Talk:List of Norfolk airfields

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Incorrect title

This is a List of Norfolk MILITARY airfields.

Whilst it is often the case that modern day civilian flying takes place from former military bases (e.g. Old Buckenham, Shipdham, Seething), this is not always the case. These civilian airfields are mentioned in this list by coincidence, not by design. The list is military-based.

For two examples of civilian airfields in Norfolk NOT covered by this list; East Winch Airfield, and Great Yarmouth – North Denes Airport.

See also - https://www.eastwinchairfield.co.uk/

Gt Yarmouth Heliport/Airport re-opens (2023) - https://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/23520866.great-yarmouth-heliport-reopen-new-management/

WendlingCrusader (talk) 14:52, 3 January 2025 (UTC)

Do we need a airfield county list at all, since the list at List of former Royal Air Force stations is sortable by county? Lincolnshire, Northumberland and Yorkshire have templates instead: {{RAF stations in Lincolnshire}}, {{Royal Air Force stations in Northumberland}} and {{RAF stations in Yorkshire}} Gavbadger (talk) 15:12, 3 January 2025 (UTC)

@Gavbadger

That is a very fair point. I see three options;

1. Add civilian airfields to the existing article
2. Change the title to specify 'military' (only)
3. The template option - not something I have any experience of. In fact, I am not even sure how exactly it relates to "Categories". I would be in favour of it, but I don't personally know how to do it.

WendlingCrusader (talk) 19:50, 3 January 2025 (UTC)

Their is already List of airports in the United Kingdom and the British Crown Dependencies, which has a table that is sortable by county.

Furthermore i have also found List of airports in Norfolk which lists 8 civilian airfields.

I believe either renaming the article so it's only for military or creating a template would be the best option. I've also added to the Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Military history project input section for further comment. Gavbadger (talk) 20:18, 3 January 2025 (UTC)

I would say 'good catch', except you may have opened another can-of-worms.

• Inconsistency #1; currently we have two different formats; List of X in Norfolk and List of Norfolk Y
• Inconsistency #2; in the USA, space is less restricted, and concrete runways are the norm, such that every small town (typically boasting city status) has its own airPORT. In the UK, there are (or used to be) a much higher proportion of airFIELDS that only featured grass runways; the exceptions being former military airBASES blessed with miles of concrete, now in civilian hands.

However, whilst it is true that the older military aerodromes were grass only e.g. from the biplane era, the list of military airbases is unflatteringly downgraded as if all were just grassy airfields. Meanwhile, the list of (mostly) airfields is promoted as a list of airports, with or without a fancy passenger terminal and round-the-clock customs facilities. In reality some of these so-called airports are not much more than a strip of grass, a windsock, and a portaloo.

Then we have the places that fit into both categories, to some extent.

• The list of military airbases includes some that are now civilian airfields
• The list of civilian airports includes some ex-military airbases, despite the lede text saying; "For military or ex-military airfields, see (elsewhere)".

This could be clarified by saying;

List of military airbases, and ex-military airbases that are no longer used in any aviation capacity. For ex-military airfields that are currently in use as civil airports and airfields, see....

Do we want all this additional wording? Or is there a better solution?

Perhaps we need just ONE LIST, broken down into

1. Active military airbases
2. Active civil airfields and airports (including ex-military bases)
3. Inactive/disused airfields and airbases

I do hope I haven't gone off-topic, or just bored you all to tears with detail.

WendlingCrusader (talk) 16:48, 4 January 2025 (UTC)