Ascension : Kids Klub
Submitted by The Islander (Sarah Coverdale) 18.10.2007 (Article Archived on 01.11.2007)
Who is coming to the Runway Dash on Sunday at 10:00? This is a one off event that can’t be repeated very often and is rather exclusive of Ascension Islands Wideawake Airstrip – I mean you wouldn’t be doing this at Heathrow would you?
During World War II, the United States built an airbase on Ascension Island, known as Wideawake after a nearby colony of Sooty Terns (locally called 'Wideawake' birds because of their loud, distinctive call, which would wake people early in the morning). The airbase was used by the US military as a stopping point for American aircraft crossing the Atlantic on the way to Europe and Africa. After the end of World War II the airbase fell into disuse.
It was up and running again due to the space race and the cold war. The Americans returned in 1956 and Wideawake Airfield was expanded in the mid 1960s to enable the space shuttles to make emergency landing there.
In 1982, Ascension Island was used as a staging post for the British Task Force during the Falklands War. The Royal Air Force deployed a fleet of Vulcan bombers at the airfield.
The increase in air traffic during the war saw Wideawake being classed as the busiest airfield in the world.
Following the war, the British retained an increased presence on the island, establishing RAF Ascension Island, and providing a refuelling stop for the regular airlink between RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, and RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands.
Now in 2007 it’s your turn to explore this fantastic runway. One of the few in the world that can land a shuttle from outer space! How exciting! I know as I did it last time.
The runway dash in 2005 was great fun. There were Clowns, Cyclists, Carriages and more at the event. This year we hope there will be even more people doing crazy things, so if you can get your mum and dad to bring you along then you won’t miss the fun.
If you have an unusual way of getting down the runway brilliant! Maybe you want to do it in fancy dress! Some girls in their rollerblades ended up finding it quite hard work. Perhaps that was the unusual hump halfway down the runway… they ended up doing parts of the dash in their socks! Some cyclists did it more that once – Some runners did the length 4 times – so how far is that on a runway that is 2 miles long? Don’t worry if your little legs get tired, there will be a bus. Perhaps even the new bus that Reception and Nursery saw arrive before the holidays.
Everyone starts at 10:00 and we have to stick to that, after all, this isn’t just a road, this is The Runway and I don’t want to be arguing with any jumbo’s!!! It is all for a good cause EVERYMAN (helping to find cures for cancer in men)
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