Ascott House
ASCOTT HOUSE: Temporary flying display venue
Location: In the grounds of Ascott House, Wing
Period of operation: 3rd August 1914
NOTES:
In April 2017 I was very kindly contacted by Rory Morrisey who provided this information: "In various local newspapers there was a notice between middle and the end of July 1914 that there would be an exhibition of flying by Mr William Birchenough of the Grahame-White Aviation Co. Ltd at the Wing Flower Show in the grounds of Ascott House, Wing, Bucks on the Bank Holiday Monday, 3rd August. It says he will fly from Hendon to Wing during the morning and passenger flights may be booked for £3 3s each."
Also; "Transport was provided from Leighton Buzzard station to the venue." Plus; "Ascott House is not the same place as the WW2 Wing aerodrome, of course. Ascott House was and is still occupied by the Rothschild family."
QUITE GOOD VALUE?
The fee of £3 3s might seem to be very reasonable, even allowing for inflation over the last hundred years or so, but the average worker might well have been paid less than £2 a week. Even so, at this period down in Paignton, Devon, a flight was costing £4 per person, although they could have been flying with a much more famous pilot - the French aviator Henri Salmet. See my entry for PAIGNTON FLYING SITES for much more period info.
As far as I can make out, the duration of the majority of these flights was roughly between five and ten minutes. In other words, basically a single circuit. Then again, we need to remember that for the vast majority of people in those days, having the opportunity to just have a flight was an amazing experience.
It is difficult to think of an equivalent situation today, but I suppose it wouldn't be too much of an exaggeration to equate how people saw the opportunity then, with people paying in advance, several million dollars for a flight into space today. This comparison reflecting of course, just how far aviation has advanced. Let's face it, the majority of pasengers boarding a modern airliner are so unimpressed with flying, that, even if they have a window seat they will probably pull the blind down to better see the in-flight entertainment screen.
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