Norton on Derwent
NORTON: Temporary aerodrome? (Aka NORTON-on-DERWENT)
Operated by: Unknown?
Location: Just SSW of Norton town centre, just SSE of Malton town centre
Period of operation: 1929
A SHORT MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for discovering this particular and little known venue. As Mike pointed out to me, a very extensive search failed to reveal anything in the press at the time - which is most unusual.
The local area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
NOTES: 1929 was a very interesting year in many ways. The Great Depression was digging in, but, ever since the end of WW1 a wide variety of operators had been touring the country offering joy-rides. The main aircraft type much favoured at that time, and still popular up to WW2, was the Avro 504, especially the 'K' and 'N' versions. Avro had made a lucrative sideline by converting many of these to have side-by-side seating in the front cockpit.
It was also the year that Sir Alan Cobham had embarked on a mostly solo stupendous tour of 107 venues around much of mainland Britain, from May to October, exhorting people to become 'Air Minded' and encouraging councils to construct local aerodromes, especially for use as regional airports.
The era, popularly known as the 'Flying Circus' period, with much larger displays with a fleet of aircraft, did not get going until 1931, by which time The Great Depression had really taken hold. But of course, during times for most people living under duress, the desire for escapism escalates. Note how Hollywood responded with the most extravagent movies ever made in terms of glitter and glamour.
If anybody can kindly offer advice about what actually went on here, this help will be much appreciated.
SOME THOUGHTS
Mike and I strongly suspect, with no particular concrete proof we admit, that this could well have been a venue for the Berkshire Aviation Company? Then again,the Cornwall Aviation Company were holding a display in BRIDLINGTON on the 10th August 1929, so, certainly in this area.
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