Hucknall Aerodrome had a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P507) that allowed daytime flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee and was not available for public transport passenger flights required to use a licensed aerodrome.

The club committee consisted of President Sir Harold Bowden, Vice-President Sir Albert Ball; the father of the famous Great War pilot Captain Albert Ball; Mr D. Rushworth, the Chairman; Mr C. R. Sands, the Hon.

Sixteen starters set out with the winner W. L. Hope (race number 5) flying DH.60 Moth G-EBME over the course of 540 mi (870 km) at an average speed of 92.8 mph (149.3 km/h).

During the late 1920s it was decided that the RAF needed to be modernised and expanded to meet expected future demands.

Subsequently, Hucknall was identified for expansion into an RAF station and was bought by the Air Ministry in the latter part of 1927.

This squadron was formed on 26 March 1928 as a light bomber Special Reserve Unit and operated the Hawker Horsley.

As a result of this change there was no longer a need for air gunners but Seely negotiated for some to train as Non-Commissioned Officer Pilots for the Gauntlet.

On 27 August 1939 Beamish was signalled to move the squadron to RAF Digby for intensive war training.

98 Squadron remained as the sole unit at Hucknall and in turn on 2 March 1940 were signalled to leave for Nantes, France.

The south dispersal featured a concrete pentagonal pillbox with an adjoining mounting for an anti-aircraft gun, (see British hardened field defences of World War II) along with a Stanton air-raid shelter and a flight office of wooden frame and corrugated steel construction; the west dispersal featured slit trenches and a wooden flight hut and the north-west dispersal featured two Stanton air-raid shelters along with a wooden flight hut.

In tandem with the upgrade of the airfield defences a bunker at nearby RAF Watnall was constructed to house No.

On 10 September 1940 Squadron Leader Douglas Bader flew to Hucknall and met with Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory, commander of No.

On 21 December 1940, the station was visited by a Dutch pilot who claimed to be Captain van Lott who had force landed in a Wellington bomber and was part of a special squadron and needed to borrow an aircraft to return to his base at RAF Dyce near Aberdeen.

The pilot was in fact Franz von Werra who had escaped from the prisoner of war camp at Swanwick, Derbyshire and was arrested.

504 Squadron reformed at RAF Syerston and returned to Hucknall operating the de Havilland Mosquito NF.30 night-fighter.

In May 1948, the Mosquitos were replaced by Supermarine Spitfire F.22 day-fighters, with Squadron Leader J. M. Birkin DFC AFC taking over command and Sir Hugh Seely becoming the Honorary Vice Commodore.

In 1946, the Nottingham University Air Squadron arrived operating the Tiger Moth and left for RAF Newton in 1947.

12 Group's underground bunker at nearby RAF Watnall was vacated and upgraded as part of the ROTOR radar network to track any threats from the Soviet Air Forces, it remained in this capacity until 1961 when it was closed but left in a state of readiness.

Some personnel were accommodated at Hucknall with the airfield supporting visits by ROTOR associated communications flight aircraft.

In February 2014, the bunker was profiled on Channel 4's The Restoration Man when it was undergoing conversion into a 1940s-themed guest house, incorporating many of the original design features.

664 Squadron RAF (1970 Reserve AOP Flight) arrived operating the Taylorcraft Auster V artillery observation aircraft.

[4][5][6] During the early 1930s, it had been recognised that Rolls-Royce (RR) would need an area of open land for the test and validation of new engine designs and modifications.

A request to the Air Ministry was made to share the land with the RAF and also for the use of two General Service Sheds for engine development and test flying purposes.

The Chief Test Pilot was Captain Ronald Thomas Shepherd (Ronnie Shephard), who had been a member of the RFC.

The organisation also converted 100 Hurricanes to Mark II standard by installing the Rolls-Royce Merlin XX engine.

In July 1953, the flight test establishment achieved the world's first jet vertical take off and landing (VTOL) with the Nene powered Rolls-Royce Thrust Measuring Rig, also known as the Flying Bedstead.

The flight test establishment closed in 1971 and moved to Filton with operation of the airfield passing to Merlin Flying Club.

RR Chief Test Pilot Cliff Rogers conducted the validation flying for the engine modification and overhaul.

In 1972, Auster J/4 G-AIPH was replaced by a Jodel DR1050 Ambassadeur registered as G-AYMT to provide a long-distance touring for qualified pilots.

On 1 March 2015, the Aerodrome was closed by Rolls-Royce and the Merlin Flying Club evicted with a move to Tatenhill Airfield.