Everything about Heston Aerodrome totally explained
Heston Aerodrome, in the west of
London, UK, was operational between 1929 and 1946. Remains of the airport can still be found on the border of the
Heston and
Cranford areas of
Hounslow. In 1938, the
Prime Minister,
Neville Chamberlain, flew from Heston to
Munich for talks with
Adolf Hitler, and returned to Heston where he made his famous "peace in our time" speech.
History
The
Airwork Company, directed by
Sir Nigel Norman (later
Air Commodore) opened Heston aerodrome for flying clubs and private aeroplane owners in 1929, with some charter flying. In the 1930s, with new companies springing up to compete with
Imperial Airways, Heston was in a good position to take advantage.
Spartan Airways was the first airline to use Heston, with a twice-daily service to
Cowes in the
Isle of Wight. Other services and airlines followed, including from 1938,
British Airways Ltd. who wanted an alternative to the waterlogged
Gatwick.
It is often claimed that the central building was the first purpose-built airport control tower, on which all modern control towers are based..
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. The area of the landing field was 3,540 feet by 2,700 feet. With the outbreak of
World War II, civil flying was suspended at Heston.
Expansion plans
During the late 1930s, the British 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 4 airports - Croydon, Heston and new airfields at
Fairlop in
Essex and
Lullingstone,
Kent. To this end, improvements and extensions had already begun at Heston with the intention of bringing it up to the most modern standards of airports elsewhere in Europe. New drainage was put in and trees near the flight path removed. Runway lighting and radio aids to landing were installed. Land and buildings around the site were bought up for expansion, including St Mary's Boys Orphanage in North Hyde which was demolished.
An
act of parliament - Air Ministry (Heston and Kenley) Act 1939 - authorised the compulsory purchase of land and road closures needed. The work was planned to take three years, partly because it was intended to keep the existing facilities in uninterrupted use, and partly to allow the new ground to be prepared and substantial new buildings to be constructed.
The plans didn't meet with universal approval including the
Heston Aircraft Co Ltd, which had a production facility on the site that would have to come down in December 1939.
War
The Air Ministry had intended to take over the site from Airwork Ltd in September, but the outbreak of war intervened and the plans were never implemented. Heston ceased to be a civil airport in mid 1940 and most of its services still operating were transferred to Gatwick.
During the second world war,
RAF Spitfires and
Hurricanes flew from Heston airport, followed by US Air Force
Flying Fortress bombers.
After the war
With the war over, the old plans for 4 London airports were scrapped.
Heathrow was by then chosen as the main London Airport, and its proximity would have made flying from Heston impossible,
Today
Much of what used to be Heston Airport is now built on, but many of the roads in the area have aviation-related names, such as
Brabazon Road and
Bleriot Road. Until very recently, an old
Fairey Aviation hangar was still visible. The original tree-lined approach drive still exists, and radiating from it, the original "Aircraft" plan-form of the buildings, two of which are still there, altered over time, is still recognisable.
Parts of the airport land were still owned by the government when the
M4 motorway was proposed and a site was needed for a motorway service area - the
Heston Services.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Heston Aerodrome'.
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