Hatfield Aerodrome

I was involved with this Hunter. It was on loan from MOD and stored in the trial hanger (Dynamic Group) next to the runway. It was used in a technological demonstration program for an infra red homing head for the SRAAM. A video camera (Sony) was installed in the nosecone of the Hunter. The nosecone has a mechanical shutter. The video recorder (Sony) was installed in the magazine rack under the belly. Every time when there was a trial they flown the test pilot from somewhere to Hatfield to perform the trial. Once they flew the Hunter near a foundry (I can’t remember the name now) close to Peterborugh and the Infra Red homing head instantly lock on to that. After each trial they have to unload the magazine to get the video recorder out to get the video. I was a young electronic design engineer at that time and was involved in this project. The trial was in 1978 and after that the hunter was refurbished and painted with bright color. That’s the one you saw in 1979 open day.

I remember getting a tour of the factory in the early ’70s when the Chinese Tridents were being built. My Grandfather had 3 or 4 Tridents on the Channel Airways fleet so was often invited to open days, etc.

I must of only been 3 or 4 as it was before Channel went bust, but it is one of the few events I have a recollection of from that age!

Oh that would be helpful Bruce. Good man!

I’ve got an idea we still have the Fresnel lenses in our Trident. I’ll have a look.

Bruce

… if you look closely you can see the power station chimney in camouflage and the Chance Light (which used to be on top of the London Flying Club squash courts …

G-ORDY, I know you are aware of this thread, but I have posted a link here as I think it is relevant and may be of interest to others.

Old thread about the Hatfield Beacon

I’m about to add an update to it.

The Chester ones were actually Vickers Armstrongs, but you are right, they are gone now!

Bruce

Well, I think they have done a fantastic job on those restorations, not only for the aviation history but for the art deco beauty too.
Pity it had to close in the first place, but BAe couldn’t resist the sales price of that land.
Nowthen, I visited Hatfield in the 80’s quite a lot, on Airbus wing design. I cannot remember if Hatfield had the bespoke DH lamp posts along the inner roads? DH Chester certainly did. They were only concrete castings, in the shape of the DH bird icon. Beautiful. I imagine there are none left now.

Quite. JDK isn’t well. Never claimed to be error free.

Sorry to hear you are not well James… I honestly thought you were testing our observational skills 😀

regards baz

I think JDK meant K5083.

Quite. JDK isn’t well. Never claimed to be error free.

I just could not resist these three from DH Gazette 1937 – I admit to having a soft spot for the ALbatross – one day I’ll do a monograph on it!

I think JDK meant K5083.

I did have a chuckle that 5054NZ on the photo thread managed to do a post at 0554 😀

I know…simple things 😀

5054 ?? :D:D:D
You wouldnt want to get the stick too far forward on take off would you 😀

cheers baz

“Obviously it’s the prototype Hawker Hurricane at Hatfield; K5054.”

Not too obvious to some. 🙂

Mark

I don’t think this photo has been published in the UK. This was taken by Paddy Heffernan, RAAF, on exchange in ’36 with 101 Squadron RAF, flying Boulton Paul Overstrands. His albums are now in the RAAF Museum archive, which is where this scan comes from.

Obviously it’s the prototype Hawker Hurricane at Hatfield; K5054.

I think this was taken at the 1936 SBAC Show. Details, comment, correction welcome.

Believe me, the museum looked at every option possible to get a site at Hatfield. Too much real estate I’m afraid. We will be staying where we are…!

The Stevenage site was just off the A1, and much of it has now been demolished. It was used amongst other things for missile development. Some of that work contunies albeit under a different name on part of the old site.

Bruce

Thanks everyone for a really interesting thread.
This is my first posting and I signed up on the basis of this thread.

I have learn’t more in this thread than I ever knew.

I only recently learn’t where the Manor Road site existed ( I thought it was a completely different site).

It is a great shame that only the hanger and control tower (and a few other buildings) exist today.
The Hatfield site achieved so much with great people and yet we only have a few road names to remember this by.

The Comet springs to mind for a start.

I wonder what is going to happen to the south-west side of the site.
It would be nice if the Dehavilland Museum (near St. Albans) should set up site in this section.

I know that it would not happen as it would appear that this country is ashamed of its aero heritage.

Some previous posters have commented at moving to the Stevenage site ( now BAE I believe), what happened there ?

If anyone has more pictures / stories, please post.
This is really interesting.

Hatfield 1934 Kings Cup Air Race

The Comper Mouse (with the Streak behind it), note the Flying Club building and the aerodrome light. (Photo by Geoffrey Wickner)

Cheers for the update Bruce. No, i don’t get over nearly as often as I would like, life gets in the way of my hobbies. Especially when your from ‘oop North’ as you always eloquently put it! Hope things are well with you!

Hi again Janie, the DH.88 replica formerly of the Galleria is now stored at the deHavilland Aircraft Heritage Centre. They, (we, I’m still a member there), now have two replicas, the one being restored is from an Australian TV movie and will be finished as Black Magic I believe but those plans may have changed. The Galleria one is tucked away but isnt of the highest quality its mostly ‘orrible styrofoam!

You havent been for a while then – the ex Galleria Comet has been passed to Sywell Museum, where it will be rebuilt.

Bruce