Greens Farm
GREEN'S FARM: Temporary flying site (Aka GREEN'S FIELD)
Location: On the Allesley Old Road. This could well be the A4114 today, but either way Allesley is situated 3nm NW of Coventry city centre
NOTES: Regarded as being the ‘first and official’ flying site in the Coventry area (fixed wing of course) when Bentfield C Hucks gave a flying display with, (they’d have said ‘on’ in those days), a Blériot monoplane; 27th July 1912. As pointed out elsewhere the prospect in those days of even seeing an aeroplane, let alone seeing it fly, would normally attract huge crowds. Plus, B C Hucks had by then acquired ‘super-star’ status as one of Britain’s most excellent pilots. He was indeed the first British pilot to perform a loop, this being at HENDON in September 1913.
It is perhaps difficult to appreciate today that an event like this could attract numbers of spectators that even big air shows today would envy. And, it now appears, air shows today often attract far larger numbers than most football matches.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have to thank Mike Holder, a long term friend of this 'Guide', who, having found this listing, kindly took it upon himself to research if anything else was known? And yes, there was quite a lot available. Indeed, provided below are accounts of events that took place in 1912, 1913 and 1914. But first, the location.
THE LOCATION
1912
As mentioned above, it does appear that the first evidence of this location being used for the purposes of committing aviation in this area, was indeed in 1912. But, it now appears that B C Hucks may have made two seperate visits, a couple of days apart in July 1912.
This article in three parts was published in the Coventry Evening Telegraph on the 29th July 1912.
The photo was obtained from the Historic Coventry Forum.
The Article Two was published, also in the Coventry Evening Telegraph, but on the 31st July 1912.
1913
The much publicised Great Air Race, held on the 30th August, between Gustav Hamel and B C Hucks, both being by then amongst the most famous aviators in the UK, if not the most famous, commenced at the TALLY HO grounds at Edgbaston in Birmingham. GREEN'S FARM was the third staging post and a huge crowd attended. To keep them entertained Mr Sidney Pickles gave 'exhibitions of flying' - which was what air displays were then called. Also flying a Blériot type.
This short article was published in the Coventry Herald on the 25th July 1913. Note that both Hamel and B C Hucks were involved. My impression is that, generally at least, there was a great deal of camaraderie amongst the top aviators of the day.
The information sheet about the intended race course was published in the Coventry Graphic on the 29th August.
THREE PICTURES
The Birmingham Mail were quick off the mark, publishing these three 'close-up' pictures on the 1st September. Photo One is of Hamel with his mechanic, assisting Hamel out of his Blériot.
Photo Two is of B C Hucks with Sir Robert Peel. Photo Three is of Mr Sidney Pickles, a name I am not familiar with, but, clearly an aviator capable of giving exemplarary displays in front of a large crowd.
THE COVENTRY GRAPHIC REALLY WENT TO TOWN OVER THIS EVENT
This article with the pictures was published in The Coventry Graphic on the 5th September 1913.
Photo One and Photo Two are of Gustav Hamel's Blériot. At that time the Blériot monoplane was the 'must have' for many top aviators.
Not least because it was capable, (well - just), of very basic aerobatics, which were a huge crowd pleaser. But, this race was held before B C Hucks performed the first loop by a British aviator at HENDON shortly afterwards. On a Blériot monoplane.
Photo Three is of B C Hucks machine, also a Blériot. Note the difference in the engine cowlings between Hamel's an Huck's aeroplanes.
The cowlings on Huck's 'machine', as aeroplanes were usually called in those days, would have created more 'induced drag' than the rounded cowlings on Hamel's machine. Wouldn't have made much difference of course, but perhaps just enough to give Hamel the edge to win?
Today of course it is blindingly obvious that 'streamlining' an aircraft, or vehicle, or train for that matter, has many benefits. But in those days the notion was only just becoming realised. The major 'induced drag' feature of course, was having the aviator, (or pilot as we now call them), perched up high on his machine. The taller you are - bad news if you are in an air race.
1914
Advert One was placed in the Coventry Herald on the 25th July 1914. The photo was published in the Coventry Graphic on the 7th August. Advert Two was placed in the Birmingham Mail on the 31st July 1914.
WHAT THE PRESS HAD TO SAY
The Short article One was published in the Birmingham Daily Post on the 3rd August 1914. The Short article Two was published in the Leicester Evening Mail on the 4th August - the day when the British Empire declared war on the German Empire! A ban on civil flying across the UK was imposed on the 1st August.
AND LASTLY
Please note that by far not all of the flying sites in this 'Guide' are not pinned on my database. It is not generally appreciated that the UK has, by area, many more of the greatest number of flying sites compared to any other country in the world.
Although, as somebody once correctly pointed out, this claim actually applies to Malta in WW2.
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