Hardwick
HARDWICK: Civil aerodrome (Aka HARDWICKE and WALLIS'S FARM)
Activities: Mostly GA private and training
Flying School: Cambridge School of Flying
Location: About 5.5nm W of Cambridge city centre
Period of operation: Possibly used in 1912?, then from 1917 to Dec 1920
Runways: Presumably an ‘all over’ grass airfield?
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Here once again we have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for both researching what information is available about this location, and providing the items below to illustrate the listing which can be divided into three periods: Pre-WW1, during WW1 and post WW1. So far no definition of the exact extent, or indeed location of the aerodrome, from WW1 until 1920 has been found. However, experience has taught us that many large fields used as early aerodromes still exist - and it would seem that this may well be the case here? And indeed, possibly the same field was used in 1912?
USE IN 1912
The Article One was published in the Bedfordshire Mercury on the 13th September 1912. The Excerpt One about the Hardwicke Aero Camp, is from the Hardwick Scrapbook, 1897 to 1990 by Mike Petty.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL OF FLYING IN WW1
It would appear that although the company was registered in late 1916, operations did not commence until early 1917.
The Notice One appeared in Flight magazine on the 14th September 1916. The Advert One and Article Two were published in The Aeroplane on the 18th July 1917.
Advert Two was placed in the Cambridge Daily News on the 7th April 1917. The Short article One appeared in Flight magazine on the 26th July 1917.
The 'Time Frame' is from the Cambridge Aviation Chronicle by Mike Petty.
POST WW1
With the outbreak of peace after 'The Great War' the Cambridge School of Flying diversified into joy-riding operations around the region. For most though these activities, especially when centred on coastal holiday resorts were restricted to being seasonal.
The following three items are from 'Balloons, Blériots and Barnstormers - 200 Years of Flying for Fun' by Alistair Goodrum.
JUNE 1919
Article Three was published in the Cambridge Independent Press on the 13th June 1919. Advert Three was placed in the Cambridge Daily News on the 27th June 1919.
The excerpt is from Avro Aircraft by A J Jackson.
AUGUST 1919
The Notice Two and the Article Four in two parts, both appeared in the Cambridge Independent News on the 8th August 1919.
SEPTEMBER 1919
The Advert Four was placed in the Cambridge Daily News on the 12th September 1919. The Article Five was published in the Cambridge Independent Press on the 19th September 1919.
The Short article Two appeared in Flight magazine on the 25th September 1919.
AND FINALLY, THE END
The Notice Three was published in the Cambridge Daily News on the 16th August 1920. The local area and area views are from my Google Earth© derived database.
NOTES: So, why did this enterprise fail so quickly? I think there are two main aspects. Firstly, unlike the Berkshire Aviation Company who really were in a class of their own taking joy-riding to where people lived all year round, the other and more important aspect is that their flying school operated what were essentially military aircraft, fly from being easy to fly, especially as most had engines like the Gnome rotary which were very tricky to handle.
Also, in those days the majority of the middle and upper class, who could afford to fly, showed little interest. That changed dramatically in 1925 when de Havilland designed and produced their DH60 Moth.
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