Wheatons Farm
WHEATON'S FARM: Gliding site (Aka LANGDON HILLS)
Location: In Langdon Hills, S of Laindon and an area of SW Basildon
NOTES: Here once again I have Alan Simpson to thank for this information and he has done an enormous amount of original research into flying sites in southern and especially SW Essex.
"In early 1931, The British Gliding Association Handbook recorded that the South Essex Aero Club had moved its gliding ground from Skinners Farm to a location in the Langdon Hills. This was subsequently confirmed as being at Wheaton's Farm, Laindon."
"The Essex Chronicle, 17 April 1931 SOUTH ESSEX AERO CLUB.
'Taking advantage of the long looked-for fine weather on Sunday, members of the above club had a full day's flying on their ground at Langdon Hills. The members have been erecting a large hanger* at the ground to house three machines. It was soon apparent that the scarcity of meetings during the last few months had not impaired the skill of the members, who without exception made excellent flights, for which the club is awarding two prizes each month, and there was keen rivalry. Three flights, each of over 20 seconds duration, were put up by Mr. Palmer, one of the club instructors. It has been decided to hold meetings each Saturday and Sunday'."
*My note: Notice the incorrect spelling of 'hangar'.
"The Sailplane and Glider, 22 May 1931 SOUTH ESSEX AERO CLUB (GLIDING SECTION)
'Although the weather has not been very encouraging over the week-end, members of the South Essex Aero Club who turned out intending to put in some practice were well rewarded for their enthusiasm by a good number of flights. Having consulted our friend the wind-gauge, it was decided to try out No.2 Hill and some very good flights were the result. Mr. Palmer, the Club's instructor, kept the R.F.D.** going for 22 secs. and was followed by Mr. Jaggers and Mr. A.C.Tupper with flights of 15 and 17 secs. respectively. Adjourning to the hangar for luncheon the morning's performances were discussed and having noted that a change in wind direction had taken place it was decided to transfer to another hill hitherto not used by the Club.'
**My note: This was a Dagling glider built in Guildford.
'This decision proved a wise one. The afternoon show being better than the morning and the following flights amongst others were logged: Mr.H.A.Sissons 18 secs., Mr. M.Jaggers 20 and 18 secs., Mr Hammond 19 secs., and Mr. Palmer 25 and 23 secs'."
This is as far as the information discovered by Alan Simpson goes. Can anybody kindly add more advice as to how long the club kept going?
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER
The advances in glider design are amongst the greatest advances made in aviation history - something not so often given enough credit for - and generally publicised. It is for example, common today, for gliders remaining aloft for many hours on end, soaring to great heights, and covering very large distances. Yet here, they were measuring flights in seconds!
Just to give some idea of how far gliders have advanced, a few years ago, in January 2007, I had a flight in a Duo-Discus from Omarama in New Zealand, one of the best gliding sites in the world. On the day the weather was possibly the worst imaginable for gliding, heavy high overcast, no thermals and no wind. Nevertheless, after an aero-tow we circled around for quite a while before a landing became neccessary - and don't forget - I had virtually no experience of glider flying!
It was a most astonishing experience, I flew the downwind circuit sector exactly as I would in a powered aircraft! It seemed to have no tendency to descend. And indeed, I needed to apply the air brakes to slow us down on base leg (I think) but certainly on finals to land. Now that, in my book at least - is progress!
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