Buckie
BUCKIE: Planned regional airport
Note: Five of these maps and pictures were kindly supplied by Mr Michael T Holder. The last area view was from Google Earth ©
Location: Just WSW of Buckie town centre, about 13nm ESE of RAF Lossiemouth
Period of operation: 18th July 1935, and 19th November 1935
NOTES: ALL DRESSED UP - BUT NO PARTY!
All credit for this entry goes to Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide' who did all the research. And indeed, if Mike hadn't unearthed the article in the Dundee Courier published on the 19th July 1935, I strongly suspect that any of us would be any the wiser?
BUCKIE AERODROME HUSTLE
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READY FOR AIR LINERS VERY SOON
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Enough Space for New Golf Course
"Northern airports will very soon be augmented by the advent of Buckie as a port of daily call by Aberdeen Airways between Dyce and Thurso. Buckie is 50 miles as the crow flies from Dyce and 60 from Thurso. Planes will call each way just as soon as the landing ground can be prepared and licensed."
"Mr H. Campbell Russell, manager of Dyce Airport, and Mr E.A. Starling, chief pilot of Aberdeen Airways, flew to Buckie landing ground yesterday and met Buckie Town Council. The ground is at the west end of the town, 200 yards from the new municipal houses. The visit was the sequel to negotiations which have been going on between the Council and Aberdeen Airways. Two years ago the Council bought 130 acres of ground. Careful study of the ground has enabled sufficient space to be allocated for the aerodrome as well a a full-sized 18-hole golf course, planned by J.H. Taylor. All round the landing ground levelling work will be done."
PRAISE FOR SITE.
"The chief pilot, who inspected the ground yesterday for the first time, said that it was the finest landing ground he had seen in the north. No drainage is required, and the ground is covered with beautiful turf. The Air Ministry, on the Town Council's inquiry, yesterday replied that the Council should apply for a license......"
It didn't happen of course. The reasons why not will probably never be known? As Mike pointed out to me, the town was already well served by a railway. So, I suppose, the amount of potential passengers prepared to pay for air travel would be very limited?
The main reason for the growth in regional airline operations this far north in those days, and indeed still the case today, was mainly on routes around the huge variety of islands. When air travel compares very favourably with alternative methods, it will always be a preferred option for many travellers. Plus of course, we mustn't forget the huge benefits an air ambulance service provides.
ANOTHER VISIT
Later, Mike Holder discovered this article in The Scotsman published on the 20th November 1935:
Commercial 'Plane's Forced Landing at Buckie
"Mr Starling, a commercial air pilot, who was flying from Inverness to Aberdeen, was compelled to make a forced landing at Buckie yesterday owing to fog obscuring the hills. He was flying a seven-seater Dragon Moth, and after circling above the town alighted near the Thistle Football Club enclosure. After some delay he resumed his flight."
What can we make of this report today? It doesn't really matter of course, but fog doesn't obscure the tops of hills - that is low cloud. It would seem more likely that sea fog was the problem. In those days, pilots of Eric Starlings calibre would think nothing of flying around the coast at low as fifty feet or so below a low cloud base. And why not? It is perfectly safe given reasonable visibility.
Also, being very predantic, was the DH84 Dragon ever officially known as a Dragon Moth? This was its first design designation, but it was marketed simply as the 'Dragon'. All a bit confusing as nearly all the other types around that era were known as 'Moths'. For example from the DH60 Moth through the DH80 Puss Moth, DH82 Tiger Moth, DH83 Fox Moth, DH85 Leopard Moth and DH87 Hornet Moth. The break with the 'Moth' tradition being the DH89A Dragon Rapide.
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