Air planes (OLD) Gallery

Heston Aerodrome c.1930s AFL03_aerofilms_c19981

Heston Aerodrome, Hounslow, Middlesex. The control tower (centre) may have been the first purpose-built example and became the model for this class of building. Between 1931 and 1937 Heston Airport was operated as a commercial airport by Airwork Ltd (whose logo appears on the the Customs House and aircraft), after which it was taken over by the Air Ministry. It was used as a fighter base during wartime, but Heathrow was preferred as the site for a commercial airport and the aerodrome was closed in 1947. Aerofilms Collection (see Links)

© Historic England

Aerial photography 1919 AFL03_aerofilms_c12930

"Wills, Shaw and Friese-Greene Ready to Film". A publicity shot for the foundation of the Aerofilms aerial photography company taken at the London Aerodrome, Hendon. Francis Lewis Wills was a former Royal Naval Air Service Observer and co-founder of Aerofilms. Claude Friese-Greene, holding the cine-camera, was technical director for Aerofilms in its early days, but is best known as a pioneering cinematographer. We know very little about Shaw, the pilot, probably an AirCo employee. K-109 was a biplane built and owned by AirCo - in 1920 the company was taken over by De Haviland and this model became the DH9b. Aerofilms Collection (see Links)

© Historic England