Norton Parks
NORTON PARKS: Forced landing site
Used by: Mr John (Jack) Brereton
Location: Just S of the A64, immediately W of the junction with the B1248 (Old A64), and just roughly NE of Malton town centre
Period of use: 29th May 1912
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for discovering this very little known location. And providing the maps and pictures etc.
This article in two parts, was published in the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer on the 30th May 1912.
The local area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
NOTES: Mr Brereton had taken off from the aerodrome he operated as the Filey Aeroplane School at HUNMANBY south of Filey. (see seperate listing). A prize of £50, (about £7000 today - 2024), was being offered by the Chairman of the Yorkshire Aero Club, Mr Stuart A Hirst, for the first pilot to fly from Filey to Leeds - in a British machine.
That proviso was very important. As powered aircraft were being developed in the early 20th century, the French were head and shoulders in advance of any country in the world. The Germans were doing quite well, but the British were really struggling to catch up. The USA was basically a basket case, making very little progress. As far as I can see, only the Wright Flyer showed much if any potential, and that was pretty much a dead end - and - for pilots a heap of sh*t to fly it seems.
Perhaps not too well known these days, is that some of the basic terminology in aircraft construction is still French. Fuselage, aileron and aerofoil for example. Plus aerodrome and hangar. When the French hosted the Grand Semaine d'aviation de la Champagne near Reims from the 22nd to 29th August 1909, it took the world by storm. Indeed, now recognised as the true birthplace of powered aviation. The French ruled the roost. By comparison the British had barely even got going, with just short hops at best.
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
