Herons used to wobble over my roof in the late '50s when using the second (cross) runway at Manchester's relatively-primitive Ringway airport of the day (it still had a light-beacon that swept dramatically over the surrounding area, and a public road crossed one end of the main runway: all long gone along with so much else).
What a glorious little film, thanks for making/posting this. What fun! I grew-up on Link Lane, right next to the aerodrome in the early 70s and there was still much to see. I have quite a few hours on Doves, what wonderful aeroplanes. I can thoroughly recommend a book by Capt. Olley called 'A Million Miles in the Air'. He was a pilot for Imperial and flew from Croydon all through the 30s.
My Parents met and worked in the main Airport building, Mother was a Telephonist, and Father, an Accountant for Transair, they met in 1958, married in 59, had me in 60, its nice that the dates all add up ! we are planning on taking my 83 Mother up to the site soon, especialy now Dad has passed
I was born just over the road from the old airport in the late 50s , I remember going to what must have been an air show there as we have some pictures of it all
I recall these and Doves flying around the Caribbean from an airline called Prinair out of San Juan, Puerto Rico many years back. Low-time pilots from all over would flock to that company to get two and/or four-engine time in their logbooks.
Worked at DH Chester 1955-60 and jumped at the chances to be a weight on the seat testing Dove and Herons. Took quite a few flights with Test Pilot Brandon who would follow a stall test with a zoom down a North Wales river with no engines to check his fishing prospects. Sadly he was killed along with his observer in a Vampire in the 1960s. It was an instrument failure when a power shaft failed along the identity etching. Another Test Pilot who I hitched with Mr.Hanslip was also killed when his Comet was blown up by a barometric bomb over the Alps intended for an Arab king on a sales demonstration.
She was a babe even after her early days! Excellent video and thanks for sharing and the very best of luck from a retired American military helicopter pilot.
Interesting video, my first flight was in a Morton Air Services DH Dove from Gatwick to Bembridge in 1966. I was a babe in arms and according to my parents I had a big smile on my face. I guess then it was when the aviation bug bit me!
I see there are some 'Old Croydon Boys' posting. I lived close to the airport in the late 50's early 60's and have vague memories of aircraft using Croydon Aerodrome. The strongest memory I have is off a parachute exercise/display over the airport involving dozens/scores of (presumably) paratroops. A long time ago but still a vivid memory. Did any one else see it or have any information on it?
Now, this is interesting because I did take a Tiger Moth from the Rollason site, where it had been serviced, to the Surrey & Kent Flying Club at Biggin on THE last day. Details are in my log book which has gone walk-about so can't give the exact date. Tiny Marshal adrove me from Biggin to Croydon in the club van. Anyone of those days at Biggin still out there?? That day may have been in summer 1958 or 9.
The service to the isle of Barra from Glasgow used to be operated by a DH Heron - beautiful aircraft as was its smaller brother - the Dove or its military variant - the Devon
Such a shame Croydon lost its airport. It would have been a uselful utility to have in todays world with all the cargo that goes to and from Croydon. We still have many municipal airports (Biggin Hill, Farnboro' etc) WHY was Croydon robbed of its lifeline to just build an idustrial park? Very short sighted planning. Wonderful video thank you.
when walking the dog there is a building in the little forest in round shaw Park, its been heavily graffiti over but cannot find any information on it, if you walk alittle back you can see park of a road that very over grown.
Strange picture at 4:03, with that coffin-like door on the bulkhead, and no entry/exit door at the port side rear. This photo seems to suggest there was a bulkhead separating the passenger compartment form the rear door, but to my knowledge no Heron ever had such a thing. The other alternative is even weirder: the "coffin" is the cockpit door, and all seats look backwards! Can anybody explain?
Several Heron interiors had a toilet in the rear, opposite the aircraft entrance door. When that was the case, then there was a bulkhead at the rear of the cabin, just to the left of the entrance door - that bulkhead included an internal door that during entry hid the actual toilet. Once everyone was boarded, that door was then closed to show just a bulkhead at the rear, with a toilet entry door accessible from the passenger cabin. Also, the cockpit on many Heron's in public transport service, included a door to separate the flight deck from the passenger cabin - and yes, that door was sometimes coffin shaped but was usually a rounded top which looked less coffin-like....
Sorry - I don't really know as I was never at Croydon - I flew at Biggin Hill after everyone, including Bill Webb who is the Captain in the video, moved there from Croydon after it's closure. BUT, having said that. I don't think there were any turbo prop aircraft at Croydon as it closed in 1958/59,,,,,,
I don't know what you are doing, but the sound works immediately once it gets to the start of the full video (not the intro logo though). Maybe you have it muted???
