Hawker's Secret Cold War Airfield

A military aviation expert chronicles the decades of breathtaking innovation that took place at Britain's secret airbase.
In 1951, Hawker Aircraft started using Dunsfold Aerodrome to test its new jet projects. The Sea Hawk was followed by the superlative Hunter. Then came a radical new engine design for an aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing. While nay-sayers claimed it would never work, the Harrier proved them wrong, becoming a vital asset during the Falklands War.
Then came the Hawk, which-after completion of the RAF requirement-was sold into air arms across the world, including the US Navy. It was an incredible achievement for a UK design. British Aerospace then brought forth its upgraded Harrier, the Harrier GR.5.
One might expect that this prolific output was the result of some massive industrial plant in the Midlands rather than an isolated aerodrome tucked in the rural hinterland of south Surrey. Shrouded in secrecy for most of its life, Dunsfold has largely escaped the notice of the general public. This volume shines a light on the remarkable work carried out there.

CHRISTOPHER BUDGEN has spent his life imbued with military aviation. His father and two uncles all served with the RAF during and after the Second World War. His father, Maurice, served in India on Liberators and Tempests before working for Skyways at Dunsfold during the Berlin Airlift and subsequently for Hawker Aircraft as they started production of the superlative Hunter at the aerodrome. Chris followed his father into employment at Dunsfold in the 1970s, initially working on RAF and export Hawks before moving on to Harrier and Sea Harrier. A move to Development saw him become involved in the launch of the Sea Harrier FRS.2 and the HS.125 flying test-bed, as well as numerous trials on the Harrier GR.5 and GR.7. The author of several books on the history of the area and an authority on Hawker aircraft and Dunsfold, Chris is currently engaged as archivist at Brooklands Museum specializing in Hawker and successor companies. Having spent twenty-one years working at Dunsfold, his knowledge allows him to shine a light onto aspects of the company and airfield not widely recognized. Given his family's close links to the land upon which Dunsfold was subsequently built, Chris is well-placed to tell the story of this previously closed and secretive community.