Barrow-in-Furness flying sites
Note: This map shows the location for the WW2 BARROW
Later known as WALNEY ISLAND aerodrome.
BARROW-in-FURNESS see also ABBEY HOUSE HOTEL
BARROW-in-FURNESS see also FURNESS ABBEY
BARROW-in-FURNESS see also FURNESS GENERAL HOSPITAL
BARROW-in-FURNESS see also MOUNTBATTEN
BARROW-in-FURNESS: Civil water aerodrome
Operated by: Mr S V Snippe
Location: ?
Period of operation: 1911 - 1912
NOTES: In 1912 according to C C Turner, “Mr S V Snippe was carrying out experiments at Barrow, with an Avro-35hp Green, which was fitted with floats and made into a seaplane for Commander O. Schwann.”
Does anybody now know where Mr Snippe was flying from?
BARROW-in-FURNESS: Airship Construction Station
(See CAVENDISH DOCK for more local airship history)
Operated by: Vickers Ltd
Period of operation: 1914 to 1921
Landing area: 325 acres 1582x1084 grass
NOTES: Apparently this was officially a RNAS/RAF site leased to Vickers Ltd to manufacture rigid airships. It also appears that in 1919 Vickers were conducting mail flights to BARROW from Sheffield using a non-rigid airship. Where was this site? WALNEY ISLAND perhaps?
BARROW-in-FURNESS: Civil Landing Ground
NOTES: During September to November 1924, Northern Air Lines were operating a service from AINTREE (LANCASHIRE) to MALONE in Belfast, and BARROW was one of the staging points. The others were SOUTHPORT SANDS (LANCASHIRE), MARYPORT (CUMBERLAND) and PORTPATRICK (WIGTOWNSHIRE). Does anybody now know where they landed? WALNEY ISLAND seems an obvious location but that airfield wasn't in operation until 1941 - officially.
BARROW-in FURNESS: Military aerodrome
(Also known as WALNEY ISLAND - see seperate entry)
Military users: WW2: RAF Flying Training Command 25 Group
Air Gunnery School 10 AGS (Avro Ansons & MilesMartinets)
POST WW2
Gliding: 1970s only? Lakes Gliding Club
Operated by: 1980s: Vickers Shipbuilding Group Ltd
2000: Marconi Marine (VSEL)
2001: BAe Systems (Marine) Ltd
Location: On Walney Island, 2 nm NW of Barrow-in-Furness
Period of operation: Military: 1941 to 1946 Civil: 1946 to present day?
Note: This map is reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014
Runways: WW2: 12/30 1188x46 hard 18/36 1005x46 hard
06/24 1005x46 hard
2000: 06/24 1048x46 hard 17/35 1014x46 hard
NOTES: In 1975 used by Vickers executive aircraft and I have since found that in 1977 a few privately owned aircraft were based here; Miles Gemini G-AKHZ, (but not airworthy?) and Slingsby T.61C Faulke G-BAKY. The PA-23E Aztec 250 G-BBXH of Sovereign Chemical Industries was a resident as was PA-18 Super Cub 150 G-BBOL of the Lakes Gliding Club. In 1985 private flying was still taking place at BARROW.
BARROW -in-FURNESS
NOTES: In Popular Flying magazine, December 2006, it is recorded that David Southward had found a gravel pit/water ski site near Barrow-in-Furness to land his Osprey II G-CCCW amphibian on. (The article also stated that all inland inland water-landing sites had to be licensed by the CAA). In England perhaps this is correct, but certainly not so in Scotland, and, possibly in Northern Ireland too? When operating a floatplane, see SWANAGE (DORSET) in 2001, we certainly had no issues in ths regard.
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