The Abandoned Airport You've Probably Never Heard Of: Sheffield City Airport
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
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I took a walk around an abandoned airport in Sheffield to see what remains of it today, and was surprised with what I found.
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Make no mistake Sheffield City Airport did not fail because of its size. It’s runway was bigger that London City. It failed because Peel Airport made it fail as they did a back handed with Sheffield Council to buy the land for £1 with the agreement that if the airport failed they could make it into a business park. They did this bought Finningly made it Doncaster Robin Hood and sold the lot. What they did was criminal absolutely criminal!
yeah, they are a bunch of crooks. However, lots of errors in this report.......
I too thought it sounded suspicious, developers always are. Like making a golf course out of green belt as a step to a more commercial/profitable use.
and yet people still vote for the shower in charge today....just like Don Valley Stadium,Woodhead line the list could go on.
It's testament to the lack of foresight and abilities of the city fathers who perennially run Sheffield City Council. All too often ideas, projects and developments have been no more than an 'artist's impression' on the front page of the Sheffield Star, before becoming yet another unrealised dream. Cities all around Sheffield seemingly forge ahead with their ideas to a finished realisation, leaving England's fourth largest city trailing ever distant. We are the largest city in Europe without an airport - and also a TV station if it comes to that. When it comes to projects outside London, nowhere outside of the 'holy trinity' of Birmingham, Leeds or Manchester are considered. Sheffield truly is THE largest village in the world. Many years back - even as far as the 20's - the idea of Sheffield having an airport has been proposed, a site at Todwick was considered. And I remember it being mooted sometime ago, that had an airport been built when it was first considered, it would be bigger than Manchester Airport now, who knows.... One thing I do know - and I say this as a Sheffielder born and bred - the only way SCC could link themselves to an airport, is to hang on to Doncaster's coat tails and try and claim the illusion and kudos of being an 'airport city', much to the chagrin - I imagine - of the good burghers of Doncaster. In my opinion Robin Hood DSA has nothing to do with Sheffield, and everything to do with Doncaster. It's their airport. Still, at least we can console ourselves that each and every one of us in Sheffield, has five trees each.
And they’re doing it again with Doncaster.
I've lived in Sheffield for nearly 40 years, and I was surprised when the airport was announced. At first it sounded exciting, but then I read about the restrictions that would apply and it was obvious (to me) that it would never be successful. There's no real tradition of aviation in Sheffield, and I think you need that to support a successful airport. Manchester and Leeds Bradford both have some history going back to the 1930s, and I think that was a help in building them up in recent decades. Sheffield City Airport was just someone's bright idea which, like a lot of bright ideas, had some fundamental problems.
Now that Sheffield Doncaster airport is closing do you still think it would've been unviable as Sheffield's only airport?
Sheffield one had like 7 small airports, mostly used by RAF or private owners in the 60's.
It would be great if you could do a video on Doncaster Sheffield Airport. As you will be aware Peel Holdings are closing it down at the end of October 2022 and doing exactly the same in Doncaster if no one stops them.
Yeah I live in Doncaster
Blackpool too. They just run them down for hoising redevelopment...needs to be stopped as we are losing our infrastructure just look what happened to the railways in the 60's 😢
The same thing happened to Ellyson Field, Pensacola Naval Air Station, where my dad trained radio operators during WWII. I visited 5 years ago, the control tower still stands, the hangars are factories, the barracks are offices. After over 70 years, you can still tell what the runways and taxiways were.
Flip I remember when Sheffield city airport opened. BA operated flights from Belfast on a JS41. Your right, it was just at the time that low cost air travel was starting to take off, with EasyJet and Ryanair beginning to make their mark. The runway length was always going to be an issue though. I would love to go and the remains of it. I’m sure it’s strange seeing the older terminal and control tower. ✈️
I live in New York and there's an airport close to me called Stewart International Airport the unfortunately seems to be heading this way. Not because of expansion issues, it has a REALLY long runway, but due to the pandemic and the fact some airlines have pulled out from Stewart. It used to have a flight to Fort Lauderdale Florida with jetblue that my family would use all the time to visit my grandparents who lived there, but jetblue pulled out. So, if you want to see Stewart, I recommend going now because I fear it wont be around for too much longer.
Yes Sheffield City airport ran for a short period of time but the main issue was its runway length, it was only just long enough for the best performing turbo props to operate in and out. With most other local airports like leeds/bradford offering both domestic and European flights shef city Airport was just not sustainable. Good job the piano keys and touchdown area on shef city airports runway 28 is at the very start with a runway of just 1200metres!
it's always sad to see an abandoned airport. I live near Manston in Kent and the airport has been closed for years but happily it maybe re opening for cargo to start with then passengers later. It has a large runway and plenty of land for expansion. Great video as always.
Such a sad loss for the city! So happy to see someone talking about this airport :D
The runway was far too small for most regional operators. You couldn't get a load 737 in or out.
I love this stuff. I grew up in East Anglia and kept falling over WW2 airfields! Now I live near a car factory, aka RAF Usworth
Derby Burnaston airfield became a Toyota factory
RAF Usworth became a Nissan factory
RAF Swindon became a Honda factory
I see a pattern !
Great video and nice to see a different format on the channel! Even better to see you in my homestead! I do remember sheffield having an airport but never thought too much of it. Like i think it was mostly for business travellers. So really good to see the story of it and what it looked like and does now. as I never ended up going anywhere near it
My former local airport I got the change to go into one of the offices there these days looks now nothing like an airport inside apart from a coffee shop that I think was there when the airport was alive , great video Noel!
I used to live in Sheffield. Within an hour or so you had Manchester, Leeds and East Midlands all established. Sheffield City was never going to work. You also had at least 3 - 4 GA airports or landing strips within the Sheffield region (including Nottingham). Sheffield City was never going to work with so much competition within such a short distance. Even your home base of Gamston, which I used many times was another possibility.
So cool Noel! 😎 I love seeing old abandoned airports and what used to be in a place…
Passed there a few hours ago. My parents flew to Amsterdam when it was open, but as you state it was far too restricted to ever be a serious contender for other facilities. East Midlands is easier to get to than Manchester or Doncaster for anyone on the east of Sheffield, which is close to the M1.
If you've no car like us, EMA is also now the easiest to get to now there's no direct train to Manchester AIrport :(
i was born in mexborough in 1956, moved to australia when i was 12..... i remember going to finingly as a youg boy with my father to see the air shows... thanks for posting ..... peter
Oh wow I remember this airport as a kid when we were visiting our friends and attending a SWFC match, didn't realize it had closed. Fun trip, cool city.
Absolutely loved this video so interesting and a brilliant departure from your usual fair!
More like this please.... I would of loved to hear from people that used to work there too.
Facinating
Thanks for showing us the remains of EGSY. I was an air traffic controller there for three years. I left in 2002, just as commercial services stopped.
Love this video about the history of this incredible airport. 🥰😎. I can see you in that tower office in the future. Beautiful job in the editing, too. 👏👏✈✈
Such an interesting video. Love every video Noel puts out. Lately they have been incredible. Easily my favourite UA-cam channel
I can remember to have sold quite a few tickets from Duesseldorf (DUS) to Sheffield (SZD) via Amsterdam (AMS) on KL
SZD was the old IATA code for Sheffield City Airport (now transferred to MOD St Anthan)
Oh - sorry - you are absolutely right!
I used to fly from Sheffield Airport every week. I worked in Amsterdam and then latterly Stockholm, I used to fly KLM to Amsterdam then when that service ended Sabena to Stockholm via Brussels. It was so handy as I live in Rotherham.
There were plans to open an airport in Sheffield since the 1940s. Norton airfield was the original site proposed. This received support from the Sheffield City Council. There was a story in the Star during the 1950s.
I really enjoyed this Noel. My first GA flight was from Sheffield City airport in a DA42 with the captain when he worked as an instructor there (after getting his PPL there), and it’s what got me hooked.
Thanks Tom, I was flying out of EMA when Sheffield was around but I'd stopped before they opened it up to non-based GA. A real shame, wouuld be amazing to fly there today.
As a Sheffielder myself I can't help but be disappointed by Sheffield's airport situation. Like so much else, Sheffield just doesn't seem to get the investment it needs, having to compete with the nearby Manchester, Leeds and Nottingham.
For such a large city in such a central location in the UK it really is done a disservice much of the time, and the lack of a decent transport connection from Sheffield to Leeds Bradford or Doncaster, Manchester often ends up being the default airport of choice, at least having a direct albeit not always particularly reliable rail service.
Controversial opinion: I think with suitable upgrade to road and rail links, Doncaster should become the principal airport for the Yorkshire region. Yeadon is just a mess all round.
Agreed
Yep lba is a dump and can’t go direct long haul due to runway size thankfully Manchester is only an hour away
@@jonnypianko7858 no rail link what's annoying about lba aswell
While it was an operating commercial airport it was very convenient. My partner I lived a 10 minute taxi ride from it and We used to fly from it to Schipol when we were going to The Netherlands. My parents went to The USA via Sheffield/Schipol and I know people who flew to South Africa via Schipol. They did try domestic flights to London but it couldn’t compete with MML train services, city centre to city centre.
Thanks Noel, fascinating but sad to see the decline of UK aviation. Probably many more you could visit for a mini series while it's difficult to travel overseas. Plymouth City Airport would be a good one.
Good Video but very sad,I remember taking and picking up my Mum and Dad twice from 2 Jersey holidays,lovely but sad memories...
Absolutely brilliant video Noel. Really unusual and very informative. Would love to see more like this.
My mum grow up in Doncaster and still refers to DSA as Raf Finningley. She used to watch the RAF aircraft.
Thank you Noel! Bringing back memories! Brilliant informative video!
Such a shame but it was never going to last long. I remember seeing aircraft flying over the Northern General Hospital where I worked. Jersey was probably the most popular route. I’ve flown from Doncaster Sheffield. It’s a great airport and so much better than Manchester being easy to get to now the new link road from the M18 has opened. Parking is directly outside the terminal too and not too expensive. Sadly it’s so underused and really needs to attract more airlines. Great video Noel.
In 2000 my flat was in the flight path to Sheffield City, such a shame it closed, but, as you said, far to small.
How active did it seem? Were there many flights as in much air traffic?
@@darkpoethd9913, not really busy, to small and with only turboprops able use it, the range of the aircraft was to small to be useful.
Oh I remember this when it was still open with KLM flying to Amsterdam. I took great delight in attempting to land Boeing 737-400s at Sheffield in FS2002/4.
Great video Noel, really loved this. |'m hoping the likes of Carlisle does not meet a similar fate since all of Stobart's investment in the airport.
Sadly it has with Loganair not looking to continue flights and stobart air who operated the flights and owns the airport is having troubles
This guy is turning into Geoff but the only difference is that he loves planes and not trains
Colab opportunity named, "planes trains and automobiles" staring Geoff an Noel
Lol
@@NigelDraycott it's a show where they both harass Jeremy Clarkson on his farm. "Got any cars in that barn, mate?" etc.
As a train lover, I love seeing abandoned stations, so seeing this for airplanes is super interesting. I'd love to see more like this!
Glad you enjoyed it !
Another great video! Creative, quality content and something a little different during these times. Cheers Noel
Many thanks!
This video was awesome. Great change from the usual trip reports, however just as interesting! Looking forward to watching more!
I flew BA to Belfast from Sheffield, tiny plane, great flight, 2&1 configuration. Loved it..👍
This is similar to Coventry airport, which, at one time, started to do international passenger flights. The intention was to act as an alternative to Birmingham. I did fly to Germany from there before they shut it down again. I believe it now only handles general aviation and some freight.
I remember being very small, probably about 1997 or 1998, my grandparents used to take me to the airport from their home in Rotherham to watch the KLM flight take off on a Sunday. Always a very special memory to me.
I remember it when it opened.Sad that it couldn't remain. Nice review Noel.
Noel, great video, fantastic to see some of the history of the place as I was involved in the building of the Boeing factory and the IT infrastructure there
Made a few bookings from london city and Amsterdam to sheffield SZD was the three letter code. Was quite popular.
I studied in University of Sheffield during 1995-1998, I wanted the city to grow and recognised in the world like Chicago, Milan, etc, Especially they lounged Meadowhall, the biggest shopping centre in Europe at that time.
It is a shame I can never enjoy the service of Sheffield City Airport :(. Noel, you did a great job on this video. Wish you have more subscribers. Message from Hong Kong.
Once more a great video Buddy keep it coming
watching this as Doncaster has just closed, which is a massive shame for someone who lives In Rotherham and loves aviation ! I think South Yorkshire Police used to operate helicopters from Sheffield airport, not sure if they still do.
Very different from the usual trip reports but just as interesting. Love the mix of live,drone and insets.. very professionally done. Have you got a new camera too?
Reminds me of the old Edmonton City Center airport/Blatchford field (CYXD)I used to fly in there as a kid on Time Air and Canadian regional and once I became a pilot I got to fly Air ambulance in there as well before it closed in 2013. Now it’s a building development, the Air terminal is a business center but the old tower still remains I believe. Kinda sad to see a piece of history destroyed.
I loved that video. There’s all I need - I’m na Air Traffic controller and my son is at the Sheffield Uni. All in one.
This is a fascinating and very well made video Noel, I had no idea this airport ever existed and I've learnt a lot from this!
Great drone shots and just a really good video, thanks for making this.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Very informative! Thanks Noel, as always.
Really fun and interesting video to watch! Would love to see more of those! Good job :)
The run way could have been extended into the wasteland and the road could have gone underneath, the run way wasn’t directed towards the M1.
The wasteland was part of an old railway goods yard. The planes generally took off and headed over catcliffe. I worked close by and walked around the area very often in my lunch break. I used the airport for a trip to Amsterdam and Belfast City. It made perfect sense.
However sometimes we found ourselves returning to Manchester or Leeds and getting a coach back to Sheffield.
Love that tower office. Great 360 views, no one can sneak up
Me thinks Noel bought a new drone? Nice way to experiment, good stuff!!
Great vlog as always! In Norway we have also have (had) airports like this. VDB/ENFB is one. It had routes to both Oslo and Bergen. Charter flights from UK with skiers with 757 was not enough to keep it alive so to speak. It is in a place far from everything. It would have been flights today if they would have built it some 15km from where it is today. Politics in a nutshell!
Peel Group doing what Peel Group does.
Sheffield was destined to fail but what happened at Doncaster is a disgrace.
I worked on the building on the runway and got to drive on bits of the runway. It was still used as a the helipad for the air ambulance/police heli at that point in 2014.
Great video again Noel! Flew from Doncaster Sheffield a few years ago and that was a great little airport. But that too seems to struggle to attract flights.
I think all Airports are struggling over the last 18 months..
This was fascinating! I had no idea!
"It's just another industrial estate on the outskirts of Sheffield"
...that has South Yorkshire Police Operations Complex on Letsby Avenue. They had a sense of humour at least!
I guess that this week's video is about a blast from the past instead of the usual flight report!
Used to visit manston when I lived in Kent and it was operating as a commercial airport. It was strange to go into departures for a coffee and see the pilots and cabin crew sitting there having a coffee then they were told that the plane was ready, a short while later a lady came in and called all passengers to board, a lot more relaxed way to fly especially if yo are like me and a nervous flyer!!!
That’s a great bit of video. I didn’t know this airport existed. Fascinating stuff.
Many thanks!
Unfortunately I think a few more smaller British airports could be going now 🙁
My closest airport London Southend could be next as Stobart own and run it and since Flybe went down it seems as if it’s struggling even more 😓
Doncaster-Sheffield, with its long runway, is actually quite a busy cargo hub. For really small airports that somehow survive, pay a visit to Humberside Airport. From where we live, in Hull, Manchester is a pain in the arse to get to - as is Leeds-Bradford. I hope the smaller regional airports survive and thrive - I never want to travel via Gatwick or Heathrow ever again if I can avoid it!
Great piece Noel , more videos like this please ✈️
KLM used to fly over us going into Sheffield as we were at the Sheffield Arena during bike shows.
Similar story for Dundee airport. 1400m runway, no radar coverage etc, restricted space for expansion etc. This demonstrates what could be possible however if enough investment was made to attract airlines. As it is, currently just 2 services operating to London City and Belfast, both at sadly small passenger numbers. FlyBe even cited the reason of no radar as the reason they withdrew the short-lived only ever international service to Amsterdam Schiphol, which ironically was extremely popular. Owners HIAL take note please before it's too late.
Should do a video about Humberside Airport! Enjoyed this Noel!!
I remember working here when it was an opencast coal site , all the waste spoil was put back and compacted ready for the new airport construction
They could have extended the runway, technically there is no reason why the M1 could have gone into a tunnel, that's the plan at Heathrow if the third runway is built, the M25 disappears in to a tunnel. I realise the cost involved at Sheffield was probably why the idea to do that never got anywhere, not enough traffic to justify it.....
Great idea this clip mate !! Need some flight related material but travel restricted ? That would stop other youtubers, but not Noel !! 10/10 mate, appreciate your efforts on the channel !
For anyone wondering why it only sold for £1, it had millions of dollars of debt at the time of sale so they didnt score some amazing bargain.
Did the debt transfer to the new owner?
@@bob2000and10 Was the business sold, or just the land? re: "the otherwise everyone would rack up debt", well that's exactly what happens quite freqently, it's called phoenixing.
When I lived in Rotherham I flew from East Midlands just over half an hour down the M1 and more or less straight into the airport far easy than travelling to Manchester
You are a treasure trove of information. Definitely one of my favourite UA-cam channels.
Pulp reference the airport in a b-side called ‘Catcliffe Shakedown’ (an area just down the road). I grew up on an estate just opposite the fields and used to watch the planes coming in from my bedroom window. I’m sure South Yorkshire Police used to operate their helicopter from there too. It’s a shame Sheffield never got an airport.
Wow, I remember British airways route to Jersey with dash 8-300. Thank you shared
christ i remember spotting here as a kid, such a shame but shows that bad planning and bad managment can do to a Airport
Really enjoyed this one Noel, much different to your usual content but can see this becoming a new little series you do. May I suggest Predannick (if that's how it's spelt) airfield? Lots of old ex RAF stuff sat there.
Thank you! It’s a video I’ve been wanting to make for a long time, and seemed like a perfect time to finally make it.
If you get a chance to go to Austin, TX you need to check out the old Mueller airport site, which is now a huge residential and commercial development. The old control tower is still there!
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!
Due to getting into the history of Def Leppard, l'm always interested to hear more about Sheffield. Most of what l've learned indicates Sheffield is somewhat the red headed step-child of the UK...
Was a big hard bastard of a city years ago, was the steel capital of the world
Yeah, supposedly most kids would graduate high school, and walk right into a job at one of the mills...
The red headed stepchild of the UK is Liverpool. Sheffield is the dull middle child. I've lived in both cities.
I cannot believe its been closed so long and changed so little. I started earning my private pilots license there in around 2005, turning up once a month until it closed. I've not been up there since, but seeing the runway now mostly gone but the apron intact is quite weird indeed. Ultimately I ended up continuing my ppl at Doncaster, and moving from the tiny runway (it can't have been much bigger than the runways of many private airstrips) of Sheffield to landing little Cessna 152s on the great big thing that built for the nuclear bombers was an adjustment for sure.
Take a look at Lelystad Airport (The Netherlands). Brand new terminal and infrastructure. But no permit to have passenger fligths. A nice subject! "Failed airports".
finningley airport used to have the longest runway in the UK when it was an RAF base
Maybe in England, I believe the UKs longest RAF Machrihanish.
@@DAGO58 its not been a RAF base since the 80s there are probably a few with longer runways now
That’s really interesting and sad at the same time!
Thanks for the tour!!
A shame they couldn't have kept it as a flight club and school training airport, perhaps with light aircraft maintenance businesses. Land is valuable though, so Peel will be making more profit from property rent.
Blackpool airport has an interesting story too Noel.
Yes it does. I completed my PPL at COMED Aviation at Blackpool.
So does Bagby International.
When jet2 737-300 used to land there😎
Hi Noel Loved this fantastic Channel and Wow jelous of the drone Footage 👍
Doncaster Sheffield is closing on the end of October 2022
You should do more old airports
I seem to recall the South Yorkshire police helicopter was based here for a time after the airport closed before it was moved to Leeds.Built about the same time as the also I’ll fated Don Valley athletics stadium for the world student games, also long gone.
Quite a different type of vid for you and well done!
This reminds me of fornebu airport which was the main airport in oslo before gardemoen opened, there are still hangars there. A piece of the runway still stands on the edge of the island, the control tower is also still standing. I go there once in a while. The airport closed in 1998 when oslo gardemoen airport opened which is still the main oslo airport
What a waste of money that place was. I remember when it opened. No one thought it was a good idea.
Finningley (Doncaster) was a much better idea as it has a useful sized runway