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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0348.PDF
FLIGHT, APRIL 15, 1932 instruction and other facilities from National Flying Ser vices, Ltd. In the immediate past the Club has not enjoyed the enthusiastic support that might be expected from a city of nearly 300,000 inhabitants, but a recent review of the situation followed by fresh endeavours have begun to improve matters. Hull has been the scene of some of the inevitable tragedies of aviation—disastrous air raids during the Great War and the breaking up of R.38 over the Humber in 1921, for example— and it may have been slow in living such things down. The younger generation should have no memories of these experiences, but they may have been influ enced by the older generation. In addition to its instructional work, National Flying Services operate an air-taxi service as re quired. There is no night-flying equipment at Hedon as yet. HEDON : Bounded by reach Hull from Omnibus services plying between Hull, Hedon and Withern- sea pass the aerodrome. Hedon railway station is two miles away. Very few aerodromes are so close to their city as Hull's, and so convenient to reach. Being so near, the air visitor has never to worry about the prospect of find ing accommodation overnight. There is an impression amongst people who have never visited Hull that it is a dull and uninspiring place on account of it being tucked away in a corner of Yorkshire. It is certainly not a beautiful city, but it is not dull. Wide arterial roads now radiate from it and provide swift and easy exit and approach once the visitor has negotiated the level crossings. These anachron isms are the citv's most annoy ing feature. When the long- mooted bridge is built across the Humber the city will have a more road and rail it is easy to direct link with the south and Hedon aerodrome. will cease to hide in its corner. BRADFORD AND LEEDS A S these two Yorkshire cities are only a mere 8£ miles ** apart they share a municipal aerodrome, recently established at Yeadon, about 7| miles north-west of Leeds and seven north-east of Brad ford. This equalising of the distances suggests admirable tact in the responsible sur veyors ! Both places must wel come the closeness of the site, for they previously relied upon Sherburn-in-Elmet for their fly ing activities, and that aero drome is about 14 miles east of Leeds. Immediately after the war Leeds Corporation con sidered the possible use of one of the wartime flying fields in its neighbourhood as a perma nent site, but in 1919 the idea of a joint aerodrome for the two towns was suggested, and repre sentatives of both sought a site. Owing to the hilly nature of the surrounding country it was diffi cult to find a suitable area equi distant from both towns. Many sites were inspected and rejected for one reason or another, until in May, 1929, there was a mutual agreement about Yeadon. Even then there were serious obstructions to be overcome. First, the site was intersected by a wedge- shaped piece of common land, 7.66 acres in area, and, secondly, two public footpaths of considerable local importance also intersected the flying area. Before Yeadon was finally selected, a series of meteorological observations was conducted, and its suitability relative to other sites in the neighbourhood was determined. Sir Alan Cobham was called in, and he inspected nine teen sites, including Yeadon. which he considered was the only suitable one for a joint aerodrome. Later, when the meteorological expert issued his report, it showed that thick mist, smoke, haze and fog were less frequent at Yeadon than at the other places where observations were taken. There had been a suggestion that the height of Yeadon (650 O.D.) might cause difficulty through cloud immersion, but the evidence obtained revealed that low cloud was not more frequent than elsewhere, and practical experience has confirmed this. During the past four months the reports from Yeadon show that the conditions there are better than elsewhere. YEADON : At a distance of only 8 miles from Leeds and 7 from Bradford, with good road and rail connections, Yeadon forms an excellent municipal aerodrome for both these cities. Development of the Site In July, 1930, the purchase of 153 acres was made, and permission obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to enclose the common land. Existing foot paths were diverted and level ling and clearing begun. An area of 1U acres, which had a slight fall towards the centre of the aerodrome, was mole drained, the method adopted being to turn back the turf with a horse-plough on the line of the mole drain and then run the mole-plough through by haulage between two traction engines. The turf was then replaced in its original position, with a certain amount of filling where there was any marked depres sion in the furrow. The remain ing drainage work was carried out with tile drains. Sonic bad portions of the aerodrome, which had been cut by wheel transport, were ashed over as a temporary expedient, in order to allow of the use of the site as a landing ground in 1931. These areas will be turfed over as soon as possible as there is considerable danger of the ashes being sucked up by airscrews, causing damage to the blades. Before the initial work designed to render the site suit able was completed, the Aerodrome Committee agreed to grant National Flying Services, Ltd., a licence to use the landing ground. To open the Bradford Wool Fair, July 13, 1931, Prince George landed at Yeadon. N.F.S., Ltd., were eventually granted a licence to use it for three years, with an option to renew the licence for a further period of seven years. The landing area was extended from 26 acres to 51 acres, two Corporation semi detached houses, adjoining the aerodrome, were altered to form a club-house for the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club, and N.F.S. erected a hangar to hold twelve aircraft. In addition, two private hangars have been erected. In its present state the aerodrome consists of 51 acres, A scheme of improvement has been prepared, and on its completion there will be available a runway of 600 yards in every direction. A possible future extension of the aerodrome on its eastern side has also been allowed for. 324
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