White Waltham Airfield White Waltham Airfield is an operational general aviation aerodrome located at White Waltham , southwest of Maidenhead , in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire , England . This large grass airfield is best known for its association with the Air Transport Auxiliary from 1940 - 1945 and also has a significant history of pre - war flying training , war - time and post - war RAF use and post - war use as flight test centre by the Fairey and Westland aircraft companies . It is now privately owned and is the home of the West London Aero Club , the largest flying club in the United Kingdom . Operational history . The airfield was set up in 1928 when the de Havilland family bought of grassland to house the de Havilland Flying School . In 1938 the airfield was taken over by the government , and during the Second World War was the home of the Air Transport Auxiliary between its formation in early 1940 and disbandment on 30 November 1945 . The ATA staged a unique Air Display and Air Pageant at White Waltham on 29 September 1945 which was opened by Lord Beaverbrook and featured a memorable static park of Allied and German aircraft and the flying included Alex Henshaw displaying a Seafire Mk45 . After the war , the airfield was also used by Fairey Aviation and later Westland Helicopters , which assembled and tested aircraft built at their Hayes factory . These included the Fairey FB - 1 Gyrodyne ( 1947 ) , Fairey Jet Gyrodyne ( 1954 ) , Fairey Ultralight ( 1955 ) , Fairey Rotodyne ( 1957 ) & Westland Scout ( 1960 ) & Westland Wasp ( 1962 ) . The prototype Fairey Gannet was first flown from Aldermaston but production aircraft were completed and first flown at White Waltham too and an example is currently stored at the airfield . Prince Philip , Duke of Edinburgh was taught to fly at White Waltham in 1952 , flying a de Havilland Chipmunk belonging to HQ RAF Home Command Communications Squadron ( HCCS ) of the Royal Air Force ( RAF ) . This squadron was based at the airfield from 1950 until 1959 . The airfield stayed under RAF control until 1982 , when it was purchased by the current owners . Until 2007 it was the base of Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance helicopter . Approximately 150 light aircraft are based at the airfield , which with three runways is reportedly the largest grass airfield in civilian use in Europe . The airfield holds Civil Aviation Authority Public Use Aerodrome Licence Number P773 , that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flight training . Non - aviation events . On 24 June 1989 , the " Fairey Hangar " , on the north side of the airfield , was the venue for one of the largest acid house rave s to be held at that time . The " Sunrise Midsummer Party " was attended by over 11 , 000 ravers , and attracted about 1 , 000 vehicles . This caused tailback s on the approach to the airfield . The Sun newspaper ran a headline " " Ecstasy Airport " " the next day . Since the demise of the popular local steam rally at Knowl Hill , about a mile to the NW of the airfield , an annual vintage transport event is now held at White Waltham in August . The home quarters of Carter ' s Steam Fair are also adjacent to the airfield . The airfield has been used as a filming location on numerous occasions , perhaps most notably appearing several times in episodes of the popular 1970s ITV series " The Professionals " . In October 2010 , the airfield was turned into a 1950s London Heathrow Airport for the filming of the 2011 film " My Week with Marilyn " . James May and Top Gear have featured White Waltham within their programmes .