Deal flying sites
DEAL see also COLDBLOW FARM
DEAL see also RIPPLE
DEAL: Temporary Landing Ground
NOTES: In May 1912 the Italian aviator Signor Jules Nardini was attempting to fly from Paris to Dover in a Deperdussin. He took a couple of days or more to reach an aerodrome near Calais and, after departing missed Dover and landed at DEAL. This being, it appears, the first landing of an aeroplane here. He then backtracked to the aerodrome at Dover, presumably St MARGARET’S?
He then went on to be sponsored by the Daily Mail to perform flying exhibitions in England along with other notable aviators of that period.
DEAL: Civil Landing Ground
Operated by: Mr F S Solley, Mongeham Farm
Location: 1nm SW of Deal, N of Ripple village, W of railway bridge over road. Perhaps this site should probably be named as WALMER*?
Period of operation: 1930s only?
Runway(s): Max landing run: 585 grass
NOTES: In his book British Built Aircraft Vol.3 Ron Smith tells us that Kent Aircraft Services assembled seven Avro 504K at DEAL in 1930 and 1931, from parts purchased from the Aircraft Disposal Company. These were G-AAUJ, G-AAUK, G-AAUL, G-AAWC, G-AAWD, G-ABJF and G-ABOL. It seems reasonable to expect these were flown out?
Combined with information about ‘AA Landing Grounds’ publications in the 1930s it seems reasonable to assume that this was perhaps COLDBLOW FARM?
*I say this because this site was an AA (Automobile Association) approved Landing Ground giving the following advice. Fuel was available from Kennett’s Garage, Station Road Walmer. Transport (typically a taxi service) was available from W. H. Wyborn, 44 Dover Road, Walmer and so it goes on, all the facilities being in Walmer, including the nearest telephone at Upper Walmer Post Office. But it does seem that this Landing Ground is always referred to as ‘DEAL’. Perhaps not so surprising as the town of Deal is, please excuse the pun, such a big deal in this area.
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