Vampire jet vs runway!

[Neil Davies]

Last weekend my Dad and my brother went to a local airshow at Halfpenny Green, just outside Wolverhampton. I've often wondered about the feasibility of some 1/8th mile drag racing on some of the little airfields that are all over the country, but having seen this, I'm not sure the tarmac is up to it...
https://youtu.be/z56xVTawR7Y

[mg]

That runway is closed for repairs, bet he did not return to land on that runway.
He does not appear to make much thrust or lift, used a lot of runway to get airborne.
perhaps both the low slung engine and the runway condition were to blame?

[mg]

seems to describe it...
https://youtu.be/gX3_mQZ4gY8


That's runway 10/28 being ripped up which along with 04/22 has the same structure as when it was laid in the early 1940's. A thin  layer of asphalt laid on top of a shale foundation which was a common construction method used at hastily constructed RAF bases in the latter years of the second world war.
The two runways still having this structural configuration at Halfpenny Green have asphalt surfaces that have cracked through 70+ years of use forming plates that you can see being ripped up here. These runways I believe have had one or two coats  of slurry seal over the years in an attempt to renew them but this has of course been insufficient due to the age of the surfaces.
The third runway 16/34 was completely reconstructed in the late 90's/ early 00's in anticipation of the airport expansion plans which never transpired. Despite poor levels it is the only suitable runway for jet aircraft and regardless of wind condtions should have been used on this occasion.
Sadly, the aforementioned aborted airport expansion plans have left a legacy of a sky high annual staff bill which in turn has left very little money for the replacement of second world war hangars which leak and runways which are unfit for purpose.
To summarise, there are too many people at Halfpenny Green sitting around doing very little and getting paid an awful lot of money to do it!

[andy198712]

seems to describe it...
https://youtu.be/gX3_mQZ4gY8


That's runway 10/28 being ripped up which along with 04/22 has the same structure as when it was laid in the early 1940's. A thin  layer of asphalt laid on top of a shale foundation which was a common construction method used at hastily constructed RAF bases in the latter years of the second world war.
The two runways still having this structural configuration at Halfpenny Green have asphalt surfaces that have cracked through 70+ years of use forming plates that you can see being ripped up here. These runways I believe have had one or two coats  of slurry seal over the years in an attempt to renew them but this has of course been insufficient due to the age of the surfaces.
The third runway 16/34 was completely reconstructed in the late 90's/ early 00's in anticipation of the airport expansion plans which never transpired. Despite poor levels it is the only suitable runway for jet aircraft and regardless of wind condtions should have been used on this occasion.
Sadly, the aforementioned aborted airport expansion plans have left a legacy of a sky high annual staff bill which in turn has left very little money for the replacement of second world war hangars which leak and runways which are unfit for purpose.
To summarise, there are too many people at Halfpenny Green sitting around doing very little and getting paid an awful lot of money to do it!

So your saying it's dodgy RAF workmanship? Trust the crabs!