Waveney Flying Group

Waveney Flying Group was founded in July 1960 by Jimmy Hoseason, Dickie Boulter, Gordon Craik and Bill Wix. At first the disused USAAF airbase was leased from local farmers and it took four months to clear the runway of rubble and scrap. The first aircraft leased was a Miles Messenger, costing £4 per hour to fly.

Gradually, by dint of very hard work, facilities were improved - a Tiger Moth was acquired and later a Rallye. The buying of the land began in 1963 and a clubhouse (a second-hand prefab) was erected, also a fuel installation and a hangar. A water supply came in 1965 and flush loos in 1966!

There were airshows here, with distinguished visitors such as Barry Tempest, Ken Wallis and Neil Williams. Stars dropped in (and occasionally entertained us) on their way to shows in Yarmouth - The Hollies, Mike and Bernie Winters, The Rolling Stones.

In 1967 training had to stop because of the new requirement for training fields to be licensed. This was acquired in 1968 and training recommenced.

Airfield Milestones

Some major changes have taken place in the last ten years. At the old Control Tower a memorial to the USAAF 448th Bomb Group was established, and with veterans' financial support the Tower was restored in 1985/7. It is now leased to the Tower Association, with whom we have close links, and they hold regular reunions with our American friends. If you would like to know more about this, please contact Mrs. Patricia Everson.

The great October gale of 1987 finally saw the end of the roof of the old clubhouse, and a new building was financed by advance subscriptions and built largely by members. Two new hangars complete with turntables have been built, financed by their occupants but eventually to become the property of the Group. The most recent big project was the resurfacing of the runway, again made possible by members paying subs up front, some for five years.

During the summer of 2000 the group removed the original hangar that had served faithfully for many years. This has been replaced by a third modern hanger allowing room for the storage of six aircraft and a fire tender. The new building has a computer controlled turntable that, at the press of a button, positions its self at the correct position for the removal or storage of the desired aeroplane. The construction of the Hanger building was completed by an outside contractor, paid for by the group and by advanced charges paid by the users. However the fitting out and design and manufacture of the turntable was completed by members giving their time for the long term benefit of Seething. Work is currently underway on a new control tower that will be mounted on the roof of the new building sometime in 2001.

The design of Seething's Hangars is based on that seen at an airfield in Denmark more than 10 years ago. Since that time we have worked on and refined the designs of the turntables and the buildings. Similar projects based on the Seething design are now complete at Leicester and Old Buckenham.

The first half of 2001 saw further development of the clubhouse facilities. The main clubhouse was extensively restyled and updated. The kitchen was trebled in size and completely refitted. The mobile classroom that had previously stood separately from the main building was moved and linked to the clubhouse. Internally the classroom has been refurbished and divided into a comfortable classroom and flight briefing room.

The final task was the addition of a spacious conservatory to the front of the clubhouse. This enlarges the building significantly and helps members make the most of not always perfect East Anglian weather!

On the 16th of June 2001 Seething updated facilities were officially opened by Wing Cdr. Ken Wallis MBE.

Later aircraft owned or leased by the group include several Tiger Moths, a Robin, and at present a Piper Archer.

Organisational Milestones

Less visible but equally important changes have also been occurring. Wingtask Limited was formed in 1986, to operate the airfield and the aircraft on behalf of the members of Waveney Flying Group. More recently other changes have been made to keep the management of the flying and day-to-day operational decisions closer to those members who are actively involved.

Waveney Flying Group is now the owner of the airfield, leasing it to a new company, Wingtask 1995 Limited, and through the terms of the lease controls what activities may take place on the airfield. All flying and social activities now take place within Wingtask 1995 Limited, so day-to-day decisions on operational matters rests with current members, while those who were involved in the creation of the Flying Group and hold it dear still have a say in the overall direction which we take.

The Nature of our Organisation

We in Wingtask 1995 Limited believe that we are a very unusual and rather special organisation! We believe we are the only flying group in GA in the UK to have control over our own airfield and hence a great deal of independence.

We were founded with the aim of making flying and flying training accessible to 'the man in the street' (whoever he or she may be!). We feel it is important that we keep that 'mission' in mind. It pervades the whole ethos of the organisation and affects every development which takes place at Seething.

The main way in which we try to keep the cost of flying down is by doing all the work ourselves. Our members come to the airfield not just to fly, but to give any help which is needed - hopefully without waiting to be asked. The clubhouse and hangars have been erected and fitted out by members, people prepare food, run the bar and kitchen, clean the clubhouse, clean and refuel aircraft, mow the grass, make visitors welcome, paint runway markings, organise social events and a lot else besides! Instructors are not paid, and neither are the Directors or Officers.

We have a Duty Pilot rota on Sundays to support the general flying, and on training days the students plus a few other pilots provide the duty fire and first aid crew necessary for the airfield to be licensed for training. We run first aid and fire courses to keep certificates current, and we organise open days, fly-ins, group outings, fly-outs, CAA safety evenings, quizzes, and social events. We fly groups of disabled youngsters, Air Scouts and Girls' Venture Corps members. Please see our events page for more information on what's coming up.

Who's Who in Wingtask