History of Heathrow airport
Discussion
The Air Ministry was looking for a large expanse of flat land within 20 miles of London. The Heathrow area would have been attractive even if there hadn't been an airfield there already. In fact, the general vicinity of what is now Heathrow already had in place Fairey's Great West Aerodrome, Heston Aerodrome and Hawker's assembly plant airfield at Langley.
So, the land had already been chosen as a good site for airfields west of London.
What was known for certain that London't main pre-war airport, Croydon, was going to be totally unsuitable for post war airliners so somewhere had to be found for a new major airport to serve London.
So, the land had already been chosen as a good site for airfields west of London.
What was known for certain that London't main pre-war airport, Croydon, was going to be totally unsuitable for post war airliners so somewhere had to be found for a new major airport to serve London.
Dr Jekyll said:
Saleen836 said:
Watched a very interesting tv prog all about Heathrow last week, from it's begining until now
Heathrow Airport 'then & now'
Ch5 Saturday 26/10 7pm (repeat)
+1Heathrow Airport 'then & now'
Ch5 Saturday 26/10 7pm (repeat)
They vaguely implied the modern Heathrow grew out of the old Fairey airfield, hence my question.
The old Fairey Aviation site was just to the south of the west bound Heston services area of the M4, so about a mile and a half to the north-east of the north-east corner of Heathrow.
The old British Airways sports ground was built on part of the old airfield.
aeropilot said:
Nope.
The old Fairey Aviation site was just to the south of the west bound Heston services area of the M4, so about a mile and a half to the north-east of the north-east corner of Heathrow.
The old British Airways sports ground was built on part of the old airfield.
I think that was Heston Airfield where the Airlinks Golf course and M4 services are now. I'm sure Fairey was on the Heathrow site as their hanger had to remain on the apron in front of T2 for 20 years due to one of the longest running court cases. The old Fairey Aviation site was just to the south of the west bound Heston services area of the M4, so about a mile and a half to the north-east of the north-east corner of Heathrow.
The old British Airways sports ground was built on part of the old airfield.
Fairey won as it was later admitted that the government falsely obtained the airfield knowing the war was coming to an end.
Can't remember the name of the book I read years ago but it was all in there.
QuadCamCapri said:
I think that was Heston Airfield where the Airlinks Golf course and M4 services are now. I'm sure Fairey was on the Heathrow site as their hanger had to remain on the apron in front of T2 for 20 years due to one of the longest running court cases.
Fairey won as it was later admitted that the government falsely obtained the airfield knowing the war was coming to an end.
Can't remember the name of the book I read years ago but it was all in there.
+1Fairey won as it was later admitted that the government falsely obtained the airfield knowing the war was coming to an end.
Can't remember the name of the book I read years ago but it was all in there.
It was. At least up until a few years ago some of the Heston airfield buildings were still visible beside the M4 services.
Fairey occupied roughly what is now the South East corner of Heathrow airport. The hangar was just in front of terminal 2 until the mid sixties.
I think this is the hangar in the background..
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