Foulness Island
Note: This map only gives the position of Foulness Island within the UK. Having had a look on Google Earth is it safe to assume he probably used a site on the sands at the north-east end of the island? Any advice will be most welcome.
FOULNESS ISLAND: Temporary flying site
NOTES: In November 1910 Mr Robert F Macfie moved his aeroplane from FAMBRIDGE to FOULNESS ISLAND where he stayed for three weeks “on the sands” and flew just twice, each flight ending in ‘a smash’ as accidents were called in those days, before being, “ordered off the the sands by War Office Officials,” and moving his machine to Kursaal near Southend where it got hopelessly bogged down.
Help was at hand, (I have abbreviated history somewhat), so he moved his machine to Pau and elsewhere in France. These adventures also failed so he returned to England where he began building another machine at PORTHOLM in HUNTINGDONSHIRE.
A letter to The Times dated 5th April 1909 by a Mr Norman A Thompson stated that he believed there were three recognised flying grounds in the country. The first was the Aeronautical Society facility at DAGENHAM, the second a site on private property at FOULNESS and the Aero Club aerodrome at SHELLNESS. This is very interesting as I can find no mention of anybody operating from FOULNESS prior to Mr Macfie arriving late in 1910. Had he confused FOULNESS with FAMBRIDGE?
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