Roundhay Park
ROUNDHAY PARK: Temporary Landing Ground, later Civil aerodrome (Also known as LEEDS and SOLDIERS FIELD)
NOTE: The first evidence of flying at ROUNDHAY PARK was when Jack Brereton and a collegue, (presumably also involved with the Filey Aeroplane Club?), flew two Blackburn aircraft across from Filey, (see HUNMANBY listing) to take part in the Leeds Hospital Gala staged from the 5th to 8th August 1912. This site being close to and just east of the later aerodrome listed below.
Sadly it was a complete wash-out - often quite typical August holiday weather. In fact our weather has not changed at all in the last hundred years at least, despite a gradual change in global warming - which has of course been occurring during the last 11,000 years - with major fluctuations along the way, as to be expected. So, highly volatile sitting as we do in our green and septic isle jutting out into the Atlantic. One year good, next year shi......and so on.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for both finding the evidence and providing the maps, newspaper articles etc.
The article was published in the Yorkshire Evening Post on the 1st August 1912.
All four of these articles were published in the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The synoptic chart clearly shows the utterly dismal weather aspect which dampened the proceedings in all repects.
CIVIL AERODROME
Cargo/charter: North Sea Aerial Navigation Co
Pleasure flights: North Sea Aerial Navigation Co
Manufacturing: Flight test airfield for the Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Co
Location: 4nm NNE of Leeds city centre
Period of operation: 1914 to 1920
NOTES: It appears that prior to 1914 Blackburn were using LOFTHOUSE PARK, from early 1913
A TRAGIC ACCIDENT
It was here on 13th May 1917 that W R Ding, (previously with the Northern Aircraft Co on Lake Windermere), crashed into the ground and was killed when flight-testing a B.E.2c after he “performed an unauthorised loop”. The B.E.2c was a biplane but it appears a wing became detached, no doubt because he was pulling excessive 'G'?
It was a great shame because W R Ding was one of the notable early British aviators.
AMUSED
I’m amused at the thought of Blackburn Kangaroos, originally a fairly sizeable bomber type, being used for joy-rides here in 1919 before the Blackburn operation moved to BROUGH.
A ROD HEWITT GALLERY
Note: The 'White Falcon' picture has, it appears, Roland Ding seated in the cockpit. The fourth item, almost certainly a 'White Falcon', probably with Roland Ding at the controls. Note the addition of RAF roundels which were introduced in December 1914. The 'White Falcon' was a 1916 design and a one-off special for Roland Ding.
Note. The sixth item shows the exhibition tents, or marquees, (rather grandly called 'Halls'), erected for the RAF Exhibition in 1919. The seventh item shows a Kangaroo, a quite large aircraft in its day, making a very spirited departure. No doubt the pilot was showing off and this angle of climb would have been short-lived as with such a draggy design and relatively low power, it could not have been sustained for more than a few seconds? But, it does show the considerable elevator authority this design had. I'll bet its rate of roll was far less spectacular? These pictures of the Kangaroo were taken, it appears, in Amsterdam.
NOTES: Rod then tells us: "The 'flying' portion of the field is defined by Princess Avenue to the west, Park Avenue and West Avenue to the east and wooded area and Sports Ground to the North."
"The field is under control of the Leeds Corporation having purchased the Roundhay Estate of the Nicholson family in 1871 and developed it as a public park. The field becomes active in 1914 with the arrival of the Blackburn Aeroplane Company at the converted Olympia Roller Skating Rink in Roundhay Road to the south of the field and is used for test flying."
"The name of Soldiers Field comes from the field being used as a meeting place for solfiers during WW1."
"On the 22nd to 24th July 1914, the first airline service in Great Britain flying between cities, to a timetable (half hourly flights) is conducted between Leeds Roundhay and Bradford Thornbury. These were essentialy pleasure flights. The Great Yorkshire Show was held on these dates and the Yorkshire Evening News had estabished the 'Great Yorkshire Show Air Line'. This used a Blackburn B1 aircraft, (two seats), (My note - one for a passenger), piloted by Harold Blackburn (no relation to Robert Blackburn founder of the aircraft manufacturing company) with the first passenger being the Lady Mayoress of Leeds, Dorathy Una Radcliffe."
"At some point after 1914 and by 1916 William Roland Ding becomes a test/delivery pilot for Blackburns. He is an accomplished, natural but 'daredevil f'lyer ' a trait that will lead to his early demise on 12th May 1917." For more information follow the link: https//wwwoakwoodchurchinfo>ding.
"Test flying continues throughout the war though Blackburns have opened other facilities at Sherburn-in-Elmet and at Brough on the banks of the Humber in East Yorkshire."
"After the war ended test flying began to draw down as the focus switched to other sites with better flying facilities. In June 1919 the newly formed Royal Air Force held a considerable exhibition on the field with 'halls' being erected at the north eastern tip of what is known as the sports ground." There are a number of photographs available to view on: https//leodis.net, search 'Royal Air Force'
ANOTHER NEW ENTERPRISE
"In late September of 1919, an enterprising Blackburn set up 'North Sea Aerial Navigation Co. Ltd, using Blackburn Kangeroo aircraft sourced from the RAF at 246 Squadron at RAF Seaton Carew. This provides a passenger and freight service from Leeds Roundhay to London Hounslow and Amsterdam. This, however, was again short-lived and operations were transferred to other Blackburn sites."
"Sometime in the early '20s, grass tennis courts were fashioned along the eastern side which would affect the available area. A press report from 1925 has the delivery, from London, of a de Havilland DH60 Moth, G-EBLS, for the fledgling Yorkshire Aero Club being placed in doubt due to the tennis courts. Subsequent information has the delivery to Soldiers Field as being successful." This appears to be the final record of any flying taking place here.
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