Pleasure Flying Services – 1920s company

May not add much to your search, but does give a max time frame of 2 years from December 1926 and indicates G-EBPO was likely operated from the North East of England as the evidence points there, rather than East Scotland. Not impossible to speculate that JJS Robinson, Pleasure Flying Services and Cramlington Aircraft Ltd are all linked ownerships.

That long sand-dune backed beach looks remarkably like the Tentismuir beach at the end of Leuchars runway does today, but then all wide, long sandy beaches with only surf as a back-ground look similar, and is the only one in the St Andrews area I am familiar with.

Thanks very much, viscount. Wasn’t aware of Cramlington until now! Will be looking into it a bit more as it has obviously had an interesting history. I suspect you may be right about the linked companies too. Can’t say I’ve been on Tentsmuir beach but it certainly is a possibility being close enough to St Andrew’s!

They also operated two Simmonds Spartan G-AAGV/G-ABXO and G-AAHV (around 1929)

Thank you, Martin. I suspect that it is one of their Spartans then at 15m 20s into the film. Just a brief shot of it taking off.

There are a few references to the company in Findmypast’s newspaper archives, including an article from the Dundee Courier of Monday July 29th 1929, reporting that they had been operating pleasure flights from Monifieth Sands, St Andrews for a couple of weeks.

The reports states that the flights were very popular with over 1,000 passengers taken up over a fortnight, and that the machine used was a ‘practically new Handley Page, carrying two passengers in addition to the pilot.’

That’s interesting, thanks. Monifieth Sands is on the north bank of the Tay just along from Dundee but not far across the river from St Andrew’s. Sounds like they were having a successful time then! Must try to find out more about the Handley-Page.

Pleasure Flying Services, based Cramlington Aerodrome.
Owned by Constance Leathart & WL Runciman

Thank you, pogno. I was wondering who the “main characters” were.

The movie was made by Mrs F.H. Montgomery who was a town councillor in St Andrew’s. She seems to have taken her cine camera everywhere as there are quite a few movies on the SSA website from her family collection. Although totally unconnected to the thread, I’ll link to another one here just because it’s worth watching for the lovely little car at the start and then at 5m 54s there’s early footage from Hendon- It includes a shot of a hangar which appears to be marked ABC Aircraft maybe someone can confirm whether that is Hendon?

http://movingimage.nls.uk/film/2832?search_term=fife&search_fields=Film.*&search_join_type=AND&search_fuzzy=yes

Not much to add to what has already been posted

Pleasure Flying Services, based Cramlington Aerodrome.
Owned by Constance Leathart & WL Runciman
Taken over by Cramlington Aircraft Ltd 9.29
All three aircraft sold to Cramlington Aircraft 10.29.

Richard

There are a few references to the company in Findmypast’s newspaper archives, including an article from the Dundee Courier of Monday July 29th 1929, reporting that they had been operating pleasure flights from Monifieth Sands, St Andrews for a couple of weeks.

The reports states that the flights were very popular with over 1,000 passengers taken up over a fortnight, and that the machine used was a ‘practically new Handley Page, carrying two passengers in addition to the pilot.’

Regards

Simon

They also operated two Simmonds Spartan G-AAGV/G-ABXO and G-AAHV (around 1929)

Looking at the CAA G-INFO website, clearly their surviving records are incomplete.

Air Britain’s ‘The British Civil Aircraft Registers 1919-1928’ Peter Moss 1969, for G-EBPO has a little more:

G-EBPO Avro 548, formerly E3387 (C.no. P.L.6134). First Certificate of Airworthiness issued 14.12.26, to owners Newcastle-upon-Tyne Light Aeroplane Club. Last owned by Cramlington Aircraft Ltd from 10.29 without C of A (which had expired 13.12.28). Marks cancelled 9.31. From G-INFO can be added that the aircraft had C of A No. 1076 and that the last owners Cramlington Aircraft Ltd operated from Cramlington Aerodrome in the County of Northumberland.

This site: http://afleetingpeace.org/index.php/aeroplanes/15-aeroplanes/82-register-gb-g-eb adds a little to the owners list, giving: Newcastle-upon-Tyne Light Aeroplane Club .. to.. JJS Robinson based Cramlington .. to ..Pleasure Flying Services .. to .. Cramlington Aircraft Services.

May not add much to your search, but does give a max time frame of 2 years from December 1926 and indicates G-EBPO was likely operated from the North East of England as the evidence points there, rather than East Scotland. Not impossible to speculate that JJS Robinson, Pleasure Flying Services and Cramlington Aircraft Ltd are all linked ownerships.

That long sand-dune backed beach looks remarkably like the Tentismuir beach at the end of Leuchars runway does today, but then all wide, long sandy beaches with only surf as a back-ground look similar, and is the only one in the St Andrews area I am familiar with. What a great find that home movie is, a delight to watch and certainly dates from summer season 1927 or 1928.