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Aviation History
1929
1929 - 0532.PDF
FLIGHT, MARCH 14, 1929 AN AERODROME FOR CAMBRIDGE Another Private Venture WHEN the need for landing fields and aerodromes wasraised a year or two ago, investigation showed thatthere were many farmers and landowners willing to allow aircraft to land on a part of their land, subject to the offer of compensation if damage should be done. Nearly all of these sportsmen did not want paying for their kindness apart from that, but at the same time, they were not, of course, prepared to lay out their land with facilities for aircraft, apa,rt from landings. Their assistance was generously offered in most cases because no one was attempting to serve the needs of airmen. They did not wish to enter aviation themselves for commercial purposes. They were willing stop-gaps. In those not very distant days there was never any sign of commercial undertakings in aerodromes. No one thought that it might be profitable to acquire a plot of convenient land and equip if for the normal needs of visiting aircraft. Then the Air Ministry stepped in and urged upon the country the importance of municipal aerodromes. Its authority lent just that weight necessary for the public to take notice, and so we got a flood of municipal discussions, and it is now having excellent results. It is almost difficult to keep track of all the towns which are planning sites, and it is safe to predict that during this year we shall be able to land on many municipal airports. By next year, anyhow, we may find at least a suitable field in the vicinity of even- town of importance. And in a few years' time we shall, no doubt, judge the importance of a town by its possession of an aerodrome or not. At least, air pilots will. Now the prominence of this national question of aerodromes has evoked a curious side issue. One had not been led to see any signs of promise except fromimunicipalities. But we find today that private enterprise has looked in and is striding ahead of municipalities. There is a growing belief in many alert business minds that after all it might pay to establish a private aerodrome near a town. Within the last few months •we have had three fine examples of this belief. Three Private Aerodromes First we have Airwork, Ltd., of Heston, Middlesex, favoured •with no official subsidy, laying out private capital on a good site within ten miles of London with great confidence. Before this flying season definitely opens they will be prepared for the test of their enterprise. And it already looks as though Heston is going to prove a most popular aerodrome in London for private flying, meetings and training. Secondly, we have the Reading aerodrome, almost ready, laid out by Messrs. Phillips and Powis (Aircraft), Ltd., a local company. We have already given particulars of it, and of Heston. Reading aerodrome will be opened after Easter ; instruction on D.H. " Moths " beginning on April 2. There is already a good list of pupils waiting But the new company will commence joy-riding operations on Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with Le Rhone-Avro machines at the Caversham Bridge Promenade Field. Now we are able to announce another new field instituted by private enterprise. This is at Cambridge, and our accompanying sketch map gives its location. Marshalls, automobile engineers, of Jesus Lane, Cambridge, are opening it shortly. It appears from the description to be quite suitable. It is on the main Cambridge, Newn^rket Road, and less than 2 miles from Cambridge. There is a railway station 200 yards away, and a 20-mins. 'bus service connection. One hangar has already been erected, and the whole site, which is approximately 65 to 70 acres, is about to be put Srreers, Lanes &c = Buildings... S*I I \t Z MILES A new Cambridge aerodrome which is being estab- lished by Marshalls, local Automobile Engineers, and will be ready in June. It covers about 70 acres and offers a take-off run in any direction of 500 yards. down to grass. There will be a take-off run in any direction of 500 yards. The site should be completed by June next. Marshalls are agents for the De Havilland Aircraft Co...Ltd., and they already have their own demonstration machine ready at the aerodrome. There is already one aerodrome in the Cambridge area, namely, the Conington aerodrome, which is used by the Cambridge branch of the Suffolk and Eastern Counties Aeroplane Club. Lady Bailey Honoured THE Geographical Section of the Forum Club gave a dinner in honour of the Hon. Lady Bailey on March 8. Mrs. Patrick Ness was the chairman. Aviation in Manchester THE Manchester Corporation has provided a temporary landing ground near Wythenshaw Park, so that air taxi work may start from the city in a month. In September, a transfer will be made to the permanent aerodrome at Chat Moss The Air Ministry has agreed to Manchester spending J3O,000 in equipping their Chat Moss site. The work will commence immediately. Lady Heath's Company .THE formation of a company to be known as " Aerial Activities " is announced in New York with Lady Heath as president It is said that the company will handle all the aviatxon interests of Lady Heath. Tees-side Aero Club * AI^PJT that therc is a Pr°spect of a municipal aerodromeat Middlesbrough, the Tees-side Aero Club, whose activities nave been dormant during the past few months, chiefly dueto a lack of public interest, has taken a new lease of life. and a meeting is shortly to be held with a view to establishing a flying club. Curious Accident to Club Member WE learn from the Nottingham Aero Club of an accident to one of their members last Saturday afternoon ; namely, Mr. A. J. Peacey, of Derby. After having 30 mins. dual with Mr. Brown, Mr. Peacey was told to go up and carry out landing practice for 20 mins, during which time he was not to leave the immediate vicinity of the aerodrome. He was observed to carry out two landings and then, at 11 40 hrs. he disappeared, nothing further being heard of the machine until 14 hrs. on Sunday, when a message was received from the Air Ministry to say that the D.H. " Moth " had been found by a German steamer 90 miles E.S.E. of Hull. The machine was wrecked and there was no trace of the pilot. Mr. Peacey was a flying officer on the Reserve of Air Force Officers, and had done just over 800 hrs. flying. The club extends its deepest sympathy to Mrs. Peacey and relatives. Registered Aircraft CIVIL aircraft registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland number 453, of which 361 have been granted certifi- cates of.air-worthiness. 216
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