RETFORD (GAMSTON) AIRPORT

W999FSV

Firefly 6x6

The Airport is situated South East of Retford just off the A1.  It was originally a wartime training site for Wellington Bomber pilots, after the war it closed for a period and  was reopened in 1953 as a satellite for the nearby Worksop Airport.  It was withdrawn from military service in 1957.  It reopened to air traffic in 1983 when the current owners Gamston Aviation Limited purchased the operation.  Today it operates as a CAA Licensed Category1 Airport, although it can increase up to Category 3.

There are 2 wholetime firefighters, other crew members being made up of other airport ancillary staff.  All crew members are trained to CAA standards at the CAA training school in Teeside.  As it is only a Cat 1 Airport the firefighters are not trained in the use of Breathing Apparatus, but smoke filter masks are carried on the appliance. 

The appliance itself  was built as a prototype by Firefly Specialist Vehicles on a unique space frame and uses standard "off the shelf" Land Rover parts.  It has a 400 gallon rear mounted pump and can seat 5 crew members.