This scratchy old film might be of interest to some. Abouth 50 aeroplanes attended the event including 4 RAF Bristol Bulldogs (from Upavon), a Cierva Autogiro, several DH Moths, an Avian and DH6 G-EBVS.
By: Snoopy7422 - 28th June 2013 at 00:46
I used to walk my dog there on occasions. As others have said, it wasn’t a great location. It was high, and being so close to the coast, could often be in low cloud. (Ironically, Exeter Airport, nearby, has one of the best Met records in the UK, but it’s also near sea-level.). Haldon was also quite small, and the contours and roads nearby precluded expansion. There are a few other long-forgotten strips between Exeter & Plymouth, dating back to the pre-war RAS days, mostly now disused. Flying also used to take place on the nearby Haldon/Exeter Racecourse.
By: avion ancien - 27th June 2013 at 13:58
Thank you, Dave, I’ve now done that. One can guess at it’s registration mark, but it would never be more than that! Anyhow, when I suggested a Phalène, I neglected to take account of the fact that this film was shot in June 1930 whereas the Phalène didn’t make its first flight until 1933! So my best guess now is a Potez 36, one of the inline engine variants – possibly a Potez 36/17?
By: daveg4otu - 27th June 2013 at 13:35
Daveg4otu – was Haldon later referred to as Thorn’s Cross strip?
Not that I have ever heard.(THorn Cross is near Bovey Tracey)
By: Arabella-Cox - 27th June 2013 at 13:09
Avion Ancien – just right-click on the image to freeze frame. I’ve done this but I can’t make out any markings at all.
Daveg4otu – was Haldon later referred to as Thorn’s Cross strip?
By: ozplane - 27th June 2013 at 13:03
Pas de probleme AA. Je vais essayer encore une fois mais je crois vous avez raison.
By: Roborough - 27th June 2013 at 12:20
[Thanks for the info Dave. Fascinating stuff.
Should I ever go that way again (Plymouth is my home town although I haven’t been there in years) I will be sure to look for the memorial.
Regards
Bill
By: daveg4otu - 27th June 2013 at 11:52
Is that Haldon (hill) at the western end of the Exeter by-pass, overlooking the city, with possibly a race-track at the top. I have happy memories of ascending it on my Bonneville, oh! 50 years ago.
Bill
Actually 2 miles SE of the junction A380/B3192 on the west side of the B3192….the memorial is in the car park on the east side of the road – where in WW2 there were buildings for the RAF/RN camp.Buildings are gone though you can find traces if you root around in the bushes.
Here is my page about it…..
http://devonairfields.hampshireairfields.co.uk/hald.html
By: avion ancien - 27th June 2013 at 11:09
A Caudron Phalène, peut-être? Trouble is I can’t find a way to ‘freeze’ the image to get a close enough view to say with certainty. Sorry if I’ve let you down, ozplane!
By: ozplane - 27th June 2013 at 10:36
Avion ancien, you’ve let me down! I thought you would have identified the Puss Moth lookalike mentioned earlier.
By: Roborough - 27th June 2013 at 00:54
The same, the airfield was just North of the present A38 at the top of the hill as far as I can see.
My vehicle of choice for rapid ascents was a Mk I Cortina GT 🙂
Thanks, Martin. I never realised that there was an airfield there. It was quite a hill in the 60’s and the 2-lanes got you by the caravans. The left-hander at the top was quite something!
Regards
Bill
By: D1566 - 27th June 2013 at 00:43
Is that Haldon (hill) at the western end of the Exeter by-pass, overlooking the city, with possibly a race-track at the top. I have happy memories of ascending it on my Bonneville, oh! 50 years ago.
Bill
The same, the airfield was just North of the present A38 at the top of the hill as far as I can see.
My vehicle of choice for rapid ascents was a Mk I Cortina GT 🙂
By: avion ancien - 26th June 2013 at 22:36
Wonderful stuff. I’d hazard a guess that the late Bertram Arden would have been chuffed to watch that footage!
By: ozplane - 26th June 2013 at 21:24
Thanks for posting. What is the aircraft that taxies past at 00.49? It looks like a Puss Moth but the fin shape is wrong. Foreign visitor perhaps?
By: Roborough - 26th June 2013 at 21:21
Bill – The Fokker registration does appear to be G-EBTS
D1566 – Possibly Haldon lay within Teignmouth council’s boundaries. The aerodrome was also referred to as Exeter/Teignmouth I believe.
Is that Haldon (hill) at the western end of the Exeter by-pass, overlooking the city, with possibly a race-track at the top. I have happy memories of ascending it on my Bonneville, oh! 50 years ago.
Bill
By: Arabella-Cox - 26th June 2013 at 15:06
Bill – The Fokker registration does appear to be G-EBTS
D1566 – Possibly Haldon lay within Teignmouth council’s boundaries. The aerodrome was also referred to as Exeter/Teignmouth I believe.
By: D1566 - 26th June 2013 at 14:33
Remarkable film.
I never thought of Haldon as being closely associated with Teignmouth …
By: Roborough - 26th June 2013 at 12:34
[QUOTE=edskarf;2039614]This scratchy old film might be of interest to some. Abouth 50 aeroplanes attended the event including 4 RAF Bristol Bulldogs (from Upavon), a Cierva Autogiro, several DH Moths, an Avian and DH6 G-EBVS.
Remarkable clip of film. Was that Fokker G-EBTS ? I could only get a bit of the registration. Also a Puss Moth.
Thanks for posting Ed
regards
Bill
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June 26, 2013 at 7:47 am