Hanworth Air Park Heritage Group seeks to uncover historic aircraft calibration site
A group dedicated to preserving the heritage of Hanworth Air Park is seeking to uncover and highlight a historic aircraft calibration site within the park.
The Friends of Hanworth Air Park, a newly formed community group, presented their aims at the Hanworth Area Forum on Thursday, 15 October 2026. Their next project, pending approval from the head of parks and open spaces, is to clear and make visible one of the large circular concrete installations on the site, which they have identified as compass swings used for calibrating aircraft.
Nic Moore, representing the Friends of Hanworth Air Park, explained that these structures would have been used for setting the compasses on aircraft, such as Spitfires and Hurricanes, by swinging them into due north. The clearing and making visible of the compass swings is their next big project,
implying it contributes to the group's broader goals to preserve and promote the heritage, history, biodiversity, and ecology of the air park.
The significance of the site's aviation history is underscored by the group's logo, which reflects the park's rich past and diverse wildlife. The logo features the Graf Zeppelin airship, which visited the air park in 1931 and 1932, and a biplane from the Whitehead Aircraft Manufacturing Company. Whitehead Aircraft Manufacturing Company had hangars adjacent to Hanworth Park House, and similar aircraft would have flown into Hanworth Air Park for afternoon tea at Hanworth Park House when it was a hotel. The logo also includes harebells, skylarks, and a bat.
The Friends of Hanworth Air Park are currently offering free membership until the end of the year, after which it will cost £10 annually. The group is actively seeking members and volunteers to help with their preservation efforts.
For more information on the Hanworth Area Forum, you can view the Agenda frontsheet and the Public reports pack.