NGTE Pyestock
The National Gas Turbine Establishment at Pyestock is hidden behind thick wooded areas, the view from google maps shows a
massive complex, around the size of a housing estate, parts of it taken over by brightly coloured pipes snaking from one building to another.
The NGTE was one of the leading centres in the world and played a major role in developing jet engines for many years, V bomber, Harrier and Tornado engines were all developed and tested on site, the immense power of the air house allowed Concorde's engines to be tested at 2,000 mph, The facility had its own power station there.
I live fairly close to this place so it had been constantly in the back of my mind to visit, but high razor wire fences and onsite security had dissuaded me, but im glad that I got to see this industrial wonderland before it eventually turns into a Tesco distribution centre.
one of the things that shocked me was how much of the machinery had "Made in England" proudly stamped on it, something that we dont see much these days. It shows that fairly recently, England was not only at the forefront of aviation development (nothing really compares to Concorde) but also manufacturing the machines that allowed this.
The NGTE was one of the leading centres in the world and played a major role in developing jet engines for many years, V bomber, Harrier and Tornado engines were all developed and tested on site, the immense power of the air house allowed Concorde's engines to be tested at 2,000 mph, The facility had its own power station there.
I live fairly close to this place so it had been constantly in the back of my mind to visit, but high razor wire fences and onsite security had dissuaded me, but im glad that I got to see this industrial wonderland before it eventually turns into a Tesco distribution centre.
one of the things that shocked me was how much of the machinery had "Made in England" proudly stamped on it, something that we dont see much these days. It shows that fairly recently, England was not only at the forefront of aviation development (nothing really compares to Concorde) but also manufacturing the machines that allowed this.
By Darren Nisbett
