Paisley flying sites
Note: This map only shows the location of Paisley town within the UK.
PAISLEY see also ABBOTSINCH
PAISLEY see also ROYAL ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL
PAISLEY: Balloon ascent venue
NOTES: It now seems almost nothing is known or recorded about this remarkable event which surely must have a huge local attraction at the time? But, it does appear that Vincenzo Lunardi made an ascent in/near Paisley in the mid to late 1780s with his hydrogen-filled balloon.
PAISLEY RACECOURSE: Temporary landing site/flying ground (Now St James Park)
Operated by: The Daily Mail for the ‘Circuit of Britain Air Race’
Location: Just S of the M8 and E of the A726 junction, on the E side of the Greenock Road
Period of operation: July 1911
NOTES: The Daily Mail ‘Circuit of Britain’ Air Race was of 1,010 miles with eleven compulsory landing stops. Have I got them all listed? The two French pilots who won the race, placed first and second, clearly demonstrated they were very much superior both in their ‘machines’ and piloting abilities.
Starting from BROOKLANDS in SURREY Jean Conneau won flying a Blériot in 22 hours 28 mins and Emile Vedrines was second flying a Depperdussin. James Valentine, a British pilot, came third. The first prize that year was an astonishing £10,000. A fabulous sum. For example, in those days it is claimed, you could buy a modest house for £50!
On a more cynical note, the Daily Mail knew exactly what they were up to, offering a prize which pilots would gladly risk their lives to win. But, in those days nobody seemed to object to this strategy, including the pilots, and the public went wild to witness these obviously 'gladitorial' competitions.
And indeed of course, this thirst for spectacle with the promise of death, still pervades the crowds at our major air shows.
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