Folkestone flying sites
Note: This map only shows the position of Folkestone within the UK.
FOLKESTONE see also BROADMEAD FARM
FOLKESTONE see also CAPEL-le-FERNE
FOLKESTONE see also KENT COUNTY CRICKET GROUND
FOLKESTONE see also KINGSNORTH
FOLKESTONE see also LYMINGE
FOLKESTONE: Flying meeting
Location: Shorncliffe Army Camp, situated just NW of the town in those days
Period of operation: 1910 only?
NOTES: At least one account states that three pilots attended with their machines, two British and one American to compete for the Baron de Forest Prize, for the longest flight across to the Continent. One account states that the two British pilots were Captain Watkins and Claude Grahame-White, (so, who was the American?) It appears nobody managed to take-off due to the combined factors of the weight of extra petrol carried and especially a downdraught from the cliffs. The fact that Grahame-White withdrew his challenge made the national newspapers.
However, according to a contemporary account in Flight Claude Grahame-White was actually encamped along the coast at SWINGATE DOWNS near Dover along with Robert Lorraine and C H Cresswell and Lt Watkins (note the Lieutenant) was alone at SHORNCLIFFE. Samuel F Cody had announced he would depart from FARNBOROUGH. The other two contenders were Cecil Grace and the then virtually unknown Tommy Sopwith, both at EASTCHURCH. As it turned out it was the rank outsider, Tom Sopwith, who won the prize on the 18th December 1910. (See EASTCHURCH for more details)
Captain Watkin’s Howard-Wright machine was housed in a shed belonging to the Sappers and one night as they waited for favourable weather a gale sprang up. It is said some two hundred of all ranks from a Brigadier to a drummer-boy where hanging onto the shed most of the night to prevent it being blown away!
It also appears that a Capt. Mackworth was operating a biplane here during early 1910. Perhaps it was his activities which set a precedent for this site being chosen by Lt Watkins as being suitable for his attempt to compete for the Baron de Forest Prize flight?
FOLKESTONE BEACH: Semi-temporary seaplane base
Users: The Avro Transport Co (For joy-rides) and Mr S A Martindale (For joy-rides)
Location: From the beach near the town centre, just W of the Folkestone harbour pier
Period of operation: 1919 to 1920 only?
NOTES: The Avro 504K/L G-EADK seaplane (ex H2582) was owned by the A. V. Roe Co. Ltd and registered to them on the 2nd August 1919. At some point it was acquired by Mr S. A. Martindale and being flown by Major J.P.B. Ferrand who was an instructor on Lake Windermere in WW1. He is reputed to have carried over 350 joy-riders aloft without mishap. Operating from the beach here from the second week in July 1920 for six weeks.
It always interests me that the weather in the U.K. has not changed at all in the last hundred years, or more, despite gradual global warming over the last 11,000 years. Indeed, for example, as stated in the article from The Aeroplane below, the weather in the summer of 1920 was pretty much identical to the summer of 2023, in southern England at any rate.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', has looked into the period when G-EADK was being operated from the beach here during the summer of 1920.
Note: The article with photo was published in The Aeroplane on the 1st September 1920.
NOTES: The period just after the Armistice, ending WW1, is very interesting - to me at least. The official view up to government level was to destroy aeroplanes as quickly as possible. Against this, there were very many people who had acquired a love of aviation during the war, from ground crew to pilots. The main outlet for them, was operating joy-rides, usually using Avro 504 variants, which Avro were busy converting to carry two passengers, And indeed, had a very big joy-riding operation themselves.
FOLKESTONE: Temporary aerodrome?
Pleasure flights: Cornwall Aviation Co
Period of operation: 1926
NOTES: Cornwall Aviation probably used Avro 504K G-EBNR.
Did perhaps this site also serve as the venue for Alan Cobham’s 1929 Municipal Aerodrome Campaign and the later No.1 Tour on the 21st May 1933? If not, does anybody know the exact site(s) used in/near Folkestone?
The aeroplane Cobham used for the 1929 Municipal Aerodrome Campaign was the DH.61 'Giant Moth' G-AAEV, named the 'Youth of Britain'. The punishing schedule he set himself seems quite astonishing today. See STOCKTON-on-TEES for more information. Also highly recommended is reading his memoirs in 'A Time to Fly'.
FOLKESTONE was the 69th venue for the Sir Alan Cobham's Municipal Aerodrome Campaign in early September. Starting in May and ending in October one hundred and seven venues were visited. Mostly in England but with two in Wales and eight in Scotland.
FOLKESTONE: Temporary aerodrome?
NOTES: I have found a record in Colin Cruddas’ excellent book Those Fabulous Flying Years stating that Sir Alan Cobham’s No.1 Tour displayed at Folkestone and Dover on the 10th and 11th August 1933. But what does this mean? Did the Cobham crew split the fleet? I doubt it finding it much more likely they displayed at Dover one day and Folkestone the next, or vica-versa of course. Does anybody now know the facts about these displays and exactly the locations used? I suppose I must have become a hopeless ‘anorak’ simply by asking such questions but I find the entire subject of the early ‘joy- riding’ and “Flying Circus” operations fascinating. If you avail yourself of Mr Cruddas’ book I fully expect you’ll become engrossed too.
On the 4th August 1935 Cobham’s No.1 Tour again displayed in/near Folkestone. On the same site?
FOLKESTONE: Gliding site
NOTES: Listed in 1930 as being operated by the Channel Gliding Club, close to the Dover Road, near the Valiant Sailor public house. Those of us old enough to remember driving along the old A20, long before the tunnel where the M20 ends, will well remember the almost fearsome twisting climb or descent just east of Folkestone, especially in the winter months when snow fell.
FOLKESTONE RACECOURSE: Private/company helicopter landing area
Note: Both these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
The 2013 picture shows what looks like a helipad? Other views over about a twenty year period, appear to show no marked helipads. If anybody can kindly offer advice regarding helicopters landing here, this will be most welcome.
Location: About 6nm W of Folkestone, just N of the A20 and W of Westenhanger
Landing area: 1998: Alongside lake in centre of racecourse
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