.

”

“

Now that the new restaurant has been built this is a really good destination. The runway is a good length and in decent condition but you need to watch out for the displaced threshold and footpath on 05

Food is reasonably priced and the landing fees are good value, especially I have found if you want to bash out some touch and goes.

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“I went to sandown on Sunday 17-9-06 for lunch and enjoyed the food, weather and friendliness immensely. The food is good and cooked on the premises, not overly expensive and good value anyway.

Try it, the grass is usually in good nick, and at least you are overseas!

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“Wonderful. Did the second leg of my qualifying X-Country into IOW Sandown. I loved the "welcome to Sandown" on landing....

Smashing place and facilities. Bit of a wicked approach onto 23 in a x-wind, but worth the effort.

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“Sandown is a lovely airfield, and one that all GA pilots must try to visit.

The cafe was brilliant, although, we did not stay there, we paid a fiver to have a taxi into Sandown, and have lunch in the Ocean Deck restaurant by the sea. Fresh fish every day.

The landing fee was £10, and the fuel was £1.37. On Sunday's, they have live music, and a carvery at the airport, so well worth it for Sunday Lunch.

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“Visited Sandown on 2nd March. Diverted from Goodwood due to the [excellent] weather - wondered afterwards whether that should qualify for a free landing, decided not....

The field has a friendly and relaxed atmosphere (it was pretty much deserted mid-afternoon mid-week) and we were made welcome then left to enjoy ourselves.

With the footpath crossing the runway mentioned in AIP I spent too long looking for it. It's not too obvious from the air.

We didn't get to try the food at the restaurant so next time I'll go for rather than after lunch. However, the tea was good and hot.

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“I flew into Sandown 28th January 2006. Was a windy day and diverted from Bembridge. A/G very welcoming and helpful, excellent restaurant, saw a few adverts for functions which take place in the club house, and will keep my eye on the website!

Definitely a must go again!

”

“Took a Warrior into Sandown today, Definitely worth a visit. Nice clubhouse with friendly staff. Interesting selection of aircraft coming and going. Good food. Plenty of parking. Really easy to find and some great scenery around nearby. Runway was a bit soft and squidgy in places.”

“I flew into Sandown today. What a great place. A warm welcome, a nice new clubhouse and very easy procedures. £5 gets you a cab into town with Lake cabs.

We will definitely be re-visiting Sandown.

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“Flew into Sandown last week (PA28) easy to locate, great welcome, excellent food and service. I can recommend this airfield as a place to visit and take the opportunity to fly around the south of the island.”

“Visited Sandown this weekend.

First impressions on landing were, what a well turned out airfield. The runway, taxiways and parking areas all had immaculately mown grass. The new clubhouse was most impressive.

Lovely raised veranda to sit on and watch the airfield from. I did not partake of the food there but the bar was well stocked and the staff friendly and helpful.

£5 cab ride into Sandown with Lake Taxis "See Pooleys" for the number. Nice places to eat on the seafront (ask the cabbie for a recommendation) we went to a lobster place where the food was good and they seemed to have a very pleasing staff recruitment policy. All the female staff were VERY good looking which all went along to make the ambiance nice.

A walk around town and a few pounds in the amusements then back to the airfield.

On departure flew along the south of the island to the needles and then turned for home (EGTR).

All in all a very nice day.

It was a toss up between Bembridge and Sandown and, having been to Sandown, I can imagine that Bembridge is a nicer place to go. The only plus for Bembridge is the hard surface runway so if it is a soggy day then Bembridge may be the only option.

I can recommend Sandown to anyone. Well done the Sandown team. Keep it up!!

Simon

"You know you're flying a Cessna 172 when you get a bird strike from behind!!"

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“Extremely friendly airfield - especially to vintage aircraft. Would strongly recommend a visit. New bar and restaurant worth inspecting.”

“Excellent grass airfield with some interesting aircraft based there. New Aviator clubhouse/bar superb - worth supporting.”

“Landed at Bournemouth today on my solo cross country qualifying flight for my PPL. I was nervous about visiting a busy airport solo in controlled airspace on a Saturday morning but the air traffic controllers were so friendly and helpful that I can't wait to go there again. I also found the staff at Bournemouth Handling to be extremely helpful although the landing fee of £20.56 for a Cessna 150 was more than I've ever paid before. I'd like to say a big thank you to anyone reading this from Bournmouth ATC or Bournemouth Handling for making my solo qualifying flight so enjoyable. From Bournemouth I went on to Sandown, Isle of Wight where again the welcome could not have been better and the landing fee was only £10.”

“Went to Sandown Today to see the new restuarant. The decor is very nice, in fact so is the decking! But you pay for it, the food is very very pricey and very below average. A processed chicken burger £5.50, or how about £22 for a steak! All washed down with £10 to land. Take my advice, go to France!”

“Fly in a lot as it is just over the Solent for me, about 30 minutes flight in my microlight. Good site but beware the wind is always stronger on the IOW than the main land coast. £6 landing fee for microlight is a bit steep, haggle for £4 say its all you have, you can then get bacon roll with the money you saved. Their Radio frequency has changed recently so find it out before you set off. If you are flying a microlight don’t park near the fuel because the helicopters might blow your wing over. ”

“went to sandown nice and friendly £6 for PA28 R what a bargin good flying over the island and the famous needles cowes etc and then southamptons Zone. recommend it again as its an island and hard to get to by car its a good GA destination for a sence of achivement. ( i lived there for a year 89 to 90 worked at plessey radar cowes could take three hours to get off by car queing and crossing )

thanks guys nice place definate GA field.

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“Flew to Sandown for lunch on 9th Feb '04. Bacon butties are well worth having, and there is a very good menu in the cafe if you want something more substantial.
Due to the winter wet spell, the runway dimensions are restricted to 600m in length, and a width of 30m. These are clearly marked by black and white marker boards. Beware of sticky areas on the northern taxiway.
Very nice, friendly airfield, good facilities, and a popular destination(justifiably)on a nice day.”

“A lovely airfield. Very good A/G staff, friendly and accomodating. I go over quite often from Goodwood for a cuppa and a bacon butty (they really are good). An interesting variety of A/C based there too. Watch out for Bembridge when approaching from Portsmouth. Runway slope at threshold can be a bit deceptive, leading to some unusually long flares, but usually good landings (if a bit far down the runway) but not too rough.”

“Went to Sandown last weekend (July 03). A very nice flat grass strip with just a few bumps. Approaches are good although Sandown is very close on the deadside. At £8 for a 172, I thought it good value.

Sandown itself is a short taxi ride away but if you stay on the airfield, the bacon & egg sarnies are well worth trying.

I'll be going back soon.

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