Blue Barns
BLUE BARNS: Civil aerodrome (Aka COLCHESTER)
Operated by: The Colchester branch of the Eastern Counties Aeroplane Club based at IPSWICH?
Location: W of the village of Ardleigh, roughly 4nm NE of Colchester town centre
Period of operation: 1931 to 1933?
Manufacturing: Robinson Redwing
NOTES: It appears the Robinson Redwing company transferred from CROYDON to BLUE BARNS in 1932 and the Eastern Counties Aeroplane Club operated three of their side-by-side two seat biplanes powered by a 80hp Armstrong Siddeley Genet 11A radial engine. These were according to one source: G-ABRL, G-ABRM and G-ABNX, apparently housed in one hangar. However, please see the 'Comment' below. This is rather interesting because both G-ABRL and G-ABNX were Robinson Redwings. Built here and registered to the Robinson Redwing company - but not operated by the Eastern Counties Aeroplane Club.
In May 1932 the company purchased the aerodrome at GATWICK (LOWFIELD HEATH) to operate the Redwing Flying School. It appears that the company returned to CROYDON in February 1934. Obviously the move was unwise and costly. Could this be an early example of a company being attracted to a ‘lower cost base’, (led by the company accountant?), only to realise they had forgotten to take into account both the needs of their customers and where most of their customers either lived and/or ‘shopped’? A very basic business lesson still not learnt, even by some major enterprises even today.
A QUESTION?
Was this the 82nd venue for Sir Alan Cobham’s 1929 Municipal Aerodrome Campaign? This 'Tour' started in May and ended in October with one hundred and seven venues planned to be visited. Mostly in England, two were in South Wales and at least six in Scotland. Due to a couple of crashes and other setbacks, he eventually managed to visit 96 venues, which was of course still a magnificent achievement.
Without any doubt this 'Tour' helped to inspire the creation of several aerodromes/regional airports - but was BLUE BARNS one of them?
And, if not, where was the venue? Could anybody kindly offer advice?
Venue (19th May 1932) for Alan Cobham’s National Aviation Day UK Display Tour?
Venue (26th June 1934) for Alan Cobham’s 1934 Tour of the UK?
David Keeble
This comment was written on: 2018-03-20 15:35:50The Eastern Counties Aeroplane Club did indeed operate three Roninson Redwing Aircraft - these were G-ABMU, G-ABNP, and G-ABRM. (Source: contemporary photographs and newspaper reports)
Alastair D.Brown
This comment was written on: 2018-08-28 10:21:33Any chance of contacting David Keeble as I would like to determine more about the Eastern Counties Aeroplane Club, thank you, ADB
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