Former North Yorkshire RAF base reopens as airport creating 100 jobs

Entrepreneur and pilot Chris Makin has converted a former North Yorkshire RAF base into a commercial airport

A “fly-in” of light aircraft has been held to mark the reopening of a former RAF base in North Yorkshire as a commercial airfield.

The base, located in Church Fenton, was closed by the Ministry of Defence in December 2013.

Chris Makin also has plans to open flying training school, creating 100 jobs within the next five years.

The site, which covers almost 500 acres and has two runways, was built in the 1930s, and served as a fighter base during World War Two.

Mr Makin said he intended to develop the site as a base for private planes and passenger flights by small airlines.

He said: “There is a huge demand in the area,”

“There are a lot of small airfields in Yorkshire, but of course the quality of the facilities here are second to none.”

“The support and nostalgia and people who want to part of it is quite touching to be quite honest,”