Blackfriars
BLACKFRIARS: Temporary seaplane operations
Operated by: Fairey Aviation Co Ltd
Location: On the river Thames in central London, just W of the City of London. Most probably between Blackfriars and Waterloo bridges
Period of operation: Summer of 1919
The advert, of which a part is shown, was published in The Aeroplane on the 16th February 1921. The local area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
NOTES: We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for discovering this advert published in The Aeroplane by the Fairey Aviation Co Ltd. I think they used to stretch of the Thames to the west, between Blackfriars and Waterloo bridges because it is longer than the stretch to east before Southwark Bridge. It is also a tad closer to Fleet Street.
This is not the only example I have found of newspapers being delivered by aeroplane shortly after WW1, but certainly the only example of seaplanes being used. Having become something of an 'anorak' over the last twenty plus years, I do wonder exactly where they made the delivery at Margate on the Isle of Thanet? Can anybody kindly offer advice?
THE STORY EXPANDS
We have Mr James Evans to thank for delving into this subject. It now appears that the aircraft used was a Fairey Campagnia, and the first service was planned for the 4th May 1919. The destination was WESTGATE in/near MARGATE. See seperate listing. The newspaper using this service was the Evening News.
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