2-879-197 - Historic England Archive/Heritage Images

Filton Airfield, South Gloucestershire, 30/04/1950. A dragline excavator depositing material from a bucket into a flatbed van during the construction of a new runway at Filton Airfield. Laing extended the runway westwards at Filton Airfield to accommodate the Bristol Brabazon airliner, which was being built at the airfield. Work began in July 1946 on the new runway, which was 2,725 yards long and 100 yards wide. Almost 750,000 cubic yards of excavations, up to a depth of 14 foot, was involved in preparing the site for the runway. The work required the requisitioning and removal of Charlton village and a temporary flying strip was laid, for use while the new runway was under construction.