Why Guy Ritchie bought an airfield?

Earlier this year celebrated film director Guy Ritchie bought Compton Abbas airfield in Dorset in the south of the United Kingdom.
Six months on, Flyer Magazine's Ian Seager sat down with Guy to ask him why he bought his own airfield, what his plans are, and whether it's more fun than running a brewery!
Oh, and we also asked him for his favourite aviation film…
#guyritchie #comptonabbas #flyermagazine #guyritchieinterview

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

What a sccop!! Cool interview - great place to visit, love what Guy and the team have done with the new bar/restaurant, look forward to seeing how the "heritage aspects" are built upon....

[@DanSmithBK]

Good on him for sitting down and sharing his thoughts. I think we all have a fondness for CA, and perhaps with the same enjoyment of the bygone era it represents, so great to see his investment in its future.

[@barneyreichman127]

Flew into Compton a few weeks ago, great to see it open again and well worth a visit. Well done Guy Ritchie.

[@foesfly3047]

Much respect for Guy Ritchie for finding personal satisfaction in contributing to his community. Very good Men are like this 😎🎩♠️💙

[@tonyb4773]

All we need is a few dozen Guy Ritchies around the country….

[@jasonrwilkinson9216]

Compton was one of my bucket list airfields which I managed to finally visit last year. Can't wait to visit again to see the improvements to what was already a great place - best of luck to Guy and his team and for investing in the airfield, we need more people with a similar mindset to do the same across the UK to keep GA alive and to stimulate the next generation and diversity in aviation and STEM related interests.

[@andrewboothman6363]

Really interesting to hear from someone who comes from a different background with positive plans for an airfield. I hope it all works out.

[@BenLovegrove]

I qualified there in 1991 so I have fond memories of the location. So glad to hear that it's in safe hands for now at least. It's a gem of UK aviation.

[@YellowroadsterJ200]

The investment is welcome and all credit to Mr Richie for that and as he states there are and will be some teething problems. One being the "orange" gravel surface outside the cafe/restaurant, which is badly staining the new floors in the cafe and operations area, making it unsightly and requiring constant cleaning by the staff. I am sure it would be much nicer if the same stones/gravel that is used where the "Smoking barrels" is situated, would be a vast improvement.

[@stratotramp6243]

Fantastic ethos. Movement against the contraction and isolation. We need more of this. Passed my GST sunday... Glad that i may have places to visit and "things to do" in future 👍

[@flyingmortgageman]

As a new LAPL pilot that self-hires from Bournemouth and Compton i was gutted when Clive said Compton was sold. Now its reopened and i have been signed off to Self-Hire again I cannot express enough how great it is up there. I say up there as i live in Bournemouth at Sea level. Yes, it’s all new so they are not at full speed yet however it is already a lovely place to be. It feels like going back in time and stress levels just reduce instantly as I park. Well, perhaps not on Final to 08 in a SE wind but every other aspect is lovely.

[@martinboulden4388]

Guy comes across as a very decent and switched on bloke.

[@theraconteurproductions5847]

Me and my partner has visited Guy Ritchie's airfield and restaurant. It is a magnificent place, Guy was absent from there when we visited recently. The restaurant menu from a chef's and food writer's point of view ought to be more of a wide choice of cuisines taking into mind with special dietary requirements like diabetes type 2 and type 1 diets. But well done Guy for a wonderful day out.

[@jemwinder]

Interesting interview and I hope the airfield grows and succeeds. Perhaps Guy needs to visit Beccles Aerodrome to get some good tips on how to set up and run a wonderful airfield which engages pilots and the local people...

[@andrewskipsey6897]

The thing is with CA whatever the wind is doing it’s messing up your landing. My instructor said many years ago, learn to land here and you can land anywhere. Head winds , cross winds, no wind - trees stealing the wind to that naughty updraft as you land on 08. Lots of things you don’t know about when you are sat having your full English (in a bun these days). The place has always evolved and with Mr R behind it will at a somewhat greater pace you’d think. Now a canteen Pub with occasional Merlin sounds out there, Brilliant!

[@jthelakes147]

Stopped here whilst riding part of the Trans European Trail last year. It’s a lovely place to stop and take in the scenery, food and planes. Thank you Guy for investing your money so that we can carry on enjoying the planes, food , green lanes and socialising.

[@achieveenlightenment5152]

Thank you Guy for your service Dharma of helping people out of isolation X Incredible soul connections is what our society is craving and WE WILL RISE THIS X

[@timesquare5473]

For fellow pilots, having "arrived" at Compton Abbas previously on a number of occasions one such arrival was memorable and the most horrendous approach ever, on endeavouring to land on 08 with a wind from the south it was like a spin dryer which resulted in a no go and returned to base airfield to survive another day. The PPR phone message at the time was "It's a bit Sporty" ! 😁 From the previous resident op's team : SE from 5 knots = Be Aware SW from 10 knots = Be Aware N = Fine NE = Fine NW = Slight turbulence Happy Flying 🛩

[@xocretep]

Meeting two VIPs in one day! 😂 lucky you!

[@FLYERTV]

I met more than two that day!

[@jeffbridges666]

Top chap

[@allybally0021]

Lots of paperwork for Guy.......but he has the resources to build something.

[@ceegold2583]

For Mr Ritchie to develop an Airfield in a similar vein to Peter Jackson and Kermit Weeks will be fantastic. I’d like him to really put some money into a few classic aircraft, rather than a subtle eye to controlling the land around his house.

[@nickciccone8079]

🔥

[@MrAlwaysBlue]

Still got no idea about his intentions. However, Ian seems convinced.

[@FLYERTV]

We're only six months in and there's been some impressive investment. We have to take things t face value unless there's a good reason not to right now.

[@nickciccone8079]

Guy 🔥 Ritchie 🔥 hot 🔥

[@anthonywareing]

Please put me out my misery and tell me why the window in the background appears to be a still image 🤔

[@FLYERTV]

Great spot! The exposure was blown out, so that's a masked image that was taken earlier with the exposure set for the window. Look at the window on the right.

[@theflyingfool]

Bit cagey...

[@jeremykemp3782]

Bloody Maverick, no, no .. Devotion is the one to watch

[@robertwoodhams2318]

Was Guy Ritchie margied to Madonna and they wanted the airfield to be shut down because of all the light àircraft flying over their house not so long ago?

[@stellahighton74]

Guy takes himself quite seriously I think.