Time to reveal all!

You may remember we were offering a FREE FULL BREAKFAST to anyone who could identify the correct date and time the new Google Earth picture was taken.

We had numerous entries most of which were near to the mark, although we had to discount the one which dated the picture in 2010!

The winner is named and we have included an explanation as to how we know the exact date and time.

This current image of the airfield is unusual in that it includes an enormous amount of unique information that enabled us to pinpoint the date and time the photograph was taken. So here goes.

What can immediately be seen in the photograph are the scars of the trenches made by Wessex Archaeology when they carried out a full site survey which wasn't started until the late autumn of 2007. What can also be seen is that the old hawthorn hedge that ran from the eastern end of the main aircraft parking area to the eastern boundary road has been grubbed out. This was done in November 2007.

If you zoom out from the site, large areas of oil-seed rape are visible in yellow flower, indicative of spring or early summer. Thus the earliest the photo could have been taken is spring 2008. This is backed up by the fact that site for the new housing estate to the north of the airfield is obviously in the process of being cleared, this was done in early 2008.

Just to the north of the tower and blocking the access 'road' to the offices at hangar 1 can be seen the Jet A1 tanker with its red cab and white tank. This was not delivered until the 2nd May 2008.

The image also clearly shows that the Beehive 'park and ride' car park to the west of the field, (alongside the A345 and with the oilseed rape field to the north), is empty with the entrance barriers closed, as is the Castlegate business park car park alongside the tower, (save for the goods vehicles that used to live there). This suggests a Sunday or bank holiday Monday. In May 2008 the bank holidays were the 5th and the 26th.

A close inspection of the runway numbers reveals a small rectangular patch immediately adjacent to both sets of numbers, (i.e. one at each end of the runway). This is where the north side marker boards had been over the winter 2007/2008. They were not replaced on their normal spots until the 8th May 2008 when the runway was widened to it's normal width and the taxiway, which had been restricted in width due to the trenches, had been reinstated.

Now look at the carpark to the east of the restaurant and you will see two piles of grey stones. These were delivered to improve the car park surface in time for the SOPARA airshow on the 25th May. However, look on the grass immediately to the east of the restaurant adjacent to the hangar and there is no monument to the allied servicemen who flew from the airfield in World War II. This was installed on the 23rd May, 2008.

Parked on the concrete circle next to the control tower is a large single engine aircraft. This is an Antonov AN2 registration HA-MKF. The only Sunday in May 2008 that this was at EGLS was the 11th. The Antonov landed at 12:12Z and took off at 13:57Z In confirmation of the date , another look at the photo reveals the absence of the old Seneca, G-EMER. This took off at 09:14Z and returned at 18:05Z.

Finally, to pinpoint the actual time of photograph look at the runway 06 holding point. This shows two aircraft, a Cessna and a Piper Warrior. The Cessna has a distinctive paint scheme on its wings and is in fact, G-BHIY in its old livery prior to its new, (very smart) paint job. The log shows that IY had two flights that day, one departing at 09:55Z and the second at 13:25Z. Neither flights involved circuits. The aircraft is therefore at the hold for its second departure. This is backed up by the angle of the shadows around the airfield Additionally, the Tower log shows that G-LAZL departed at 13:22Z. This is the Piper Warrior at the 06 Hold, confirmed by the white wings with the dark blue wingtips. The last piece of timing evidence is the C42 on final approach some 100 metres from the 06 threshold, seconds from touchdown. This is G-HNGE which landed at 13:20 Z.

We therefore timed the photograph as being taken at 13:20Z, (14:20 BST) on Sunday 11th May, 2008.

The winning entry was submitted by Graham Ball, who sent in this rationale:

" Hello John,

I think the new Google Earth picture was taken at 14:18 local on 11th May 2008 because: the airfield looks 2008-ish (car parking, new fire engine, building site across road, diagonal cuts in turf), the oilseed rape is in bloom (so probably April/May), we were on 06 (as per all my flights that May), the time (from post shadow angles) is about 14:15 local if it is mid May, and my GPS log says I was at the 06 hold in G-BHIY at that time, as seen in the picture."

Well done Graham!

Please see either John, Mike or Simon when you are in to claim your morning munch!