Butlocks Heath
Note: This map only gives a general location for Butlocks Heath within the UK. If anybody now knows and can provide an exact location, this advice will be very welcome.
BUTLOCKS HEATH: Temporary flying site
Location: About 3.5nm SE of Southampton city centre
NOTES: The following is quoted from The Triple Alliance by Neville Doyle: “The prototype Spartan, G-EBYU, was fitted with the Cirrus III engine and Simmonds had entered it for the 1928 King’s Cup Race to be held on July 20th. After initial assembly, there was very little time in hand and as soon as it was ready, it was towed to Butlocks Heath, about two miles from the Rolling Mills for flight testing.
Here it was flown, in early July 1928 by Flt Lt S N Webster (of the High Speed Flight) – (My note; Based at CALSHOT) – but, unfortunately he overshot on landing and finished up in a ditch, causing some damage to the aircraft. After essential repairs were effected, there was no time for any more fine tuning before the Race. Not surprisingly, therefore, its performance was unimpressive, coming in 18th at an average speed of 73.06mph.”
ANOTHER NOTE
This was a critical period in air racing, mostly a race between the British and Italians. On the 12th March 1928 Lt Kinkead had been killed trying to beat the speed record from CALSHOT in the Supermarine Napier S.5 serial number N221. The Italian Mario de Bernardi broke the record at 318.62mph in Venice flying a Macchi M.52.
The previous year Flt Lt Webster had been placed first in the Schneider Races flying another Supermarine S.5, N220, achieving 281.65mph. But, as Mr Simmonds soon discovered, having the most famous pilots flying your aeroplane is no guarantee of success.
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