Filsham Farm
FILSHAM FARM: Temporary aerodrome (Aka KITE'S FARM)
Operated by: Navarro Aviation Co.
Location: In Filsham as it is now known, just north of Harley Shute, roughly 2nm WNW of Hastings town centre
Period of operation: Not known? Starting at the end of June 1919, but for how long?
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a long term friend of this 'Guide', to thank for discovering this location and researching what might be available to illustrate it. All the published items are from the Hastings and St Leonards Observer = HSLO.
Something that has often bedevilled compiling this 'Guide' is trying to determine what many locations should be listed as. Often as it turns out a rather random choice of two or more names, although I always try to include known options. Mike tells me he had a devil of a job trying to find this location, usually known locally as KITE's FARM. Not one to give up easily, eventually he found this short article published in the HSLO on the 27th July 1919. Lo and behold the location is FILSHAM FARM, owned by Mr A Kite.
The advert was placed in the HSLO on the 28th June 1919. We do not know for certain which field was used, but this appears to be the most likely?
The Notice was published in the HSLO on the 28th June 1919. Operations did have one unfortunate setback, this account appearing in the HSLO on the 9th August.
The local area and area views are from my Google Earth© derived database. Typically this flying site has since been overcome by housing.
MY NOTES
Despite rather grandiose plans being announced by Mr J G Navarro after WW1, so far I have only identified four aircraft being operated. All Avro 504Ks, some not built by his company in Burton-on-Trent during WW1. These being:
G-EADY (ex E3408) G-EAEA (ex D9304)
G-EAEB (ex B8774) G-EAJP (ex E1728)
Although it was a requirement for civil registered aircraft to display their civil registrations after May 1919, many operators ignored this trifling beaurocratic directive.
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