| Darley Moor Airfield | |
| Gps: | N52°58.68 W001°44.58 |
| Type: | Private |
| Owner-Oper: | Airways Airsports |
| Location: | Adjacent to A515, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, UK |
| Built: | 1942 |
| Used: | 1942–1955 (RAF) 1955 onwards (civilian) |
| Elevation-M: | 177 |
| Elevation-F: | 580 |
| Coordinates: | 52.9688°N -1.751°W |
| Pushpin Map: | United Kingdom Derbyshire#United Kingdom |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Ashbourne |
| R1-Number: | 02L/20R |
| R1-Length-M: | 650 |
| R1-Length-F: | 2132 |
| R1-Surface: | Grass |
Darley Moor Airfield and Road Race Circuit is situated on a high plateau adjacent to the A515, two miles south of Ashbourne, Derbyshire, England. The airfield is operated by Airways Airsports providing training in almost every type of leisure flying. The Second World War runway was transformed into Darley Moor Racetrack holding regular events since 1965[1] for motorbike and more recently cycle racing.[2]
The airfield was built in 1942 and opened during June 1942 it was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War for training purposes by No. 42 Operational Training Unit.[3] Following the war it was in use until 1954 for ordnance servicing and storage. Since then it has been in use in its current form: motorsport, leisure aviation and agriculture.
It is close to another WW2 airfield in Ashbourne that is now an industrial estate.[4] Nearby towns and villages include Ashbourne in the Derbyshire Dales[5] to the northwest is Snelston and South is Cubley
In 2010–2011 Airways Airsports developed the airfield by building a large hangar[6] [7] to store aircraft used on a daily basis.
The majority of the RAF concrete runways were converted into Darley Moor Racetrack by the West Midlands Racing Club initially taking a 12-month lease, laying a new surface and with an agreement that racing and practice would be restricted to a 6-hour period between midday and 6 pm.[1]
Set amongst farmland, the peripheral and centre areas are used for arable crops and grazing.
The circuit is now primarily used for motorcycle races and track days, run by Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Race Club (D.M.M.R.R.C.) The track is also used for closed circuit road cycling events.[8]
The airfield is in "G" airspace. Proximity to East Midlands Airport places the ceiling at 4000 ft AMSL before restrictions apply.[9] The airpark covers 80 acres and while the main runway runs approximately north–south there are grass strips allowing takeoff/landing in all wind directions.