RAF Lympne / Lympne Airport

The closure was primarily due to economic reasons. The airport's final major operator, Skyways Cargo Airline, which ran cross-Channel cargo services, went into receivership and ceased trading in early 1985. The airport had been facing financial difficulties, and the loss of its anchor airline made it economically unviable to continue operations.

The site has been completely redeveloped and is now the Lympne Industrial Estate. The runways have been removed and built over with roads and commercial buildings. However, several original airfield structures, including the distinctive 1930s-era hangars (Belfast Truss hangars) and the former control tower, are still extant. These historic buildings have been repurposed for various industrial and commercial uses, serving as a physical reminder of the site's aviation past.

Lympne Airport has a rich and significant history in British aviation, spanning military and civil roles:

- **World War I:** Established in 1916 as an Emergency Landing Ground for the Royal Flying Corps. It quickly grew into a key base for defending against Zeppelin and Gotha bomber raids and served as a major cross-Channel staging post for aircraft being delivered to the Western Front.

- **Inter-War 'Golden Age':** Lympne became famous for hosting the Lympne Light Aeroplane Trials in 1923, 1924, and 1926. These competitions were pivotal in stimulating the design and development of light, affordable private aircraft in the UK, effectively kickstarting the private flying movement.

- **World War II:** As RAF Lympne, it was a crucial frontline Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) for RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. Its strategic location near the coast made it an ideal base for Spitfire and Hurricane squadrons intercepting Luftwaffe raids, but also made it a prime target for German attacks, and it was heavily bombed.

- **Post-War Civil Aviation:** After the war, the airport transitioned to civilian use and became a pioneer in air ferry services. Silver City Airways began operating its famous cross-Channel car ferry service from Lympne in 1948, flying cars and passengers in Bristol Freighter aircraft to Le Touquet, France. This service was later continued by Skyways Coach-Air, which also operated passenger services, making Lympne a busy gateway to the continent for decades.

There are no known plans or realistic prospects for reopening Lympne as an airport. The site has been extensively and permanently redeveloped into a successful industrial estate. The removal of the runways and the construction of significant infrastructure make any return to aviation use logistically and economically unfeasible.