Centenary Of Flight
Celebrate the centenary of flying in south Hampshire.
2010 is a very special year for Southampton Airport, as it marks 100 years since the first ever flight at the airport.
Back in 1910, a local man, Edwin Rowland Moon, triumphantly flew his homemade Moonbeam II aircraft from the fields of North Stoneham Farm (which is now Southampton Airport), at a time when aircraft were in their infancy. This demonstration of innovation and ingenuity inspired many more local people to design and build aircraft around the south Hampshire region, including the world famous WWII Spitfire aircraft, and Skeeter helicopters to name but a few. Today, thousands of local people are employed in aviation and aerospace industries in a range of businesses functions from supplying materials and providing services, to specialised aeronautical engineering (i.e. space satellites).
To mark the centenary year in 2010, a series of events are being planned throughout Hampshire by various organisations, to celebrate Hampshire’s rich and proud historical links to aviation and aerospace industries. The activities aim to celebrate the innovation that continues to grow today, and further encourage inward investment to the region.
Events and activities include -
Free Aviation Talks - Southampton City Council
A series of free aviation talks will take place in Southampton. Topics include the development of flight paths especially the New York Southampton transatlantic route, famous personalities including the visiting Amelia Earhart to Southampton, around the world attempt of the Vickers Vulture crew from Calshot, notable aircraft, often maiden flights, such as the Spitfire from Eastleigh, and the growth of the local aviation industry.
Venue: All talks take place in the Lecture Theatre, Civic Centre, Southampton. SO14 7LP (Use the Art Gallery / Library entrance by the fountain).
Tickets: All talks are FREE but as places are limited, tickets must be booked in advance. These are available from the Southampton Central Local Studies Library from the dates stated under each event. Telephone 023 8083 2205 or email events@southampton.gov.uk
Saturday 4 September at 11am : The Age of the Flying Boat
Panel of Speakers: tbc
The development of transcontinental and transoceanic routes from Southampton.
Tickets: Free but must be booked in advance. Tickets available from Southampton Central Local Studies Library. Telephone 023 8083 2205 or email events@southampton.gov.uk
Saturday 4 September at 2pm : The Quest For Speed
Panel of Speakers:tbc From the Schneider Trophy 1912 to the supersonic era, examining the demands on engineering and personnel.
Tickets: Free but must be booked in advance. Tickets available from Southampton Central Local Studies Library. Telephone 023 8083 2205 or email events@southampton.gov.uk
*Thursday 16 September at 7pm: Spitfire!
Speaker: Colin van Geffen. Illustrator and Aviation Historian.
An examination of the world’s best-known fighter from World War 2, looking at its origins, production and development, set against the Blitz in Southampton and the Battle of Britain.
Tickets: Free but must be booked in advance. Tickets available from 20 August 2010 from Southampton Central Local Studies Library. Telephone 023 8083 2205 or email events@southampton.gov.uk
Thursday 4 November at 7pm : “Does commercial aviation have a future?”
Speaker: Dr Kenji Tekeda. Senior Lecturer at University of Southampton School of Engineering Sciences. Silver Medallist 2009 RAeS.
This talk will discuss how the commercial aviation industry is working to survive in the face of the climate change challenge.
Tickets: Free but must be booked in advance. Tickets available from 17 September 2010 from Southampton Central Local Studies Library. Telephone 023 8083 2205 or email events@southampton.gov.uk
* Part of the Local History Forum Programme of monthly meetings. Tickets for all talks will also be available to collect from the LHF meetings/talks.
Previous talks have included
- Folland aircraft and the aviation industry at Hamble (January)
- Flight of the Vulture, March 25 1924, The British Round-the-World flight attempt in the Vickers Vulture amphibian aeroplane ( March)
- Development of Rotorcraft in Southampton (June)
- Women in Aviation (June)
Centenary Flypast: 24 July - Eastleigh Borough Council
The centenary of flight in South Hampshire will be marked with a special flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The event, organised by Eastleigh Borough Council, will take place on the afternoon of Saturday 24th July 2010, and will include 3 short flypasts over the Southampton Water area.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight includes a trio of historic aircraft which will over fly areas of both Eastleigh and Southampton to mark the birth of aviation in the region 100 years ago this year. The trio will include; the Hurricane, the UK’s only flying Lancaster and the Spitfire. The prototype Spitfire K5054 was designed and built locally and took its first test flight from Southampton Airport on the afternoon of March 5th 1936. A flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is particularly poignant in 2010, as this year is the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
Details of the best vantage points and timings will be widely publicised closer to the time. However, the aircraft can be viewed along the waterfront from Weston Shore to Hamble Point, and from on the water itself. The flypast is subject to weather and will take place anytime between 4.10pm to 4.20pm so it is advisable to be in your viewing place by 4pm.
Gordon Keeble Car Rally. 25 July – Gordon Keeble Owners Club
Between 1964 and 1966, Hampshire’s only super-car, the Gordon Keeble Car, was produced at what is now Southampton Airport and only 99 were ever made. On 25 July, approx 25 cars will be taking part in a special centenary celebration car rally around the South Hampshire region and will be on display in the Southampton Civic Centre Car Park between 12noon and 1pm.
Maritime Museum Exhibition - Southampton City Council
The Southampton Maritime Museum on Southampton Water was previously known as the Wool House and belonged to the family of Rowland Moon. The building was primarily used for boat building, however Edwin used a corner of this workshop to develop the Moonbeam aircraft. "In the corner of a garage" - a small display will be in the Maritime Museum from February 15 2010 telling the story of how the first plane to fly from Southampton Airport was built in the Wool House.
Solent Sky, Albert Road South, Southampton. SO14 3FR Telephone 023 8063 5830
The Solent Sky museum depicts the history of aviation in the Solent area and Hampshire. This small geographical area was arguably the most important area in the world for aircraft experimental and development work also for civil and military aircraft operation. The collection of 19 aircraft comprises some very rare examples, all of which were either built or developed in the Solent area. These include the giant Sandringham Flying boat, a single-seat Folland Gnat; the world’s first jet-powered flying boat - the SRA /1; Britten-Norman’s very first aircraft – the BN1F; the record-breaking Schneider Trophy S6a racing seaplane and the immortal Spitfire. All aircraft are available for close inspection and visitors are also offered the opportunity to sit in the cockpit of a Supermarine Swift jet fighter and the first civilian SaRo SKEETER helicopter.
Opening times: Tue - Sat 10am -5pm, Sun 12noon - 5pm, last entry at 4pm.Closed Mondays except for school or public holidays.
Amission: Adults £6, Senior Citizens £5, Children 5-16yrs £4,children under 5yrs free. Family ticket of two adults and two children - one child free. Group rates available on request.
Spitfire: A Legendary chapter in Eastleigh's centenary of flight. Eastleigh Museum, 25 High Street, Eastleigh SO50. 16 October - 13 November 2010.
The exhibition will be looking a stories related to the Spitfire story at Eastleigh through the pilot, the plane, mechanics and the collector/memorabilia. The exhibition will be using a private collection and museum images and stories linked to Eastleigh, including local reminiscences. The exhibition will include events and activities linked to Spitfire and work closely with older people and young people (air cadets and the EDGE youth co-ordinator) and have a series of half term activities during the autumn term.
Southampton Airport's new departure Lounge
Southampton airport is redeveloping the airport's Departure Lounge during 2010, and plan a VIP opening later inthe year, which will become part of the centenary celebrations.
The Southern Daily Echo - is producing a dedicated newspaper supplement to celebrate the centenary celebration, as well as featuring the journeys of 100 different airport passengers and the story behind their travels in the region.
PUSH Ahead Schools Programme for Hampshire - PUSH, Southampton Airport & The BAA Communities Trust PUSH stands for Partnership for Urban South Hampshire and links 11 local authorities. The PUSH Ahead Challenge provides an enterprise, innovation and business challenge available to every Hampshire school to inspire young entrepreneurs to develop business ideas. The programme running between September 2009 and April 2010 will focus on developing products which help to make the passengers journey easy, fast and friendly, in line with Southampton Airport's "breeze through" ethos.
Solent Aviation Art Society - 100 Years of Southampton Airport (2010). The Solent Aviation Art Society will be holding a competition with its members to create art with the theme of ‘100 Years of Southampton Airport’
Sorry - you have missed these events..
Paper Planes Exhibition - Southampton City Council. 28 Feb - 25 April at Southampton City Art Gallery.
A competition to celebrate the themes of flight and speed where artists of all ages will be invited to submit their paintings, photographs and other art works for consideration by a panel of distinguished judges who will select artworks for display in Southampton City Art Gallery.
Biggles & Co - 25, 26, 27 May at Solent Sky Museum, Albert Rd, Southampton The Sarah Siddons Fan Club will be re-created the heroic exploits of those early pilots.
Eggheads – Southampton Airport Team. Southampton Airport team entered the BBC2 Quiz Show, Eggheads. 9th June - BBC2 Eggheads (6pm)
"When the Saintz Go Marching in" - Eastleigh Borough Council. 11 - 13 June at The Point. Eastleigh. The Point commissioned a new community play funded by BAA and Creative Hampshire. which follows the story of a break-in at a vintage aircraft hangar on the eve of the centenary celebrations and a gang of wayward youths who encounter a mysterious old man whose extraordinary story will change their lives forever.
Centenary Swing Night at The Point in Eastleigh - 25 June. An evening of Jive, Lindy Hop and live music at The Point
For more up to date information of these and other events visit the Centenary of Flight website.
If you would like to contact someone about this page, please send an email to: events@southampton.gov.uk
