Perton Ridge
PERTON RIDGE: Two gliding sites: FERN FIELDS and CLIVE FARM
Narrative from book
This narrative is from 100 Years of Wolverhampton's Airports by Alec Brew, (Amberley Publishing 2009). The photos with captions are from this book and the maps and modern pictures are nearly all supplied by Mr Michael T Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide'.
The Perton Ridge extends roughly E/W and is pretty much west of Wolverhampton town centre. The FERN FIELDS site is roughly just south of the WW2 RAF PERTON aerodrome, and CLIVE FARM is a few miles further south west. The period of operation is from the 1920s until the mid 1930s.
Local area map c.1961
BAC VI ready for launch
Aerial photo c.1970s
Note: The second item, a car towed launch, is almost certainly at FERN FIELDS. Mr Brew has decided to print the aerial photo with south being at the top.
Zogling being prepared
Google Earth © view
The BAC VI on wheels
Note: The Zogling picture is at CLIVE FARM, the BAC VI probably at FERN FIELDS.
Google © ground view
Zogling flying at CLIVE FARM
Local map c.1913
BAC VI being launched
Note: The tenth item is almost certainly at FERN FIELDS.
Recent local map
Nellie Gill ready for launch
Local area view
Note: Nellie Gill is mounted on the Zogling, probably at CLIVE FARM. The local area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
NOTES: After WW1 ended and the now infamous Treaty of Versailles was signed in June 1919, Germany was prohibited from building and importing aircraft, especially for military use. One exception, probably not even considered at the time, was gliders and sailplanes. In consequence a great deal of attention was directed towards this aspect of aviation, and the Germans soon began to excel at producing world class aircraft in this class. The Zogling being, probably, the cheapest and most basic example.
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