A Major national hang gliding centre could be built near York - flying to the rescue of the threatened Elvington Airfield.

The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Associationis drawing up ambitious plans to base its national centre at the airstrip.

It would lead to up to 14 new jobs and provide a boost for local hotels and restaurants by attracting a flood of spectators at regular shows and displays.

The move would also secure the future of the airfield, which the adjoining Yorkshire Air Museum fears it will lose for the use of popular air shows.

The association believes the former Bomber Command runway, which has been put on the market by the Ministry of Defence, would make an ideal national base for its activities.

Jolyon Harrison, the treasurer and a director of the 10,000-member association, said it was drawing up a bid to buy the land.

If successful, the association, which regulates the sport nationally, would use Elvington as its administrative headquarters and become a training centre for hang gliding and paragliding.

It would also be the venue for three major gliding events every year, drawing in hundreds of participants and spectators.

Mr Harrison said the association currently has no permanent base, forcing it to hire out airfields around the country for events and equipment testing.

He said: "What we have in mind would be totally compatible with the air museum's shows, and indeed we could enhance one another's events.

"As we are currently spread out around the country, it would be tremendous to be able to bring everyone together for training in one place."

Mr Harrison said the association was confident it could compete financially and anticipated its bid would be good enough to be shortlisted by the MoD.

The chairman of trustees at the Yorkshire Air Museum today welcomed the news.

Ian Robinson said: "We would be more than pleased if the buyer had anything to do with aviation. It is terribly important to us."

The company handling the sale on behalf of the MoD, Henry Butcher, today reported that more than 100 inquiries have been made into buying the airfield since rumours of its sale began some time ago.

The MoD's deadline for bids is September 25.

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