Horndean
HORNDEAN: Pleasure-flight site only?
Operated by: Air Transport & Sales Ltd
Location: Not known? Horndean village today is just W of the A3(M) before it reverts to being the A3. Roughly 2.5nm NNE of Waterlooville and roughly 4nm N of the centre of Havant
Period of operation: At some period between 1932 and 1937, but perhaps not for the whole period?
NOTES: Air Transport & Sales were based at HAYLING aerodrome on Hayling Island from 1932 to 1937 and during that period operated five Spartan 3-Str types. These it appears included G-ABRA, G-ABRB, G-ABYH and G-ABTR. The identity of the fifth seems unknown. They also operated a Blackburn Bluebird Mk.4, possibly G-AAUX?
Just why they decided to use a field at Horndean, as well as HAYLING and EASTOKE seems a bit of a mystery, as this was long before most of the general public owned cars, and it is quite a distance from the popular holiday destinations on the coast. It was however a quite common practice for joy-ride operators to provide transport from the centre of resorts to the airfield, so possibly HORNDEAN was an 'over-spill' facility at the height of the summer season?
If anybody can kindly offer advice, this will be most welcome.
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