Colinton
COLINTON: Air Race Staging Point in July 1911, later staging point for the Royal Flying Corps in 1913 and 1914. Military Landing Ground during WW1.
(Aka: REDFORD and REDFORD BARRACKS)
Location: Roughly E of the A70 & B707 junction. About 3.5nm SW of Edinburgh city centre
AN OVERVIEW
The history of flying here, as far as we know it to date, can be divided into four sections, the first being civil use. This was used as a major staging post for the Daily Mail sponsored Round Britain Air Race in July 1911. In February 1913 it was used as the last staging post for No.2 Squadron (RFC - Royal Flying Corps,) as they made their way from FARNBOROUGH to occupy RNAS (Royal Naval Air Station) MONTROSE. The second military aerodrome in the United Kingdom.
Then, in May 1914, ten RFC "B.E.".biplanes, from RNAS MONTROSE, used it as their first staging post when heading south for war excercises being held on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. Their base being the "concentration Camp" at NETHERAVON aerodrome. How that term has changed its meaning since. The "B.E." aircraft were, without too much doubt (?), Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 types. In those days, when on operational duties, used mainly in spotting and/or reconnaissance roles.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for investigating this history and unearthing the press articles, pictures and maps.
THE DAILY MAIL ROUND BRITAIN AIR RACE
Article One was published in the Falkirk Herald on the 19th July 1911.
The photo was published in Flight magazine on the 29th July 1911. Article Two was published in the Dundee Evening Telegraph on the 24th July 1911.
A MOST DETAILED ACCOUNT (Article Three)
This account, in nine parts, was published in The Scotsman on the 26th July 1911.
This article amply illustrates the amount of problems those pioneering courageous, mad, brave, bonkers, early pilots faced on such an epic adventure.
This was in a time when most "sensible" pilots rarely ventured just outside of the aerodrome. A French term for an area within which flying took place. Plus of course, although the French were already making considerable progress in powered aviation, the first recognised powered flights in the U.K., (please argue amongst yourselves), did not take place until 1909.
I find it quite incredible what these early pilots managed to achieve. Difficult to control machines, unreliable engines, no instruments.
Even if fitted with a compass it was not calibrated, so prone to considerable heading errors. Use of maps generally impossible, as that were mostly sitting exposed to a howling gale. Plus of course, they had very little in the way of ideas about how aeroplanes actually flew! And, at the speeds they flew at, very little time to correct should it all go 'pear-shaped'.
FINAL NOTES
Article Four was published in The Scotsman on the 27th July 1911.
AN EPIC SERIES OF FLIGHTS
We do not know who was responsible for making the decision that No.2 Squadron at FARNBOROUGH had to fly up to RNAS MONTROSE. Demanding enough in the summer - but - in February! They sensibly planned to achieve the task in several stages, but even so, it posed substantial challenges for the pilots. Do please read these accounts.
Article Five was published in The Scotsman on the 26th February 1913. No.2 Squadron arrived here on the 25th.
Article Six was published in the Edinburgh Evening News on the 26th February 1913.
Article Seven was published in the Arbroath Herald on the 28th February 1913.
No.2 SQUADRON FLIES SOUTH IN 1914
The pictures were published in the Daily Record on the12th May 1914, No.2 Squadron arrived on the 11th. The local area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
COLINTON: Military Landing Ground
This excerpt is from Scottish Aerodromes of the First World War by Malcolm Fife.
Military user: Royal Flying Corps
77 [Home Defence] Sqdn (Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 & possibly B.E.12 types)
Period of operation: 1916
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