The first flight from Blackpool Airport, which was originally known as Squires Gate Airport, happened in 1909 with French aviator Henri Farman flying the plane. This marked the beginning of the airport’s long history and made it one of the oldest active airports in the UK. The flight was part of the UK’s first official aviation meeting in October 1909, which drew a lot of attention from early aviation pioneers and enthusiasts.
Henri Farman, an important figure in early aviation known for his work in powered flight, piloted the aircraft during this event. The meeting was a key moment in British aviation, showcasing the capabilities of early aircraft and setting the stage for Blackpool Airport to become a significant center for both military and civilian aviation.
Over time, Blackpool Airport has taken on various roles, including serving as a training base for the Royal Flying Corps in World War I and as a crucial base for the Royal Air Force in World War II. After the wars, it returned to civilian use and expanded to accommodate commercial and private flights. The 1909 flight is remembered as a major event that marked the start of operations at Blackpool Airport and contributed to the growth of aviation in the UK.
BATTLE BETWEEN TWO GIANT AVIATORS
In September 1909, Blackpool played host to a significant aviation meeting, with two notable aviators taking part: Henri Farman and Louis Paulhan. Both pilots achieved remarkable success, with Farman winning first place and Paulhan securing third in the distance flown contest, while they also claimed first and second positions respectively in the speed contest. Just a month later, in October 1909, Paulhan made history by performing the first exhibition flight at Brooklands in his Farman biplane, thrilling a crowd of 20,000 spectators.
In early 1910, Paulhan made his way to America for the Los Angeles aviation meeting, where he brought both a Blériot XI monoplane and a Farman biplane. Flying the Farman, he set a new altitude record on 12 January, reaching 1,258 metres (4,126 feet). Later that year, in April, Paulhan won the prestigious London to Manchester air race, piloting a Farman III. He competed against Claude Grahame-White, who was also flying a Farman. The Farman III was a popular aircraft, widely used as a training plane. By the start of 1911, the Aéro-Club de France had issued 354 pilot licences, with 81 of those earned by pilots flying the Farman III. Only the Blériot monoplane, with 83 licences, had a higher number of qualified pilots.
In a historic moment on 15 July 1910 in Belgium, Paulhan’s Farman III carried the first head of state to fly in an aircraft—King Ferdinand I of Bulgaria. The Farman III also saw military use, with seven of the aircraft being employed by the Greek military during the Balkan Wars, where they were primarily used for reconnaissance missions. See another historic moment at Blackpool Airport’s 100-Year Milestone.
The first flight from Blackpool Airport, originally known as Squires Gate Airport, happened in 1909 with French aviator Henri Farman flying the plane.
Henri Farman and his 50 hp Gnome biplane at the Blackpool Aviation Meeting, 1909.
