Manchester’s Aviation Legacy

Posted on by pleszak

This blog is to describe what is now mainly the legacy of the major sites of aviation around the Manchester area.

It is intended to be an organic document which I will update, modify and correct so would be grateful for any suggestions.

The first instalment is a map of the Manchester area showing major locations together with some appropriate (but not definitive or exhaustive) links.

Click for larger image

Links

Alcock & Brown Blue Plaques
https://openplaques.org/plaques/730
https://openplaques.org/plaques/740

Alexandra Park Airfield
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandra_Park_Aerodrome
https://www.forgottenairfields.com/airfield-alexandra-park-1024.html
https://simpleflying.com/alexandra-park-aerodrome-manchester-airport-precursor/
https://www.ukairfieldguide.net/airfields/Alexandra-Park

Avro
https://www.avroheritagemuseum.co.uk
https://pleszak.blog/2019/03/16/manchesters-avro-aviation-heritage-reminders/

Balloon Flights
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Sadler_(balloonist)
https://www.manchestersfinest.com/articles/sky-dragons-heroes-cats-the-extraordinary-english-aeronaut-of-balloon-street/
http://prba.org.uk/page.asp?p_id=16

Barrage Balloon Centre No.10
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6945419
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6945429
https://www.lancashireatwar.co.uk/barrageballoons

Barton Aerodrome
https://www.bartonaerodrome.co.uk/ourstory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Airport_%26_Manchester_Heliport

Fairey Aviation
http://www.levyboy.com/aviation.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Aviation_Company
https://dbpedia.org/page/Fairey_Aviation_Company

London to Manchester Air Race
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1910_London_to_Manchester_air_race
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Paulhan

Manchester Air & Space Museum
https://www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/about-us/we-are-changing/air-and-space-hall
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_Industry_Museum

Metropolitan Vickers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan-Vickers
http://sets.org.au/library/jim.lawton1/html/page_000_x.htm
https://manchesterhistory.net/manchester/gone/metrovicks.html
https://chorltongoodneighbours.org/2014/02/11/history-of-metropolitan-vickers-trafford-park/

National Aircraft Factory No.2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Aircraft_Factory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Aircraft_Factory_No._2
https://war-work.com/token-national-aircraft-factory-no-2-croydon/

National Aircraft Factory No.4
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/National_Aircraft_Factory_No_4

RAF Broadheath
https://news4trafford.co.uk/2021/09/27/trafford-history-ex-raf-ammunition-hangars-in-broadheath/
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/raf-broadheath.198181/
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=TheTouristHistorian&set=a.253092444278854
http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?5873-R-A-F-Altrincham(again)&p=33490#post33490

RAF Handforth
https://www.wilmslow.org.uk/wilmslow/raf/handforth-raf.html

RAF Heywood (not shown on the map)
https://www.burytimes.co.uk/news/17206400.looking-back-giant-industrial-estate-planned-pilsworth-raf-hq/

RAF Wilmslow
https://www.wilmslow.org.uk/wilmslow/raf/wilmslow-raf.html

Ringway Airport
https://www.nickmetcalfe.co.uk/parachute-training-1943/
https://www.altrinchamheritage.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Training-of-WWII-Secret-Agents-in-Cheshire-John-Chartres-rev-1992-v6.pdf
http://soe-stations.blogspot.com/2018/01/dunham-house-sts-51a.html
https://bitaboutbritain.com/britains-soe/
https://rafptiassociationsite.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/2018-pti-agm-minutes-final.pdf

RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNAS_Stretton_(HMS_Blackcap)
https://www.historicaviationmilitary.com/stretton.html

Trafford Park
https://engole.info/trafford-park/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival_Proctor

Trafford Park aerodrome
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafford_Park_Aerodrome
https://dbpedia.org/page/Trafford_Park_Aerodrome
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Trafford_Park_Aerodrome
https://www.forgottenairfields.com/airfield-trafford-park-1023.html

RAF Tatton Park (not shown on the map)
https://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/tatton-park/
https://www.ukairfieldguide.net/airfields/TattonPark
https://www.nickmetcalfe.co.uk/parachute-training-1943/

8 thoughts on “Manchester’s Aviation Legacy”

  1. Excellent as ever, thank you Frank.
    Were you aware that Ludwig Wittgenstein conducted kite flying experiments whilst staying at the Grouse Inn at Chunal near Glossop?
    Worth a Google!

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  2. Hi Frank, another Manchester-related aviation first was Liverpool to Manchester. on the 7th of July 1911, Henry Greg Melly, one of the North West’s pioneer aviators made the first ever non-stop flight between Liverpool and Manchester. Though others had tried before, including Samuel F Cody, the first person to fly an aeroplane in Britain, Melly and his passenger A. Dukinfield Jones made the flight, “with perfect ease”, between Melly’s base at Waterloo Sands, just north of Liverpool city centre, to Trafford Park, Manchester in just 40 minutes. They returned non-stop to their Liverpool base later the same day in 63 minutes.

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  3. Hi Frank

    Thanks for this. I’ve just added a comment to the blog. If you might want photos I have collected on Melly, you are very welcome

    Best wishes

    Tony

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      1. Hi Frank, glad to send you Melly photos. Would it be best via Facebook DM, or you can DM me with your email address. Best wishes, Tony

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