York flying sites
Note: This map gives only the location of the city within the UK.
YORK see also ACASTER MALBIS
YORK see also BOOTHAM STRAY
YORK see also COPMANTHORPE
YORK see also ELVINGTON
YORK see also HOB MOOR
YORK see also KNAVESMIRE
YORK see also MIDDLETHORPE HALL HOTEL
YORK see also MURTON
YORK see also RAWCLIFFE MANOR
YORK see also RUFFORTH
YORK: Balloon ascent launching site
Operated by: Mr Charles Green
Location: ? (Presumably this is known?)
Period of operation: 17th September, 1825
YORK: Airship demonstration
NOTES: It appears the Spencers demonstrated their airship in YORK in 1902. Is anything more known?
See CRYSTAL PALACE (LONDON) for more details of the Spencers airship.
YORK: The 15th venue for Sir Alan Cobham’s 1929 Municipal Aerodrome Campaign Tour. This started in May and ended in October with one hundred and seven towns and cities planned on being visited. Mostly in England but with two venues in Wales and eight in Scotland. After a couple of crashes and other setbacks, Cobham eventually visited 97 venues - still a magnificent achievement.
See HOB MOOR for more information.
The aicraft he mostly used was the DH61 'Giant Moth' G-AAEV, named 'Youth of Britain'. Without any doubt this campaign resulted in several aerodromes/airports being commissioned, but did this apply at York? I'm not sure it did - at least not soon after his visit.
York is also listed as a venue in April 1931 for the CD Barnard Air Tours tour of the UK.
In both cases the actual location used by both these enterprises seems unknown? Indeed, the YORK location used by Cobham’s No.2 Tour on the 11th August 1933 isn’t known either - or so it seems.
YORK: Horse racecourse & temporary aerodrome (later helicopter landing area)
Note: Both these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Was there once a 02/20 runway about 630 metres long? Both these pictures seem to show evidence? Rather oddly it seems, I can find no evidence of a designated helicopter landing area. Surely helicopters have visited in recent years? If anybody can kindly offer advice this will be much appreciated.
Location: 2nm S of city centre
Period of operation: 1930s & 1950s (Fixed wing aircraft) (Helicopters from 1970s (?) to - )
NOTES: The Aviation Tours 1931 itinerary lists ‘The Knavesmire Racecourse’ York as a venue for their Tour of Britain. Presumably this is the same ‘York’ racecourse as exists today? It appears they used the racecourse during May that year. A bit more research certainly appears to confirm this was indeed the location still used today.
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