Lasham Airfield, airport in the United Kingdom
Lasham Airfield is an airport and gliding centre near Alton in Hampshire, situated on flat, open land with unobstructed views of the sky. The facility features an asphalt runway approximately 1800 feet long and houses a large gliding complex with multiple hangars, buildings, and an operating control tower.
The site opened in 1942 as a Royal Air Force base during World War II, serving bombers and fighters during combat operations. After the war ended in 1948, the focus shifted to aircraft testing and later to gliding activities, transforming the airfield into the world's largest gliding club by the 1950s.
Lasham carries a name rooted in Old English referring to the local valley landscape. The airfield today serves as a gathering point for a close-knit community of gliding pilots, visible through the daily interaction between newcomers and experienced fliers who share techniques and knowledge.
Visitors can watch flying activity from a designated outside viewing area, while the cafe and bar offer refreshments and a place to relax. The airfield operates mainly during daylight hours in good weather conditions, so plan to visit during the day and come prepared for moderate outdoor conditions.
What makes this place unusual is that it operates simultaneously as a maintenance centre for large commercial aircraft, with engineers servicing airliners several times each week alongside gliding operations. This mix of small gliders and large jets sharing the same airspace creates a rare combination found at few other flying sites.
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