Delnies
DELNIES: Temporary landing site
Note: The first five of these maps and pictures were kindly provided by Mr Michael T Holder. I added the last Google Earth © area view, and Nairn is pretty much in the centre.
Location: About 1nm SW of Nairn town centre
Period of operation: 16th July 1935
NOTES: All Mike Holder had to establish where this temporary Landing Ground probably was, is the first picture above, and the newspaper article below from the Aberdeen Press and Journal published on the 17th July. I trust you will agree that this was a masterful piece of detective work.
SIR IAN HAMILTON AT NAIRN.
_______________
Flies North to Inspect O.T.C. in Camp
"Sir Ian Hamilton flew from Turnhouse Aerodrome, Edinburgh, to Nairn yesterday in a Puss Moth chartered from Aberdeen Flying School, piloted by Mr E. A. Starling. At Nairn the machine made a good landing in a field adjoining the the O.T.C. camp, after which Sir Ian Hamilton inspected the unit and lunched. On the return journey Sir Ian landed at the Aberdeen Airport, Dyce, and expressed great satisfaction in the steps Aberdeen had taken to further the interests of civil aviation. The trip from Aberdeen to Turnhouse was made in 1 hour 10 minutes."
For Aberlour.
"On returning from Edinburgh the machine was immediately chartered by Sir Edmund Findlay to fly to Aberlour. The pilot, Mr W.J. Alington, made a perfect landing in a field on Sir Edmund Findlay's estate. Sir Edmund, on arrival, telephoned to express his enjoyment of the flight."
There are a couple of reasons for including these mentions in this 'Guide'. The first being how an air taxi service could be so useful - if you could afford it. Today of course, such charters would invariably be performed by helicopter, at considerably more expense, comparing like-for-like. It is well known that the pilots employed on these duties in those days made it their business to become aquainted with every possible landing place throughout the entire region. Not least for when they were called out for air ambulance duties.
The de Havilland DH80A Puss Moth, which first flew in September 1929, was an ideal air taxi, carrying a pilot and up to three passengers. It had a top cruise speed of 108mph, and of course, very good 'short-field' capabilities.
What also interested me about these accounts, is why a British Army General was flown to Nairn in a civilian air taxi? Being in the Army perhaps he had a 'thing' about using those 'Johnny-cum-lately' chaps in the R.A.F.? We need to remember that up until 1918 the Royal Flying Corps was an Army establishment. Serving throughout WW1 by jove, and making a splendid job of it.
The combination of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service to form the independent Royal Air Force in April 1918 put a "lot of noses out of joint" to say the least. Just a thought.
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