Oak View
OAK VIEW: Temporary aerodrome (Aka PLOMPTON and PLOMPTON BAR)
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Note: The two pictures and the article are all from the Yorkshire Post. The first picture is probably of the Handley Page HP35 Clive, G-ABYX? The problem being that the Clive was a development of the Handley Page W.10, and they look very similar. In 1932 the Sir Alan Cobham National Aviation Day tour hired a W.10 from Imperial Airways, G-EBMR, but it would seem, not after September that year.
The second picture is of an Airspeed AS.4 Ferry - and two of these were operated - G-ABSI and G-ABSJ.
A BONUS PICTURE
Note: Mike Holder has very kindly added this, showing where the field used is situated today.
Operated by: Sir Alan Cobham's Municipal Aerodrome Campaign, 1st & 2nd June 1929
(Note: See HARROGATE FLYING SITES for more information)
Alan Cobham’s 1932 National Aviation Day UK Display Tour
Location: N of the A661, W of the B6163, about 3nm E to ESE of Harrogate town centre and roughly 2nm S of Knareborough town centre. The field used is adgacent to, and just W of the A658 today.
Period of operation: June 1929, 5th October 1932
Landing area: It appears the field size was 340 yards (310 metres) by 440 yards (402 metres).
Note: Today of course this might appear ridiculously small. But, we need to take at least two factors into account. Although generally very draggy designs, most aircraft in those days, including airliners, had heavily cambered 'high lift' wings. Plus, the concept of adding around a 25% safety factor for taking off and landing was unheard of. Pilots employed by the 'Flying Circus' operators were expected to be very skilful, and indeed, their safety record was very good.
NOTES: It was during this 1932 show that one of the few very serious accidents occurred during the Cobham displays. Captain E.D. Crundall, despite warnings from Sir Alan Cobham to fly higher, persisted in giving low altitude passenger carrying aerobatic flights in the Avro 504K G-AAUJ. On this day his luck ran out and one of the two passengers died in the ensuing crash. The other passenger immediately took another flight to “steady his nerves!” We know pilots were made of ‘stern stuff’ in those days but it seems many passengers were too!
Although passengers and pilots were supposed to wear a seat belt by the Air Ministry, it seems this rule was rarely complied with even when fitted. And indeed, in the early days of aviation, the idea of fitting even a lap belt, hadn't been invented.
I’m old enough to remember the public rumpus involved when compulsory seat belt wearing was applied to cars some forty years later, but not to wear one in an aeroplane performing aerobatics is beyond my imagination. I’ve strapped myself in so tightly for aerobatics, I’m probably an inch shorter as a result.
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