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Home , Croydon Airport, Great West Aerodrome, Hendon Aerodrome, Hounslow Heath Aerodrome, London Heliport, North Weald airfield

LONDON AND AVIATION

Currently is served by six international commercial , more airports than any other city in the world. If one included London and London Ashford Airport then it would be eight. The first airdrome to serve London was established in 1908 by Claude Grahame-White, in . Now a huge housing development call and the home to The Museum. All that was needed to create an , was a large enough space for take-off and landing and space to store or the planes when they were not being flown. The newly formed Royal Flying Core took over the , and started building new all over the South East of the .

After the war it was clear that planes were going to play a huge role in the future of the country. In fact some experts thought that the future of planes was going to go in the same direction that cars did – smaller and more affordable – and that everyone would be flying their own planes around. In 1931 there were even plans to build an aerodrome right in the centre of London, on the rooftop of Kings Cross Station. It would have had 6 runways facing in all directions with planes, taxiing around the outside, like an enormous wheel. The idea was that people could commute to central London by plane. Now the thought of it seems bizarre, but 30 years before that the mere thought of flying was extremely bizarre. What actually happened is that planes got bigger and were able to fly much longer distances. Civil Aviation was about to take off. As we shall see later in 1920 and Aerodromes transformed themselves in to , London’s first terminal for passengers. One no longer needed his own plane to fly. hosted a terminal building, tarmac, control tower, and hotel. It was the delight of South London. Claude Grahame-White followed suit and transformed Hendon Aerodrome into a functioning airport, causing all the other aerodromes to do the same, Like Heston, , and Biggin Hill airports. London had an exciting new industry, and with the start of World War Two, things started to speed up. The which is now known as the Royal Air Force, needed to build even more air bases to defend Britain from the . Due to the war even more people would be able to fly, as planes were getting bigger, faster and cheaper. However with the development of airplanes, came louder engines. Croydon Airport’s runways were too short and too close to residential areas for the new noisy engines, so it was forced to shut down in 1959. It was the same problem for all of London’s airports, Heston closed in 1947, Northolt in 1954, Hendon in 1957and Biggin Hill in 1994. Smaller Open airports

Airport/drome Established RAC/RAF Civilian North Weald 1916 1979 1979 , general aviation aerodrome, home of North Weald Airfield Museum. Biggin Hill 1917 1917-1958 1959 Battle of Britain, Now Business & private flights only Denham 1917 1917, 1939 1917 Now flying school, Business & private flights, helicoptors Elstree 1930’s 1939-1945 1930’s Repaired Wellington Bombers during the war. Flying Club & School Fairoaks 1931 1936 1937 RAF base during WWll, now commercial general airport Redhill 1930’s 1940 1947 general aviation aerodrome, emphasis on helicopter Rochester 1933 1938 1933 general aviation aerodrome, Short Brothers factory 1934 - 1936 Stapleford 1933 1937 - 1948 1953 general aviation aerodrome, important part in the preparations for D Day 1959 - 1959 London's only licensed heliport.

It is somewhat confusing, particularly to visitors to The UK that two airports call themselves ‘London’ but are a considerable distance from the City. London is 62 miles away and London Ashford Airport is 75 miles away. Croydon Airport Croydon Airport was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Airport and London . The terminal building and entrance lodge are now Grade II listed buildings. The aerodrome opened as the gateway for international flights to and from London on 29 March 1920 It was an amalgam of Beddington & Waddon Aerodromes. These were created for protection against raids during the First World War. Croydon was the first airport in the world to introduce . The airport became the operating base for , the origins of British Airways, and is remembered in the road name Imperial Way on the site today. Croydon Building

In the 1920s, The new buildings included the first purpose-designed air terminal in the UK. The airport's terminal building and control tower were completed in 1928. Air Traffic Control was first developed here, as was the distress call ‘Mayday Mayday Mayday’. took off from Croydon for her record-breaking flight to Australia and arrived in Spirit of St. Louis, to be greeted by an enthusiastic crowd. When the Second World War started in September 1939, Croydon Airport was closed to civil aviation but played a vital role as a fighter station during the Battle of Britain. On 15 August 1940 Croydon Airport was attacked in the first major air raid on the London area. Following the end of the war it was realised that post-war and cargo aircraft would be larger and air traffic would intensify. Urban spread of south London, and surrounding villages growing into towns, had enclosed Croydon Airport and left it no room for expansion. Heathrow was therefore designated as London's airport. Croydon returned to civil control in February 1946. Northolt opened to the soon after that, cutting Croydon's traffic. In 1952 It was decided that the airport would eventually be closed. The last flight from Croydon departed on 30 September 1959. Today much of the site has been built over, but some of the terminal buildings are still visible. The former terminal building is called Airport House, and the former control tower houses a visitors' centre. A memorial to those lost in the Battle of Britain stands slightly to the south. The Aerodrome Hotel and the terminal building including its grand booking hall were built in the neo-classical geometrical design typical of the early 20th Century.

AF Battle of Britain memorial

Hendon Aerodrome Hendon Aerodrome was situated in and was an important centre for aviation from 1908 to 1968. It was known as a place of pioneering experiments including the first airmail, the first parachute descent from a powered aircraft, the first night flights, and the first aerial defence of a city. Henry Coxwell and James Glaisher were the first to fly from Hendon in a balloon called the Mammoth in 1862. The first powered flight from Hendon was in an 88-foot (27 m) long non-rigid airship. In 1906, before any powered flight had taken place in Britain, the Daily Mail newspaper had challenged aviators to fly from London to Manchester or vice versa, offering a prize of £10,000. The French aviator succeeded in the challenge during April 1910. He chose a field on the future Hendon Aerodrome site as his point of departure. This was the first true flight from the Hendon site.

Claude Grahame-White who also took part in the Daily Mail competition, created the Grahame-White Aviation Company, He took control of more than 200 acres of Colindale and converting it into what could be recognised as a proper modern airfield. In September 1911, the first official UK airmail was flown between Hendon and Windsor as part of the celebrations of the coronation of King George V. In 1912, the first Aerial Derby started and ended at Hendon. These annual events became as important as the Ascot and Epsom races during the London Season. A number of flying schools were located at Hendon, including Grahame-White's. In November 1916, the commandeered the flying schools, after which the aerodrome trained 490 pilots. Claude Grahame-White and other members of the (RNAS) mounted a night defence of London in 1915, constituting the very first aerial defence of London. The first RAF "Pageant" was held at Hendon in 1922, and it soon became a regular event. The Aerodrome was briefly active during the Battle of Britain, but for most of World War II, the Aerodrome was mainly used for transport activities, and flying dignitaries to and from London. RAF Hendon had three crossed runways and were removed by 1969. Production of aeroplanes was one of the features of the aerodrome's activities under Grahame-White. During the First World War production increased rapidly. In 1922 the took the aerodrome over which led to a protracted and ugly legal action lasting until 1925, when Grahame-White left the site.

Poster for RAF Display, Hendon, 1925, published in Flight Magazine, 2 July 1925

After the war the airfield was becoming increasingly unsuitable, particularly because the runways were too short, and the proximity of residential areas made matters worse. The last flying unit, the Metropolitan Communication Squadron, left Hendon in November 1957.[ Late in 1968, when two of the three runways had been removed, a Blackburn Beverley was flown in to be an exhibit at the new RAF Museum: this was the last aircraft to land in Hendon. The RAF station finally closed in 1987. GrahmeWhite watchtower & factory

The site of the aerodrome is now occupied by the Grahame Park housing estate, Hendon Police College and the RAF Museum, which portrays the role of the Royal Air Force in the development of aviation and avionics in the United Kingdom.

1917 Grahame-White factory and hangar buildings

Colindale Police Station The RAF Museum

Cricklewood Aerodrome Cricklewood Aerodrome was adjacent to the factory in Cricklewood, which had been established in 1912. The airfield, north of The Vale, was used by the factory, which was south of The Vale along with the Handley Page Transport Company. The Company inaugurated a London- air service from Cricklewood Aerodrome

in 1920. In 1924, Handley Page Transport merged with two other companies, forming Imperial Airways, the forerunner to what we now know as British Airways. The aerodrome closed in 1929 as it was being surrounded by suburban development. The Golders Green Estate was built on the site. However the construction of aircraft at Cricklewood continued until 1964 when the factory premises were sold to become the Cricklewood Trading Estate. The first fatal air crash on British soil in which civilians lost their lives in a chartered happened on a scheduled Cricklewood to Paris flight. It crashed in to the garden of 6 Basing Hill in Golders Green. Four people were killed. When Cricklewood Aerodrome ceased operation it moved operations to a new base in Radlett, Hertfordshire.

Stag Lane Aerodrome in Kingsbury was established in 1915 and was used for flying training during the First World War. Stag Lane became the main base of The de Havilland Aircraft Company Limited in 1920. Former wartime aircraft were refurbished in the early years, and the company designed and built large numbers of aircraft at Stag Lane in the 1920s and early 1930s. The aerodrome was sold for housing development in 1933, though a small 15-acre site was retained as a factory and offices for The de Havilland Engine Company Limited. The last flight from the airfield was in July 1934. In 1934 the company moved to a larger factory and airfield at . Stag Lane Aerodrome - March 1933, looking east s with Edgware Road across the top.

Great West Aerodrome The , also known as Aerodrome or Heathrow Aerodrome, was a grass airfield, operational between 1930 and 1944. From 1915, Fairey Aviation had been assembling and flight testing its aircraft from Northolt Aerodrome, but in 1928 the Air Ministry gave it notice to cease using Northolt. Fairey Aviation needed an airfield for flight testing of aircraft designed and manufactured at its factory in Hayes. The site of the Great West Aerodrome was originally used for market gardening. The airfield was about three miles by road from the Hayes factory, and it was declared operational in June 1930. The area was later to be the site of London . During World Wat ll The Great West Aerodrome was not an active RAF airfield, but sometimes RAF fighters or bombers needing to land there. In 1943, the Air Ministry secretly developed plans to requisition the airfield under wartime legislation The plans were stated to be designed to suit the needs of The original Fairey Aviation building. long-range bombers, but they were actually based on Agricultural land around the aerodrome recommendations from Professor Patrick Abercrombie for a new where crops were grown for the London international airport for London. The decision and plans were finally markets revealed in January 1944.

In May 1944, demolition of Heathrow domestic & farm buildings, and the closing of roads entering the site commenced, The new airfield was still under construction at the end of World War II. By then, the plans had already changed from tenuous wartime military use to overt development into an international airport. On 1 January 1946, ownership of the site was transferred from The Air Ministry to The Ministry of Civil Aviation. On 31 May 1946, the newly named London Airport was officially opened for commercial operations. Fairey's 1930 hangar was used as Heathrow Airport's fire station until 1964 when it was demolished.

Heathrow Airport Heathrow Airport is by far the largest of London’s Airports and the major gateway into the UK. The 1960’s brought on a mass of holiday makers, this was the first time flying became really popular. In 1966 London Airport is renamed Heathrow Airport. In 2013 the original 1950’s red-brick control tower designed by Frederick Gibberd was demolished having been replaced in 2007 by a new tower designed by the Richard Rogers partnership. Currently Heathrow has 5 terminals, and two parallel runways which consistently runs at 99% capacity. 2007 saw the Proposed new and sixth terminal beginning of a consultation process for expansion. A third – north runway and a sixth terminal has now been approved.

Heston Aerodrome Heston Aerodrome was operational between 1929 and 1947. Its opening coincided with hosting the King's Cup air race. It was the first airport to make use of a concrete hangar and concrete aprons. The expansion of the airfield, continued through the 1930s. In 1931 it was renamed Heston Airport, following provision of customs facilities and ongoing improvements for passenger handling. Night flying facilities were installed and further developed, and in 1932 it was designated as a commercial diversionary airport, often required when Croydon Airport was fog-bound. It is claimed that the central building was the first purpose-built airport control tower, on which all modern control towers are based. During the late 1930s, the government had been studying the future of air transport and airports in the London area. It had been decided that London would be served by four airports - Croydon, Heston, and new airfields at Fairlop, and Lullingstone, . Improvements had already begun at Heston, with the intention of bringing it up to the most modern standards of airports in . In 1937, the airport was bought by the Air Ministry, and developed to become almost as large as Croydon Airport, making it London's second airport at that time. In September 1938, the British Prime Minister, , flew from here to Germany three times in two weeks for talks with Adolf Hitler, and returned from the Conference with the paper referred to in his later "Peace for our time" speech. The Air Ministry had intended Heston Airport be for civil airline operations, but the declaration of war intervened, and the plans were never implemented. From 1939 to 1945 It became a Military operation facility. After the war, the 1939 plans for four London airports were scrapped. Heathrow had by then been chosen as the main London Airport, and its proximity would have made regular flying from Heston aerodrome impossible. In the immediate post war years, the airfield was home to a U.S.A.F. base until its closure in 1947. In 1965 when the construction started additional land was needed for a motorway service area - Heston Services, that was built over the northern half of the 1940s airport site. The terminal buildings continued to be used by the Civil Aviation Authority until 1978, when they were demolished. Only one complete building remains, the hangar. In 1929, it was the first concrete hangar in the UK and in 20-09 was given Grade II listed building status.

Heston 1929 hangar and today

Hounslow Heath Aerodrome Aerodrome was a grass airfield, operational 1914-1920 and in 1919 the first scheduled daily international commercial air services flew to and from there. In 1914, ten days after the outbreak of , the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) commenced operations here. In 1918: The RFC and the Royal Naval Air Service were merged to form the Royal Air Force. The buildings at Hounslow Heath included four permanent and several Bessonneau canvas hangars, In

1919 The RAF vacated the airfield, and left it in civilian hands and the first international commercial flight. At that time, Hounslow Heath was the only approved aerodrome in the London area with customs facilities. However by March 1920 the last commercial flights took place at the heath, being supplanted by Croydon Airport as it become the approved airport serving London. The army then repossessed the land for use as a repair depot and training school. Today Hounslow Heath has largely reverted to an undeveloped public open space and nature reserve.

RAF Northolt Northolt opened in 1915. Originally established for the Royal Flying Corps, it has the longest continuous use of any RAF airfield. Northolt became an active base during the Second World War for Royal Air Force and Polish Air Force. The station played a key role during the Battle of Britain, During the Battle of Britain, the Polish Squadron downed the highest number of enemy aircraft. RAF Northolt became home to Prime Minister 's personal aircraft, in June 1944. During the construction of Heathrow Airport in 1946, Northolt was used for commercial civil flights, becoming the busiest airport in Europe for a time. RAF maintained a presence throughout its use by civil airlines, making it the longest continually used airfield in the history of the Royal Air Force. Civil flights ceased when the central area at Heathrow opened in 1954 It was the airport where the body of Diana, Princess of , arrived following her death and where , the Great Train Robber, arrived d to be arrested. In 2010 the hangar which had housed Churchill's personal aircraft, the former Squadron Watch office and the Operations Block were given Grade II listed building status. RAF Northolt itself is the only airfield used in the Battle of Britain still operated by the RAF. It is now the overnight base of the London Air Ambulance, The Air Historical Branch, British Forces Post Office and Defence Courier Service.

Easterly view of the aerodrome in 1917 The Elstree Airfield

Elstree Airfield Pre WWII Elstree Airfiekd was a grass strip for leisure craft. During the war the concrete runway was put down, together with the present hangars and the Aerodrome was used for modifying Wellington Bombers. At the end of the war a flying club was established.

Gatwick Airport From 1891 the original site of Gatwick Airport was a race course. In the 1920’s the land was developed as an

Gatwick Airport 1960 and today aerodrome. The first commercial flights were in 1933, and the first terminal, was built in 1935 when a railway station was also opened on the Victoria to Brighton line. Scheduled air services from the new terminal began the following year. During WWII, the airport was requisitioned for use by the RAF and extended further by incorporating the race course. Following the war approval was given for development as an alternative to Heathrow. Major development work at the airport took place during the 1950’s. Between 1956 & 1958 Gatwick was closed. The new airport buildings were designed by Yorke Rosenberg Mardall only being completed in 1988. Gatwick was the first airport in the world to combine air, rail and road transport in a close-knit single unit. Work has continued on enlarging the airport including a second terminal and aa new Air Traffic Control Tower. Although it has two runways only one can be used at a time . In the recent consultation to increase aviation facilities in the South East Gatwick was unsuccessful in gaining approval for a further runway.

Stansted Airport

Stansted Airport 1967 The Norman Foster Terminal

The airfield opened in 1943 and was used during WWll by the RAF and the US Air Force. The USAF left in 1945 and, from March 1946 to August 1947 Stansted was used for housing German prisoners of war. 1949 saw the airport being used by UK charter airlines. From 1966 Stansted was used by charter operators as it was cheaper than Heathrow and Gatwick. The airport's first terminal building opened in 1969. In 1977, Stansted Airport became . In the early 1980s the Fire Service Training School (FSTS) became based at the airport. In 1984, the government approved a plan to develop Stansted involving both airfield and terminal. The terminal building was designed by Norman Foster and was awarded the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture / Mies van der Rohe Award. It features a "floating" roof, supported by a space frame of inverted-pyramid roof trusses, creating the impression of a stylised swan in flight. From 1997 to 2007, due to the boom in low cost air travel, there was an increase of passengers. As a result a major expansion programme to the existing terminal took place between 2007 and 2009. Stansted's control tower, completed in 1996 is amongst the tallest in Britain. The passenger terminal serves three passenger satellites in which the departure gates are situated; one is connected to the main terminal by an air-bridge and the other two by the driverless Transit System people mover. The airport also houses a rail terminal with direct services to London Liverpool Street. Stansted has been designated as the preferred airport for any hijacked planes requesting to land in the UK. This is because its design allows a hijacked to be isolated away from terminal buildings or runways and in a position where it cannot readily take off.

Luton Airport

An airport was opened on the site on 16 July 1938 as an RAF base with grass runways later to be replaced with concrete. In 1952 it was returned to the local council. Civil use resumed and a new control tower was opened. Until the early 1960’s Percival Aircraft had its factory at the airport. From the mid-1960’s executive aircraft have been based at the airport. During the 1960’s the airport played an important role in the development of package holidays and by 1969, a fifth of all holiday flights from the UK departed from . By 1972 it had become Britain’s most profitable airport.

In 1985 a new international terminal building was opened and the following year saw Monarch and Ryanair launch scheduled flights. This marked the growth of scheduled air services which now represent over 70 per cent of their business. In 1987 Luton International Airport was renamed London Luton Airport. From 1991 to 2000 developments included new air traffic control tower, instrument landing system, cargo centre, access road, car parking and a terminal based on an original design by Foster and Partners, made from aluminium and glass. At the end of 1999 Railtrack opened London Luton Parkway station, although connection between the station and the airport was by road. In 2014 further major redevelopment plans were launched to redesign the terminal and approach roads. EasyJet, Monarch and Thomson all have their head offices located at the airport. In February 2017 Wizz Air opened its first British base at Luton Airport. An indicator of the importance of the airport to the economy of Luton is that Luton is reported to have the highest number of taxicabs per head of population in the UK.

Luton Airport prior to current redevelopment

London City Airport

London City Airport is an international airport located on a former Docklands site east of the City of London. It has a single runway. The airport was first proposed in 1981 and the first aircraft landed in 1987. In 1992 an extend runway, allowing the use for larger number of aircraft types. The airport features one single, two-storey passenger terminal building. Due to the airport's proximity to Central London, it has stringent rules imposed to limit the noise impact from aircraft operations. This, together with the physical dimensions of the short runway limits the aircraft types that can use London City Airport. In 2005, London City Airport DLR station opened on the . An extended apron with four additional aircraft parking stands and gates to the east of the terminal became operational in 2008. They are carried on piles above the water of the King George V Dock.

London City served over 4.3 million passengers in 2015, an 18% increase compared with 2014. This was the largest percentage growth among London airports. Owing to its proximity to London's Docklands and financial district its main users are business travellers, but the number of leisure destinations served has increased in recent years.

London City Airport

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London Southend Airport

And last but not least the . During the 1960s, Southend was the third-busiest airport in the United Kingdom. It remained London's third-busiest airport in terms of passengers handled until the end of the 1970s, when the role of "London's third airport" passed to Stansted. Following its purchase by Stobart Group in 2008, there has been an ongoing programme of development with a newly built terminal and control tower, an extended runway, and a regular rail service running from Southend Airport Station to in central London.

Like most of the other airports in London, Southend airport started out as a RAF base. In 1946, the airfield was decommissioned from military use and civil aviation returned in 1947, as did the Southend Municipal Airport name.

Southend Airport is often remembered for the car ferry flights operated by the piston-engined Bristol Freighter and the Aviation Traders Carvair.

This brings us to all six of London’s airports, Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Southend and London City Airport. The biggest, most famous and most important by far is London’s Heathrow Airport. In fact Heathrow airport is the busiest airport in the world, with more than a third of visitors to the airport only there for a connecting flight. Heathrow airport contributes greatly to the local economy and has a positive impact on business done in London.

With such a rich history in aviation, we know that the future is all about flying, and for the City of London – the sky is the limit.

EasyJet and began operating services in 2012 when the current terminal was completed.

Aerial view looking north-east, prior to the construction of the runway extension.