Thatcham Farm
THATCHAM FARM: Temporary aerodrome
Note: It needs to be remembered that, even if used for only one day, the 'Flying Circus' venues were officially licensed aerodromes. All inspected beforehand by men from the Ministry initially although some operators were later allowed to be self-certifying.
Note: The two maps and the picture were kindly supplied by Mr Michael T Holder.
The 2018 area view was obtained from Google Earth ©
Operated by: Sir Alan Cobham's National Aviation Day No.2 Tour
Location: S of the A4, in Thatcham and about 0.5nm NW of the railway station, about 3nm E of Newbury town centre
Period of operation: 28th April 1933
NOTES: I can take no credit for this. It was Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide' who did the research for the maps and that fabulous air-to-air picture. In fact the published venue site was Newbury, which I did have listed.
The picture is also useful in illustrating that although Cobham's company, National Aviation Displays Ltd, did own sixteen aircraft for the 1933 display season, they did hire in other people. For example this picture shows three Avro 504 types. G-EBGZ and G-EBIS were Avro 504Ks and owned by Mr L Rimmer, who usually flew G-EBIS. G-EBHE was an Avro 504N and was owned by Mr William Mackay who was based at HOOTON PARK in CHESHIRE.
Clearly seen below is a Cierva C.19 autogyro. Two were owned by NAD Ltd, one for each tour, and these were G-ABUC and G-ABFZ.
Later Mike Holder did some more research comparing various old pictures, and found that at this venue were five aircraft owned by NAD Ltd:
Two DH.82 Tiger Moths: G-ABUL and G-ACEZ
Two DH.83 Fox Moths: G-ACEY and G-ACEZ
And the Airspeed Ferry: G-ABSI
Plus, the Spartan 3-seater, G-EBYH owned by Aerofilms Ltd
There would have been several more of course.
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