The aerodrome is located 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) northeast of Northampton and was originally opened in 1928 on the edge of Sywell village.

The 1930s Art Deco hotel (built in 1934 as the Northamptonshire Aero Club clubhouse) has bar and restaurant facilities.

The Pilots' Mess cafe is also located on site and the large Hangar One venue hosts many events throughout the year.

[3] Among the Second World War pilots who underwent training at Sywell were Pierre Clostermann[4] and Paddy Finucane, who soloed here.

In February 2010, the final inspection of the newly completed all-weather hard runway was carried out by the CAA who confirmed that it could be licensed for use.

In recent years airfield lighting and approach aids have been installed to enable night training and operations to be carried out albeit at present this is infrequent.

By the late 1990s the building was restored to its Art Deco glory and a further accommodation block added in a similar architectural style.

Hangar One is a large function space with its own bar and dancefloor which caters for larger corporate events, fairs and weddings.

The Northamptonshire School of Flying (NSF) was formerly based at Sywell moved to Sibson, Cambs in the 2000s and rebranded as Peterborough Aero Club.

Other flight training/maintenance organisations on the airfield include: The Blades aerobatic display team were based at Sywell, where their five Extra EA-300 aircraft were hangared.

[13] The team was the only one fully licensed by the CAA to carry paying 'passengers' in aerobatic displays, out of Sywell, or at many other locations.

[15] In January 2016, Air Leasing Ltd, operators of the famous 'Grace Spitfire'- Supermarine Spitfire TR.9 ML407 'OU-V' moved to Sywell Aerodrome.

Initially based in a single new build 'blister' type hangar named 'The Spitfire Blister' but known locally as 'Graceland' – they have now expanded to fill two more.

AL specialise in the maintenance and restoration of vintage 'warbird' type aircraft such as the Spitfire, Hurricane, P-51 Mustang and Sea Fury.

[17] On 6 November 2020 flying legends announced its signature airshow, previously held at the IWM Duxford, would now transfer to Sywell Aerodrome.