Stirling flying sites
Note: This map only gives the position of Stirling within the UK.
STIRLING see also CAUSEWAYHEAD
STIRLING see also CLAY TOLL
STIRLING see also FALLENINCH FARM
STIRLING see also RAPLOCH
STIRLING see also STIRLING CASTLE
STIRLING: Temporary landing site/aerodrome
Operated by: The Daily Mail ‘Circuit of Britain Air Race’
Location: ?
Period of operation: July 1911
STIRLING, WILLIAMSFIELD: Flying display
Operated by: Captain Douglas with fellow officers
Location: On the sports ground just N of Torbrex Road, W of the old A9 and very roughly 1nm SSW to SW of Stirling city centre
Period of operation: 22nd July 1916
A SHORT MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Here once again we have Mike Holder, a great long-term friend of this 'Guide', to thank for both discovering this little known venue and providing the following items to illustrate the listing.
The article was published in the Stirling Observer on the 11th February 1919. The local area view is from my Google Earth© derived database.
NOTES: Without much if any doubt Captain Douglas was based at RFC RAPLOCH which was west of Stirling and roughly a couple of miles NNW of this location. The 22nd of July was a Saturday so typically all training flights would have ceased for the weekend. The event was a fete in support of the Red Cross but what we don't know is if any of them landed here? It is entirely possible that they did because, in those days very few people had the opportunity to get very close to an aeroplane, or indeed a pilot, so doing so would surely have encouraged the visitors to dig deeper into their pockets and purses?
If anybody these days can offer advice and information, this will be much appreciated.
STIRLING: Temporary Landing Ground
NOTES: Stirling is given as the 30th venue for the 1929 Sir Alan Cobham's Municipal Aerodrome Campaign. This Tour started in May and ended in October with one hundred and seven towns and cities visited. Mostly in England, two venues were in Wales and eight in Scotland .
The first venue in Scotland was GLASGOW with STIRLING being the second venue. Afterwards PERTH, EDINBURGH, LANARK, DUMFRIES, STRANRAER and AYR were visited. If anybody can kindly offer advice regarding the location of this venue in STIRLING, this will be much appreciated.
The aircraft he used for this Tour was the DH61 'Giant Moth' G-AAEV named 'Youth of Britain'. The schedule he set himself seems incredible. Day after day with barely a break, he arrived at a new venue to first give the 'worthies' an aerial tour. A slap-up lunch was involved when Cobham would extol the benefits of having an aerodrome or, even better, an airport. At some point children sponsored by Lord Wakefield would then be flown, and finally Cobham would give 'Joy rides' to the paying public, up till dusk. The idea being that the revenue from the latter would subsidise the Tour.
It is highly recommended to read Cobham's memoirs - A Time To Fly.
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