Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground (test site), Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire

Details

Accessibility

Brief description

https://web.archive.org/web/20140123084732/http://www.bruntingthorpeaviation.com/the-aircraft/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruntingthorpe_Aerodrome

2025: "Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome and Proving Ground is a privately owned former airport near the village of Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire 11 miles (18 km) to the south of Leicester. It was opened as RAF Bruntingthorpe in 1942. 

The aerodrome was originally RAF Bruntingthorpe and hosted both the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force during its life. In 1973 it was sold to Chrysler Motor Corporation, which used it as a vehicle proving ground. In August 1983 it was purchased by C Walton Ltd and it continued in use as a vehicle proving ground and also provided facilities for historic aircraft storage and maintenance, air shows, corporate hospitality, exhibition space, location filming, motorcycle design and development, and vehicle storage and auctions. In 2020 it was sold to Cox Automotive for vehicle storage and auctions, with a part retained by the Walton family for aircraft activities.

The site can accommodate about 25,000 vehicles, parked on the former runway and taxi areas.

One Cold War-era hangar formerly housed the Manheim Bruntingthorpe Car Auction Centre.[1]

Royal Enfield Motorcycles have established their Worldwide Technology Centre at Bruntingthorpe.

The most notable aircraft at the aerodrome was the Avro Vulcan XH558, which was restored to airworthy condition over eight years at a cost of about GBP 6,000,000. Its first flight was from Bruntingthorpe on 18 October 2007. The Vulcan left Bruntingthorpe at the beginning of the 2008 flying display season, was temporarily based at RAF Brize Norton as a flying base, and RAF Lyneham as its winter maintenance base. It is now grounded and based at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, Doncaster, formerly RAF Finningley 'V Bomber' base.

Bruntingthorpe houses the Cold War Jets Collection aircraft museum on the edge of the site, although due a reduction in space some aircraft have now been moved to other locations such as the South Wales Aviation Museum.

Vickers VC10 C1K XR808 "Bob" arrived at Bruntingthorpe on 29 July 2013 after retirement from the RAF and has now moved to RAF Cosford to join their museum.

In March 2013, six of the former nine RAF Lockheed TriStars were flown to the aerodrome to be stored, but have since been scrapped.

The last VC-10 to fly (ZA147) was flown to the aerodrome to be stored, but has since been scrapped."

Address

Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome, Bath Lane, Lutterworth LE17 5QS

+ Bruntingthorpe

Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground

Lutterworth, Leicestershire LE17 5QS

Email

Phone

Website

https://www.trackdays.co.uk/tracks/bruntingthorpe

Directions

Opening Times

Always check with the venue directly for up-to-date information including opening times and admission charges as they may be subject to change

Transport

Amenities