Until now, there has been very little information on the Internet about this short-lived airfield which is currently being researched by a group from Air Britain. If anyone has any memories or photos taken here this could help build up the story. Both Silver City Airways and British South American Airways operated from here for a time under a lease agreement, whilst Airwork General Trading moved here from Heston Airport which closed in 1947 and had some hangars here separate from the Hawker aircraft one to work on their various contracts. This is well documented in Keith Mcclosky’s
excellent book on Airwork’s history.
Recently just come to light it seems is this very interesting website below.
http://www.kingstonaviation.org/js/plugins/filemanager/files/Brief_History_Banner__16B_Layout_1.pdf
Obviously there is much more to be gleaned from Kingston Aviation’s archive material.
By: Fournier Boy - 29th May 2018 at 11:45
Thanks G-ORDY. Indeed BAE confirm they don’t have much, but have invited me down to look anyway. Brooklands are looking through too. I have several archive visits to Hendon coming up, but on different topics rather than this – but I might find some time…
FB
By: G-ORDY - 29th May 2018 at 06:49
Very little Hawker stuff in the BAE archive at Farnborough, the vast majority of the negative collection from Kingston is with the RAFM at Hendon
By: Fournier Boy - 22nd May 2018 at 22:10
I suspect it came from the private collection of Philip Lucas, but I’m hoping that many of the personal archives might have ended up with the Hawker archive at Brooklands.
I’ve asked BAE too just in case.
FB
By: Archer - 22nd May 2018 at 13:59
Fournier Boy, have you tried getting in touch with the BAE Systems archive at Farnborough? If it was an official photo, they may have a copy in their collection.
By: longshot - 22nd May 2018 at 09:01
Others have reported that direct photo upload to this forum seems to be damaged currently
By: Fournier Boy - 21st May 2018 at 21:58
Does anyone have a copy of this image used by Chaz Bowyer in his book on the Hawker Typhoon and Tempest? I have tried contacting his daughter but sadly his archive was sold off long before he passed away.
Any leads to an original copy or high quality digital much appreciated.
FB
Edit – ok for some reason I can’t post the picture to the post – it’s the image of the Hawker test pilots standing by a wall at Langley.
By: longshot - 13th May 2018 at 13:39
The P.1081 was at[ATTACH=CONFIG]260555[/ATTACH] Heathrow in 1950…raises the unlikely question did it make its first flight there? See the evolution of the Hunter in some of these pics https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=Hawker&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&_sacat=0&LH_Complete=1&_udlo=&_udhi=&_samilow=&_samihi=&_sadis=15&_stpos=TR184DG&_sargn=-1%26saslc%3D1&_salic=3&_fss=1&_fsradio=%26LH_SpecificSeller%3D1&_saslop=1&_sasl=Peterandjo101&_sop=10&_dmd=1&_ipg=200&_fosrp=1
Edit… and Flight 29Jun50 reveals the P.1081 was at L.A.P. for a flight to the Antwerp air show https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1950/1950%20-%201200.html?search=Hawker%20p1081%20london
By: Fouga23 - 13th May 2018 at 09:55
That aircraft looks like a Hunter humped a Sea Hawk!
By: farnboroughrob - 13th May 2018 at 09:10
It is perfectly feasible as the P1081 flew in 1950 and Hawkers moved to Dunsfold in 51. However I don’t recall Langley having a hard permiter track as in this photo. I thought the only hard standing was outside the hangars? Also the runway, still being grass may have been rather on the short side for the early jets?
By: Wyvernfan - 13th May 2018 at 07:11
Wonderful photo!
Rob
By: longshot - 13th May 2018 at 00:44
Would this photo of Hawker P1081 be at Langley? [ATTACH=CONFIG]260550[/ATTACH]
By: Fournier Boy - 12th May 2018 at 22:45
PM sent
By: K4235 - 11th May 2018 at 15:18
I can confirm that the “test pilots mess” does still exist near to the junction of Sutton Lane and Little Sutton Lane but is now a private residence.
From memory of a visit to Langley sometime back during some research I am undertaking.
DJP
By: Fournier Boy - 9th May 2018 at 11:18
Just to add on to this old thread, I’ve seen references to the former “test pilots mess” building still existing on the Langley estate, but now as a private property. Can anyone confirm if this is true, and if so, the location of said building. Are there any other known remains on site – i’m sure somewhere else someone thought a substation still existed which had “Hawker Aircraft” on the brickwork.
FB
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September 30, 2016 at 10:06 am