Airports and airfields 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

Flying Boat JRU01_01_109

TOWER BRIDGE, TOWER HILL, TOWER HAMLETS, GREATER LONDON. A Short Sunderland flying boat on the River Thames at Tower Bridge, with the bridge in the background, during the Battle of Britain Week.
The Battle of Britain Week was an annual celebration by the Royal Air Force of the victory in September 1940. In 1951 it ran from 10th - 16th September, and included a fly-past over London on 15th September. The Short Sunderland was developed by Short Brothers as a flying boat and patrol bomber for the RAF, and was introduced in 1938. A Sunderland was shown on the River Thames every September in the 1950s as part of the Battle of Britain Week celebration, until the aircraft type was retired from the RAF in the late 1950s. In 1951, a Sunderland flying boat was moored on the River Thames opposite the Tower of London from 12th September

© Historic England Archive

First ever Aerofilms photograph EPW000001

LONDON AERODROME, Hendon. The first ever Aerofilms commercial aerial photograph taken in July 1919 showing the London Country Club (formerly the London Flying Club). The building was later used as Hendon Police College, which opened in 1934. This site had been promoted as London Aerodrome since 1911, and was used in the First World War to train Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service pilots. It reopened to civilian use in 1919 and was the venue for flying displays, as well as being the first base for Aerofilms. In 1922 the RAF took over the aerodrome and civilian flights were excluded. Aerofilms Collection (see Links)

© Historic England