Ramsgate Airport
RAMSGATE see also CHEESMAN’S FARM
RAMSGATE: Civil regional airport
(Also known as THE AERODROME, RAMSGATE, THE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT of RAMSGATE and THANET AIRPORT)
Note: I find this picture very interesting. It is apparently of the DH.84 Dragon G-AECZ, which has the legend "Ramsgate Airport Ltd" painted on the fuselage. I cannot think of any other example in the UK of an airport operating aircraft? In this case what exactly did they do? Local joy rides perhaps, or possibly services to other destinations? Can anybody help?
Activities: Airline, pleasure flights and aerial photography
Operated by: 1930s: Straight Corporation (A Whitney Straight concern)
1965: Ramsgate Airport Ltd
British airline users: Pre 1940: Crilly Airways, Hillman’s Airways, Southern Airways
Post 1945: Air Kruise, Trans Channel Airways
Photographic: Post 1945: Skyfotos
Flying schools: Pre 1940: Thanet Aero Club
Post 1945: Ramsgate Flying Club
Notes: In the 1957 The Aeroplane directory, the Ramsgate Flying Club, with a membership of 150, were operating three de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moths, one Auster and one Miles M38 Messenger.
Pleasure flights?: Skyflights
Note: These two pictures from postcards were kindly sent by Mike Charlton, who has an amazing collection. See, www.aviationpostcard.co.uk
This Tri-Pacer, G-AREV, has a very varied history of owners and operators - but no sign of 'Skyflights' based at RAMSGATE. I assume it was operated on a rental or lease deal? It was first registered in the UK on the 12th October 1960, having been previously registered in the USA as N9628D. Oddly perhaps, most of its owners were based in the north-west of England.
Location: 1nm WSW of Broadstairs town centre, 2nm NNW of Ramsgate town centre and 2.5nm SSE of Margate town centre
Period of operation: Officially opened in July 1935 to replace NETHERCOURT and, I suppose CHEESMAN’S FARM too? Used in WW2 as a dispersal area for RAF fighters based at MANSTON. Reopened in 1953, closed for good in 1968
Runways: A 91 acre grass site with ‘Landing Runs’ of; N/S 823 grass E/W 823 grass NE/SW 732 grass.
However, according to Neville Doyle in his book The Triple Alliance, by 1937 it had a maximum ‘runs’ of: E/W 823 grass NE/SW 704 grass
Note: This map was reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014
Runways: 04/22 762x91 grass 06/24 774x91 grass 12/30 686x91 grass
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
The second picture clearly shows the North Foreland lighthouse in the background, but of course for our interest, in the foreground of the fourth picture is G-AERK - a B.A. Swallow 2. To its left is a BAC Drone, but I cannot determine the registration. And left of this can be seen the wings and one engine of a DH84 Dragon. Then a very popular regional airliner.
And, talking of airliners, it appears the BAC Drone shared a reputation with the BAC One-Eleven. Both being regarded as the most efficient means of converting pound notes into noise!
NOTES: I discovered one intriguing account of Captain Cecil H Darley flying a Handley Page ‘Super’ from RAMSGATE to Madrid in May 1919. From the same site perhaps, or one nearby such as NETHERCOURT or CHEESEMAN’S FARM or quite probably just a convenient field in the vicinity?
From July 1935 it appears that Hillman’s Airways were operating a service to Le Zoute in Belgium using DH.84 Dragons. They also operated daily summer services to here from ESSEX AIRPORT (STAPLEFORD), whereby passengers could return to London on the General Steam Navigation Company’s SS Royal Eagle disembarking at Tower Bridge in the City of London at 10 pm after calling in at Gravesend and Woolwich.
FLYING CIRCUS VENUE?
Possibly the venue on the 1st August 1935 for Cobham’s No.1 Tour that year although - it is just possible they used NETHERCOURT where they’d previously displayed?
Venue (9th August 1936) for British Empire Air Display Tour of the UK
In 1937 it seems that three RAF Squadrons visited for their ‘Summer Camps”.
Southern Airways are reported to have established a daily service to RAMSGATE from ILFORD with the DH.84 Dragon G-AECZ previously registered to Ramsgate Airport Ltd. Scheduled flights in 1950s to Le Touquet and Ostende using Dragon Rapides.
THE THANET AIR RACE
Note: Both these pictures by D.W. Philips were scanned from the excellent Cornwall Aviation Company book by Ted Chapman, published in 1979.
The Thanet Air Race took place on the 21st August 1937 and it appears that nineteen aircraft took part - sixteen British, two from Germany and one from Latvia! The latter being a VEF Riga 1-12, (just possibly YL-ABS?), and no doubt in search of export orders. The race, clearly a handicap race, was won by Mr Paul Elwell flying the Taylor Cub G-AESK.
Two Percival Mew Gulls competed - G-AEKL seen in the photograph and G-AEXF flown by Alex Henshaw - who I expect was probably a bit miffed to be placed third. For me the other 'star-turn' was the T.K.2 G-ADNO, also seen in the first picture, designed and built at the de Havilland Technical School at HATFIELD. Geoffrey de Havilland himself flew the T.K.2 in the race and came seventh. Quite a creditable result I would think.
SOME MEMORIES
In More Tails Of The Fifties, compiled and edited by Peter H Campbell, A J Jackson related these stories.
"We well remember being present at the original opening ceremony on July 3rd 1937 and although we have no record of all the machines present that day, the following were seen for the first time: Aeronca 300 G-AEVE, Drone G-AEEN, Hawk Major G-AENS, Hornet Moth G-ADKV, Swallow 2 G-AERK & G-AEYV and Tipsy S.2 G-AEYG.
It appears the aerodrome/airport was closed during WW2, but still subjected to bombing by the Luftwaffe. Clearly their intelligence network was sadly lacking, as indeed is still proving to be the case.
He then tells us about flying down from SOUTHEND in the Auster Autocrat G-AGYF on the 27th June 1953. (Although the article is dated the 11th July 1953).
Regarding the opening ceremony: "This was performed by the Minister of Civil Aviation who arrived per S.51 G-AJOV from Shoreham". This was a Sikorsky type, rather than Westland, operated by BEA (British European Airways) and getting on in years for those days - being registered in October 1947 and withdrawn from use a year later in August 1954.
"Although hampered by the low cloud the flying display was of above average quality, starting with simultaneous gyrations by Dart Kittens G-AEXT and 'MJP and the Fairey Junior G-AMVP. Next came a demonstration by the prototype Heron G-ALZL, it's 'small-field' performance being shown off in natural surroundings.
My note: I fail to understand, although doing well, why the Dove and Heron didn't make a bigger impact on export orders in those days? I don't think, for example, the Americans had anything to compete?
"Marmol then shattered the populace with a gliding display in the Aerovan 4 G-AJTC with dead 'sticks'. If the ceiling had been higher he intended to take up the dance band and let it play sweet music through the open rear door on the way down." This is without any doubt the most novel air display idea I have ever heard of?
"Then came the age-old instructor and pupil act on the Ramsgate Club Tiger Moth G-AHND followed by a demonstration by Sikorsky H.19 51-3889 of the USAF."
What seems to me to be well worthy of note, is that French Patrouille d'Etampes attended with their four Stampe SV.4s, and made a splendid low-level display. Then John Ralling ejected himself by parachute from the Auster Autocrat G-AIZZ of the Ramsgate Club. C. Nepean Bishop, (My note. Of Tiger Club fame), then gave his display of 'Maggiebatics' in the Redhill Hawk Trainer 3 G-AJRT.
"The programme then ended with flypasts by the Meteors of No.500 Squadron and a lonely F.86E Sabre 19154 of the RCAF."
Viewed in March 2021 when this was article was added. What a lovely word picture it describes.
AN ACT OF APPALLING DELIQUENCY
In 1937 a terminal building designed by Mr D Pleydell-Bouverie was opened here which really was, (although pretty small as airport terminal buildings go), a truly remarkable architectural ‘style’ achievement and internationally recognised for being so. In the 1980s a person or more probably a group of people, (the most despicable low-life delinguents), decided to demolish this unique building. I think we now deserve to have it rebuilt.
THE LAST EVER VISIT?
There is a report of the Beagle 206, G-ATZO, landing here circa 1977/78. This would have been around ten years after the airport closed.
Robert Bush
This comment was written on: 2016-06-25 16:54:48Ramsgate Municipal Airport was located at OS TR375675 1.75 miles north of Ramsgate Harbour, 1.5 miles west of Broadstairs and 2.75 miles south of Margate Pier. The site is now Pyson's Road Industrial Estate and off the aerial photo shown here. The demolition of the Modern style terminal building is very sad and let's hope the same fate does not arise with the demolition of the Beehive at Gatwick if a second runway is built. Robert Bush Tunbridge Wells
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Robert, Many thanks indeed. I actually found a map of the location published in the 1930s, so I relied on this. On the assumption that it was of the period and therefore certainly should be reliable. However, it just did not seem correct to me. I am so pleased that you have proved my misgivings correct. My best regards, Dick
Lawrence James Blake
This comment was written on: 2018-01-25 18:12:07Is there a runway layout for Ramsgate Airport (now Pysons Road Industrial Estate)
History of Manston Airfield
This comment was written on: 2018-04-29 00:06:48Ramsgate Airport was not on Cheeseman's Farm - that was a site at Manston.
R Tobin
This comment was written on: 2019-11-05 16:38:59I lived from 1943 only half a mile from Ramsgate Airport. We used to 'play' in the bombed out terminal building. I remember that after the war, the grass on the airfield was about 6 feet high, and a runway was opened up down the field. I was there when the first plane landed, which was a Dragon Rapide. In the 1950's pleasure trips around the Isle of Thanet were flown by Dragon Rapides and (I believe) a Miles Messenger. The airfield was also used by model aircraft enthusiasts.
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