Glen Brittle
GLEN BRITTLE: Civil 'regional airport' (Aka GLENBRITTLE)
Airline user: Pre 1940: Northern & Scottish Airways
Location: On the SW part of the Isle of Skye, S of Glenbriitle House, 17.5nm W to WSW of BROADFORD, the present Isle of Sky airport
Period of operation: 1935 to 1938
NOTES: It is quite likely, that prior to regular services being established in late 1935, that some air-ambulance operations used the beach, just south of the later 'airport'.
But, it has to be remembered that in those days, even for 'airports' serving many popular locations in England, (see HALDON in DEVON), they were often little more than a field with a windsock and maybe a shed serving as a 'terminal'.
In September 2022, Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', took it upon himself to investigate the history of this little known location, and came up with a surprising amount of information, mostly regarding the inaugral flight by two de Havilland DH84 Dragons on the 5th December 1935.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Note: The article in Flight magazine was published on the 12th December 1935.
Note: The book excerpt was from UK Airfields Past and Present.
The air-to-air picture of the de Havilland DH84 Dragon G-ACFG was taken during the inaugral flight to GLENBRITTLE on the 5th December 1935. Presumably taken from the other Dragon that participated. This aircraft was registered to Northern & Scottish Airways from 11.12.34 until February 1937. The airline operated three Dragons, the other two being G-ACJS and G-ACNG. We do not know, to date, which of these was the second Dragon that day.
Note: These great comparisons by Mike Holder, Double pic One and Two, illustrate the present day view with those pictures published in The Scotsman on the 6th December 1935. We suspect, in Double pic Two, the mountain on the right hand side was probably obscured by low cloud. The first 'Double pic One' shows the two DH84 Dragons on the 'airport', and 'Double pic Two' the welcoming committee.
Note: The newspaper article was published in the Dundee Evening Telegraph on the 7th September 1938. The local area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
This very full and detailed account of the inaugral service to GLEN BRITTLE was published in The Scotsman on the 6th December 1935.
SOMETHING OF INTEREST? A QUERY?
Take a look at the two accident reports listed below.
Note: The newspaper article regarding the forced landing made here by Lord Semphill on the 31st July 1937 was published in the Aberdeen Press and Journal on the 2nd August 1937. The area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
THE QUERY?
The first accident report regarding the Spartan Cruiser Mk.III G-ACVT is dated the 23rd March 1936. This taking place at RONALDSWAY on the Isle of Man, and stating the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was then, it appears, registered to British Airways at HESTON. Clearly G-ACVT was quite quickly repaired and it was transferred to Northern & Scottish Airways at RENFREW on 17.05.36. Then coming to grief here, finally, on the 25th July 1936.
The query being - are these details correct? It appears that Northern & Scottish had acquired four Spartan Cruisers, so presumably they held the type in high regard? To date I can only trace three - G-ACSM, G-ACVT and G-ADEL. Needless to say it can often be a thankless task to try and fill in these details, and very time consuming. The principal task of this 'Guide' being to record the actual flying sites in the U.K., and certainly not to attempt to provide a detailed account, no matter how tempting it can be to delve just a bit further.
So, needless to say, and as always, if anybody can kindly offer advice and information, this will be much appreciated.
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