V/STOL blast grid at Dunsfold airfield

Steel V/STOL blast grid of 1960, located at the western end of the main runway at Dunsfold airfield.

MATERIALS: boxed-steel, brick, concrete and steel-plate.

PLAN: the grid is rectangular and measures approximately 10m by 20m. The longer edge faces broadly east-west along the main runway.

DESCRIPTION: for safety reasons, the grid is now completely covered with sections of steel-plate, but it is likely that the below ground structure survives. The following description is based on photographs taken during construction; the blast grid is sunk around 2m into the tarmac runway surface and is formed of multiple steel box-sections of approximately 0.5m by 1m, which are supported by steel uprights of circa 1.5m in height. Within each box-section there is a curved metal vane designed to disperse exhaust gases into the void below. The void is formed by brick walls and a concrete floor. To the centre of the grid there is an inset lifting door of finer box-section measuring approximately 2m by 3m, which probably provides access for maintenance to the underside of the grid.