Manchester (Wythenshawe) Aerodrome
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Manchester (Wythenshawe) Aerodrome was the first airfield built to serve, temporarily, as Manchester's municipal aerodrome. Four fields at Rackhouse Farm, part of a large area purchased from Lord Egerton of Tatton, were chosen in early 1929 for use as Manchester's aerodrome, pending construction of the new permanent Barton Airport, near Eccles. The site was within the fork of Wythenshawe Road and Sale Road, just west of the intersection with today's Princess Parkway and just north of Wythenshawe Park. Hedges were scrubbed out, some levelling undertaken, and a barn converted to a hangar capable of housing one light aircraft.
The first use of the airfield by an aircraft was on 2 April 1929. The city's application for an aerodrome licence was dated 13 April, and referred to the location as 'Wythenshawe, in the parish of Northenden, in the rural district of Bucklow, in the County of Chester'. From 1931, the city's boundaries were extended southwards and the site was then within Manchester and Lancashire.
The main use of the airfield was for private and club flying. Northern Air Lines (Manchester) Ltd based several aircraft here, their two-seat De Havilland DH.60 Moths being available for charter at one shilling per mile. The Lancashire Aero Club, based at Woodford, regularly sent one of their training aircraft to Wythenshawe, for the convenience of local members. An 'Air Pageant' was held on 22 June, attracting many aircraft and large crowds of interested Mancunian spectators.
With the completion of Barton Airport, most flying was transferred to the new and larger facility in early January 1930, the last recorded flight from Wythenshawe being on 19 June.
[edit] References
- 'Manchester's Early Airfields', an extensive chapter by R.A.Scholefield, in 'Moving Manchester', Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, Manchester, 2004, ISSN 0950-4699
