The Swifts
THE SWIFTS: Venue/control stop for the 1911 Daily Mail Circuit of Britain air race.
Note: The map was kindly provided by Mr Graham Frost. The picture was obtained from Google Earth ©
Operated by: Carlisle City Council?
Location: A roughly triangular area, enclosed by a loop in the River Eden, near and east of the Eden Bridge. Just N of Carlisle town centre
Period of operation: 25th July 1911. (The aircraft had departed from BROOKLANDS on the 22nd)
Intermittent further use during the 1920s possibly into the 1930s?
NOTES: Not to be confused with KINGSTOWN airport which was opened nearby in the 1930s.
It was estimated that a crowd of 25,000 had gathered by 6am, the first aircraft being expected to arrive shortly after this time. In fact the first aircraft, a Blériot flown by André Beaumont arrived at 11.15, landing at 11.16. The few remaining aircraft in the race continued to arrive over the following days, and I believe Samuel Cody arrived last on the 28th, taking off again the following morning.
As an example of a rare landing in later years a DH.9 of the de Havilland Aeroplane Hire Service is known to have landed here in March 1923.
ANOTHER POSSIBLE USE?
The first scheduled ‘cargo’ air service by Northern Air Lines to MALONE near Belfast commenced on the 2nd September 1924 with the DH.9 G-EBJW. Departing from AINTREE they flew to SOUTHPORT SANDS to collect the cargo of newspapers then routed via Barrow, Maryport, Portpatrick and then Carlisle. Quite probably they landed at THE SWIFTS?. The last service of 1924 departed on the 3rd November as it wasn’t either safe or commercially viable to offer a winter service. In fact it wasn’t too good before this and so, for resumption of services in 1925 an alternative pick-up site was established at LUCE BAY with aircraft being stationed there. The service resumed in March 1925 but was discontinued later. One accounts says in June, another in November.
A SMALL ADVENTURE
An Avro Avian named ‘Terra Nova’ landed here piloted by a Mr Thornton, with a lady passenger to conduct business in the town. Attempting to fly south, (I know the feeling!), he made a forced landing in the Meadows near Whitehaven. Apparently Mr Thornton got back to THE SWIFTS later that day but elected to continue his journey by train, (I know about this too!). So, nothing changes in light aviation by and large for average pilots trying to fly VFR, (Visual Flight Rules; in sight of the surface, clear of cloud etc).
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