A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US

TAKE FLIGHT AVIATION: A JOURNEY THROUGH ADVERSITY AND CHANGE

Mike Roberts founded Take Flight Aviation Limited in 2006 at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield in Warwickshire. In 2016, his son, Sam Roberts, joined the company and played a key role in expanding the business. Take Flight grew to more than 300 active pilot members and operated a fleet of 16 aircraft, becoming one of the country’s leading flying schools and clubs, winning numerous awards.

However, the future of the company was thrown into uncertainty when the owners decided to redevelop Wellesbourne Airfield for housing purposes. This led to a legal conflict with the tenants, including Take Flight, who were denied the right to renew their business leases. The airfield owners had received building regulation approval to demolish the site and intended to remove aviation use, so Take Flight Aviation proposed to the council that they should remove the airfield's permitted development rights in order to protect the site, in line with the areas core strategy. Additionally, they suggested that the council should consider a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to preserve the airfield.

The council responded by removing the right to demolish the airfield and initiating the CPO process. The leader of the council acknowledged that without Take Flight Aviation’s efforts, the airfield would have likely closed. In response, the airfield owners entered into an agreement to temporarily keep the airfield open, but they refused to negotiate with Take Flight, citing the company’s role in thwarting their redevelopment plans.

Despite objections from the parish council, which argued that the council employees' agreement violated statutory authority of the local plan, as well as support from the Department of Transport and local MP advocating for the CPO, the council chose not to take further action.

After being evicted from Wellesbourne Airfield, Take Flight relocated its operations to London Oxford Airport and Enstone Airfield. However, the move resulted in a loss of more than two-thirds of its membership, leading to the decision to scale down operations in November 2024 and shift focus to other business interests.
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Despite these challenges, Take Flight's passion for aviation and its commitment to supporting loyal members remained strong. In response, the company reached an agreement with Enstone Airlines and Enstone Ventures to take over the flying school’s operations. Take Flight Aviation formed a syndicate around the club's Cessna 172 SP Skyhawk, catering to members with existing pilot licenses, and continuing to offer them a chance to pursue their passion for flying.