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Original Text (Annotation: eaw022091 / 2066571)
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Original Hyde Farm House, utilised as the Control Tower for all subsequent operations over the years until closure of Wisley Airfield in 1972, now demolished. Grass strip was upgraded to a concrete runway circa 1952 and still exists at time of comment 2020. Wisley Airfield was Weybridge based Vickers Armstrongs Ltd (Aircraft) from circa 1945 and was their Aircraft Test Flight Centre for development and pre- delivery checks until closure in 1972. Aircraft development & delivery flying from Wisley was over a period of 25 plus years and aircraft consisted of were :- Vickers Viking, a 1st post war short range commercial passenger transport aircraft. Vickers Viscount, First Flight 16th July 1948 from Wisley, the worlds first short to medium range commercial passenger transport turbine powered aircraft in the world to fly and enter service with many airlines throughout the world, a total of 444 being built. Vickers Valiant, first flight 18th May 1951 from Wisley, the first of the 3 "V" bombers for the RAF, one of the first post WW2, 4 turbojet heavy "V" bombers to fly, of which 107 airframes were built. Vickers Vanguard, a 4 engine turbo prop aircraft operated by BEA & Trans Canada Airlines, a larger successor to the Viscount. 44 airframes completed, 43 delivered. G-AOYW being the prototype that never entered service, which first flew on 20th January 1959. Vickers Standard & Super VC10 a 4 turbojet long range rear engine aircraft, the largest aircraft to be built in the UK and enter service. First flight for Standard VC10 G-ARTA from Weybridge was 29th June 1962 to subsequently land at Wisley. First flight for the Super VC10 G-ASGA, an extended version, was 7th May 1964, and again subsequently to land at Wisley. A total of 54 VC10 airframes were built in various types & configurations at Weybridge before flying to Wisley. BOAC took delivery of the majority of production, plus the RAF & BUA, plus 3 or 4 other airlines. The BAC111 Twin Jet short range passenger aircraft being produced at the then BAC factory at Hurn and first flight from Hurn of G-ASHG was on 20th August 1963. The test flying development was based at Wisley and 2 months later on 22nd October 1963 was on a test flight from Wisley when it crashed on Salisbury Plain killing all on board. A further aircraft to be developed from Wisley was the Twin Jet Fighter Aircraft Carrier born Vickers Supermarine Scimitar during the late 50's, which entered service with the Fleet Air Arm. '