Flying from Cark Airfield

Wednesday, April 6th 2022 at Cark Airfield.

An interesting ex-RAF airfield at the foot of the English Lake District. Now, Cark Airfield is used by enthusiasts and adventurous tourists. I have loaded the sympathetic update by Neil Birch. On this day, the weather was definitely not suitable for flying.

Come and see.

About the Airfield

RAF Cark is a former Royal Air Force station in the county of Cumbria (formerly Lancashire) which was operational between 1941 and 1945. It was built near the villages of Cark and Flookburgh on the Cartmel Peninsula which today forms part of Cumbria.

Opening in 1941, it was operated as a fighter base to afford protection to the industrialised areas of northwest England.

Once the threat of invasion had receded, the airfield was used by RAF Flying Training Command as a Staff Pilot Training Unit and for Anti Aircraft gunnery training. 

Aircraft stationed at Cark included Hawker Hurricanes, Miles Martinets and latterly Supermarine Spitfires.

RAF Cark was sold off by the Air Ministry and was subsequently used as a venue for gliding.

Today the airfield is the home of the North West Parachute Centre, better known as Skydive Northwest.

The airfield is also known as Cark Aerodrome and Grange-over-Sands. 

Get your free copy of Neil's Cark upgrade here.

Local Landmarks

Once in the air, on a clear day, you can see across Morcombe bay to the power station at Heysham. 

Just across the River Kent estuary from Grange Over Sands is the Arnside Tower.

Fly north for 10 kilometres to reach the southern end of Windermere.

Across the River Leven estuary to the west is Ulverston.

About the Cessna 172 Skyhawk

First flown in 1955, more 172s have been built than any other aircraft. It was developed from the 1948 Cessna 170 but with tricycle landing gear. The Skyhawk name was originally used for a trim package but was later applied to all standard-production 172 aircraft.

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: three passengers
• Length: 27 ft 2 in (8.28 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft 1 in (11.00 m)
• Height: 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m)
• Gross weight: 2,450 lb (1,111 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 56 US gallons (212 litres)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 hp (120 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed metal, fixed pitch

Performance

• Cruise speed: 122 kn (140 mph, 226 km/h)
• Stall speed: 47 kn (54 mph, 87 km/h) (power off, flaps down)[84]
• Never exceed speed: 163 kn (188 mph, 302 km/h) (IAS)[8]
• Range: 696 nmi (801 mi, 1,289 km) with 45 minute reserve
• Service ceiling: 13,500 ft (4,100 m)
• Rate of climb: 721 ft/min (3.66 m/s)
• Wing loading: 14.1 lb/sq ft (68.6 kg/m2)

Do you have narrated YouTube videos of simulator flights from Cornwall airfields? Send me a link or post it in the comments. I'll add those I like to this site.