Latest news with #planegraveyard
The Sun
16-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Look inside incredible UK plane graveyard where war-ready fighter jets are left to ROT including 1950s Hawker Hunter
AN EXPLORER has revealed the remnants of an abandoned ex-military plane field – including a rotting 1951 Hawker Hunter jet. Abandoned UK, as they're known online, came across the site while out on a sunny walk. 6 6 6 They have visited other plane graveyards before, though this one, located in Scampton, Lincolnshire, left them particularly shocked. Left behind were iconic British fighter jets that would've been used in wars; dating back to as far as 1951. And the explorer described what he saw to be 'like something out of a film'. In a clip, which has racked up 11,000 views, he trawls through a tall – and unkempt – field of wheat. As he makes his way to the other side, though, a series of impressive jets are shown, partially covered with grey tarpaulin. The aircrafts appear to be in immaculate condition, until he takes a closer look and spots signs of rotting. Confused by why they've been left behind, he looks through the windows at all the controls and spec inside. The engines, which are rusted and need replacing, have a date of last inspection – with one dating back to 1972. As he claims to have asked the field owner for permission to access the grounds, he was allowed inside one of the aircraft's cockpits. The explorer is shocked to find hidden knives, noting that it's 'crazy'. He says the area isn't just notable for its planes, though. The nearby RAF base used to be the home of The Dambusters, a group of Royal Air Force aircrews, who were known for their raid on German dams during World War II. 'These planes have no use now, but they were used for parts until the nearby airbase closed,' he told What's The Jam. 'There was also a Buccaneer and a Phantom. 6 'It was part of a farmer's field where they are stored and it was quite sad to see the aircrafts out in the open with no protection. 'There wasn't [much] damage, but they were rotting. 'Some still had their controls, some were stripped. 'The atmosphere was very calm and it looked like something out of a film.' He says that a lot of people mistake the planes for being on the RAF's Scampton base, in which only officials are allowed to access. These planes, though, are actually stored on a nearby private field. The explorer added: 'It's such a shame for these ex-military aircrafts to be left with no future. 'They'd be better off in a museum, than in a field left to all weathers.' 6
Daily Mail
11-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Inside the UK's eerie abandoned plane graveyard and the bizarre reason we know nothing about it
Where do planes go to die? There's many different answers; some are deconstructed, others become showpieces for businesses or are snapped up by private buyers - and sometimes, they're just left to, well, rot. One such 'airport boneyard' lies surprisingly close to a major London hub, an overgrown parcel of land that houses a trio of planes that have been grounded by age. Close to London Southend airport, next to the Skylark Hotel, is a little known plane graveyard that's currently home to aircraft that are believed to date back as far as the 1950s, according to Essex Live. The Google Maps' satellite view of Aviation Way, Southend-on-Sea - postcode SS2 6UN - shows the site as its looked in recent years, with Mother Nature slowly claiming back the land and covering the former flyers in moss, ivy and weeds. While it's not clear exactly why the planes - believed to be two larger aircraft and one smaller - are there, and their future, there are clues to their past. The publication suggests that one of the more sizeable aircraft could be an ex-RAAF Hawker Siddeley HS 748's, which is a homegrown plane, having been built by British company Avro. While it's not recommended that aviation enthusiasts embark on a journey to see the planes; they're firmly behind lock and key, it is possible to get a glimpse of them from the car park of the Skylark hotel. Some graffiti artists have left their mark on the rusting aircraft though; with parts of the planes adorned with spray can 'tags'. All is not lost for plane spotters looking to fully immerse in a vintage plane experience, however. A new Airbnb glamping pod lets guests check in and stay inside an aircraft that belongs to yesteryear. A 1970s private jet has been lovingly converted - after seven months of toil and an outlay of £90,000 - into a cosy self-catering let, where you can explore the cockpit at leisure. The vintage 1970s Hawker - now known as Alaya Airways - is in Dolgellau in Gwynedd, Wales and has only been available to rent for less than a month but is already being snapped up by tourists seeking a mile-high stay that never leaves the ground. Its owner Tamir Ali, 38, snapped up the vintage plane in December 2023 and decided to set about turning it into a two-bed room stay, with guests paying £170 a night. Intrigued by its history as the staff plane of an oil company, and in use for much of the 70s and 80s, he's strived to preserve as many original features as possible, while also ensuring all the things you'd expect from a self-catering stay are there. The original body of the plane is now a cosy seating and bedroom, with a cabin tacked on the back of the aircraft housing a double bed There's a kitchen with all mod cons, bathroom with shower and even space to enjoy a glass of fizz in a dedicated outdoor area - and its pet friendly to boot. With a 70 per cent occupancy rate already, the property looks set to be booked up for the summer and is described as the perfect stay for families. Adding in a double bedroom, via a cosy cabin, plus wood floors and modern electrics ensures the plane is a comfy retreat. Tamir, who's based in Leicester, said: 'It's awesome - when people walk in they say it's much bigger than it seems on the outside. 'It's almost like you're in a normal home. It's a unique experience, not many people get to sit in the cockpit of a 70's private jet.' The plane enthusiast describes the plane when he bought it, around 35 years after it was retired, as 'worse for wear' but with plenty of potential: 'There was lots of mould and moss inside - but I immediately envisioned what I wanted it to be.' He said building the plane back up and giving it new life has made for some interesting encounters, saying: 'I've always worked with eccentric people - people who deal with the weird and wonderful.
