Dawn of Aviation: The Pivotal Role of Sussex People and Places in the Development of Flight

Shoreham airport, founded in 1910, is the oldest airport in the UK and the oldest purpose-built commercial airport in the world. However, aviation began in Sussex in 1785 with balloonists making landfall at Kingsfold near Horsham. The military quickly appreciated the potential benefits of aerial observation and deployed balloons for the first time at the annual Volunteer Review in 1880. Gliders were the first heavier-than-air machines to take to the skies, but the internal combustion engine made powered, controlled flight a reality. After the Armistice, aviation became increasingly expensive and regulated, leading to the end of the halcyon days of swashbuckling amateurs taking to the skies.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 320 pages
\n Publication date: 04 June 2021
\n Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
\n

Shoreham Airport, founded in 1910, holds the distinction of being the oldest airport in the United Kingdom and the oldest purpose-built commercial airport globally. However, the history of aviation in Sussex dates back much earlier, with balloonists making landfall at Kingsfold near Horsham in 1785. These early endeavors garnered significant attention, attracting a crowd of around 30,000 people to Black Rock in Brighton and the surrounding hills to witness the first balloon ascent from the town in July 1821. The balloonist in question, Charles Green, later gained fame through Charles Dickens' _Sketches By Boz_. The military recognized the potential advantages of aerial observation and deployed balloons for the first time at the annual Volunteer Review in Brighton in 1880. However, unfavorable wind conditions often hindered balloon flights, prompting the army to explore alternative methods. In June 1903, an international competition was held on the South Downs near Findon to determine if kites could lift a man into the air. While this was proven feasible, it proved to be a terrifying experience for the unfortunate pilots.

Prior to the advent of powered flight, gliders were the first heavier-than-air machines to take to the skies. In 1902, Mr. Jose Weiss initiated the launch of unmanned gliders from a ramp at Houghton Hill near Amberley, which could soar up to two miles. Nevertheless, the arrival of the internal combustion engine transformed powered, controlled flight into a reality. On November 7, 1908, Alec Ogilvie piloted a Wright Brothers biplane along the coast at Camber, marking a significant milestone in aviation history. By the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the people of Sussex had witnessed the Brooklands to Brighton air race and the establishment of flying schools at Shoreham and Eastbourne. Following the Armistice, aviation began to become increasingly expensive, leading to a decline in its popularity. Nevertheless, the legacy of Sussex's aviation heritage continued to endure, with the county playing a pivotal role in the development of the aviation industry.

\n Weight: 566g\n
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 28 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781526786340\n \n