Netley Common
Note: This map only shows the position today of Netley within the Southampton area. The actual site used could of course be some distance away. If anybody can kindly offer advice on this, it will be most welcome.
NETLEY COMMON: Perhaps a one-off flying site?
Operated by: Pemberton-Billing Ltd
Location: On modern maps Netley is roughly 2.5nm SE of Southampton city centre
NOTES: In his book Spitfire's Forgotten Designer Mike Roussell tells us about this site where the Pemberton-Billing P.B.9 fighter scout first flew. "It became known as the 'seven-day bus' because it was reputed to have been designed and built in seven days. It had not been decided to build the P.B.9 Scout until a Monday morning, when Carol Vasilesco, the draughtsman, started on the design. Construction of the aircraft commenced on the Tuesday and by the following Tuesday, 11 August 1914, the P.B.9 was built and ready to be flight tested."
This sort of design and development timescale was not too unusual in those days, incredible though it seems today, and, Vasilesco, a Romanian immigrant, was just nineteen years old and died shortly after of heart failure.
"Its first flight was made at Netley Common, near Southampton, in the presence of Hubert Scott-Paine; Victor Mahl, Sopwith's chief mechanic, who was loaned by Tommy Sopwith to make the first flight; ....Valiesco....and test pilot Howard Pixton. The first test was for taxying , but Mahl went too close to a fence and damaged a lower wing. A repair was completed hours by workmen from the factory, and Mahl then took the P.B.9 into the air for a successful first flight."
It then was taken to BROOKLANDS (SURREY) to be tested by John Alcock who was not impressed. Mr Alcock later became famous on the trans-Atlantic Vimy flight after WW1 of course. The P.B.2 then went to HENDON (LONDON) for use as a trainer until being taken out of service. A term usually meaning - scrapped.
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