Beaconsfield Recreation Ground
BEACONSFIELD RECREATION GROUND: Temporary aerodrome
Operated by: Mr George Barnes
Location: Just N of Great Yarmouth town centre
Period of operation: 27th to 29th August 1910
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for both discovering this venue and providing the variety of items below.
The advert was placed in the Eastern Evening News on the 25th August 1910.
The article in two parts was published in the Norfolk Chronicle on the 3rd September 1910.
The local area and area views are from my Google Earth © derived database.
NOTES: So, what can we make of this? For a start, especially in those days, even given a slight breeze, aircraft needed to be taken off and landed into wind, which is why most pilots flew only in calm conditions. As can be seen above in the 1914 map, the flat ground to the west of the recreation ground had an open aspect, and, on the 27th of August at least, a fairley stiff westerly breeze was blowing and, it would seem as Mr Barnes had curtailed his displays, this situation prevailed.
To make matters worse for him, the recreation ground was orientated basically north/south, which presented him with rather hazardous cross-wind conditions. Also his very lighweight Humber aircraft is reported as having a 30hp engine, and that amount of power being developed is probably optomistic. So, the amount of airflow over the rudder for directional control was likely to have been very limited, and it seems, he never rose high enough to enable banking the aircraft to help. Plus, in those days, I rather doubt that the technique of applying both rudder and bank angle to make a balanced turn had yet to be understood? From contemporary reports, most turns were of a flattish skidding nature using the rudder only.
It is of course purely a guess on my part, but I do suspect that having got barely airborne, he was probably alarmed by his lack of directional control, so wisely plonked his machine back onto terra firma. Could be worth mentioning that in that bygone era, an 'aerodrome' was an area within which flying took place. Only the bravest, (and/or foolish?), pioneers ventured further.
For the purposes of this 'Guide', even though the 'flying' aspect was minimal, this location had been available for 'exhibitions of flying' as displays were then known, for two days, the 27th and 29th of August. Although some displays did take place on a Sunday prior to WW1, there was usually considerable local opposition from people in positions of influence, not least the clergy, needless to say.
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
