The Hyde
THE HYDE: Civil private aerodrome
Manufacturing: Aircraft Manufacturing Company (Airco)
Location: To the west of the A5 Edgeware Road, just NW of West Hendon
Period of operation: 1912 (?) to 1920 and perhaps still operational to 1923?
NOTES: There are several reliable records concerning a ‘flying field’ or ‘take-off’ field to the west of the Airco factory situated near The Hyde/Edgware Road. It would seem that Airco produced aircraft took off to RAF HENDON for further checks before entering service. There also seem to be accurate records of other aircraft visiting this landing ground.
SOME DETAILS
By 1918 the Airco factory in Hendon employed between seven and eight thousand people and produced aircraft, engines and propellers. The site had a wind tunnel and was producing, on average, a new aircraft every forty-five minutes. In an advert Holt Thomas, (the owner of Airco), claimed the company was the largest manufacturer of aircraft in the world. This appears to be correct although it has to be said that much of the output was subcontracted, including production taking place in other countries. In 1914 Geoffrey de Havilland joined the company and his designs carried the ‘DH’ type numbering ident, starting with the DH.1. When de Havilland formed his own company, up the road at STAG LANE, the ‘tradition’ was continued.
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