Top Common
TOP COMMON: Temporary aerodrome (Aka HEATH HAYES)
Operated by: Sir Alan Cobham's National Aviation Day 1935 No.2 Tour
C W A Scott's Flying Displays
Period of operation: Cobham: 8th September 1935 C W A Scott: 4th May 1936
Location: Just N of the B5102, (now the A5190), just E of Fiveways, about 2nm E of Cannock town centre
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Note: The second item was published in the Evening Despatch on the 7th September 1935.
The picture of G-EBTS, a Fokker F.VIIA, (ex H-NADK which was a Dutch), is courtesy of Mr Reg Fullelove on the Brownhills Blog. This must have been taken shortly before it was flown or shipped to Bombay in India, subsequently scrapped around March 1937. In those days aircraft based in India retained their British registrations.
Note: The first article was published in the Birmingham Daily Gazette on the 9th September 1935. The following advert and article were both published in the Lichfield Mercury on the 1st May 1936.
Note: The fourth item, is an advert published in the Walsall Observer on the 7th September 1935.
Regarding the "What is it" picture above, also from Mr Reg Fullelove and the Brownhills Blog, I think it is probably, (and I am no expert), a Spartan Three Seater II? Possibly G-ACAF, which, although not owned by the Cobham organisation, does it appears participated in his 1934 Tour.
Note: The local area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
NOTES: Although the National Aviation Day tours organised by Sir Alan Cobham and his organistion have become synonymous with the 'Flying Circus' era of the 1930s, and they were certainly the largest undertakings by far, those four tours only lasted from 1932 until 1935.
The 1935 tour started at TITCHFIELD ROAD, Fareham in HAMPSHIRE on the 12th April 1935, and split into two tours on the 1st July. The initial tour was planned for 72 venues, the No.1 Tour for 88 venues and the No.2 Tour for 84 venues - making a total of 244. This venue for the No.2 Tour was the 64th venue.
It may well seem astonishing today, but, virtually all the venues were visited, and displays and passenger flights made - on time!
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