Firle Beacon
FIRLE BEACON: Gliding site (Aka BO-PEEP)
Note: Both of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
The first picture appears to show a runway: 15/33 635 grass
If not, then what is it?
Operated by: Mr Robert Kronfeld? (1920s/30s)
Location: S of the A27, 5.5nm ESE to SE of Lewes
Period of operation: 1920s to 2004?
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
In September 2021 Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', unearthed some fabulous pictures published in Flight magazine on the 26th October 1922. These concerned the Daily Mail sponsored British Gliding Competition that was held from the 16th to the 21st October. Mike has also provided the maps and the Google © ground view.
Note: The first item shows Mnsr Maneyrol's most unusual, if not unique, glider. Although of complex construction it worked very well indeed with, on one occassion a flight duration of 3 hrs 22mins being recorded.
Note: The fifth item shows "Fokkers method of transport". But please don't tell me he used this method on public roads!
NOTES: It might seem strange today but in the late 1920s and early 1930s this site is reckoned to be the main gliding school in the UK!
In 1962 the glider G-ALJY crashed here. If anybody can kindly offer advice regarding how long this gliding site operated, this will be much appreciated. Plus of course confirmation that this was a gliding site runway. I suspect that over the years other gliding sites were used in this area.
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