Following the opening of five new general aviation hangars in December, Fareham Borough Council has just completed a further six business hangars at the former Daedalus Airfield site. The initial five hangars are for private owners to store their light aircraft whilst the newest six were opened in April and are specifically for businesses in the aviation and aerospace sectors.
Andy Wannell, Director of Finance and Resources for Fareham Borough Council said, “This site has an aviation history that can be traced back for 100 years. When we acquired the site in 2015, our vision was for Daedalus to become a premier location for aviation, aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing businesses. Our aim is for Solent Airport to become an attractive destination for visiting aircraft, but also offer the hangarage, facilities and services to attract more corporate and commercial aviation activities.”
“Storage facilities for aircraft were not only very limited but the hangars were built in the early days of the airport’s life. To ensure the facilities would meet the demands of a modern airport eleven new hangars were commissioned. Five are to accommodate private light aircraft for general aviation use and the other six for businesses in the aviation, aerospace and marine sectors.”
Each general aviation hangar incorporates a 22.4m wide x 5m high manually operated Osprey sliding folding door system designed, manufactured and installed by Bedfordshire-based Jewers Doors. Each door comprises 24 folding leaves with 12 leaves bunching to each side of the opening.
Each set of doors incorporates a wicket door for pedestrian access. In the closed position the doors are secured by internal, full-height lockable espagnolette bolts, which engage into the bottom and top track. A lever handle withdraws each bolt to enable door leaves to be easily pushed aside and allow full width entry.
Each business hangar is fitted with a 22.5m wide x 6m high, top hung Osprey door. Constructed using the same single-piece, highly insulated panel construction, purpose engineered hinges and soft compound weather seals as the GA hangar doors, the business hangar doors are electronically operated. Each door half , is driven by a powerful inverter controlled drive unit which moves each of the 10 leaves effortless across the opening and then folds them into a 1m2 footprint behind the opening.
Wannell added, “The Daedalus site has already made a huge contribution to aviation history. This development will ensure that Daedalus will continue into the future, become a major aviation hub in the South as part of an Enterprise Zone creating many skilled employment opportunities for local people. We anticipate that it will create 3,500 new local jobs over the next ten years.”