68 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF BLACKPOOL AND DISTRICT 



Unfortunately, this first aviation week was not favoured with good weather, 

 and consequently there was little actual flying. 



The venture was, however, repeated the following year, under the auspices 

 of the Lancashire Aero Club, and proved most successful. This second 

 meeting lasted from July 28th to August 20th, 1910, and on Monday, 10th 

 August, at 4-0 p.m., M. Tetard, a French pilot, flew round the Tower. This 

 was the first occasion upon which it had been encircled by an aeroplane, 

 though an airship piloted by Captain Spencer is stated to have circumnavigated 

 the Tower when it flew over Blackpool on October 20th, 1902. 



Having so early demonstrated a strong faith in the future of aeronautics, 

 it is only fitting that Blackpool should to-day possess two airports which link 

 it by regular air services with the Isle of Man, Liverpool, Manchester, London, 

 Glasgow and Belfast. One of these airports belongs to the municipality, and 

 is located at Stanley Park, only one-and-a-half miles from the centre of the 

 town. It is thus most conveniently situated, and is complete with Customs 

 clearance facilities and fine club-house. 



Planes belonging to British Airways, Ltd., leave the airport at regular 

 intervals for the Isle of Man, Belfast, Glasgow, London, etc. The first air 

 service between Blackpool and the Isle of Man was made from the Stanley 

 Park Aerodrome by an amphibian machine on March 25th, 1 932, the journey 

 to the Island taking 40 minutes. 



In April, 1933, the Blackpool and West Coast Air Services brought into use 

 their aerodrome at Squires Gate on the site of the old racecourse, conveniently 

 situated immediately to the landward side of the L.M.S. Company's Squires 

 Gate Railway Station. At first no regular services were run, but planes could 

 be chartered as required. On July 1st, 1933, however, the Blackpool and 

 West Coast Company commenced a regular service to the Isle of Man, with 

 connections to Belfast and other places. 



Railway Air Services, Ltd. (an organisation created by the four Main Line 

 Railways) have, in collaboration with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company , 

 formed a section designated ' The Manx Airway,' which commenced 

 operating from the Squires Gate Aerodrome on the 17th April, 1935. By this 

 collaboration air passengers to the Isle of Man are afforded the various luggage- 

 in-advance arrangements familiar to passengers by railway and steamer. 

 Subject to certain regulations, they are also enabled, having booked by air, to 

 return by surface transport or vice versa, according to their choice. Con- 

 necting air services are run daily from Blackpool to Manchester, Liverpool and, 

 except on Sundays, Birmingham and Croydon. 



Not only are passengers carried by air from Blackpool to the Isle of Man, 

 but the newspaper proprietors also take advantage of the speedy service to get 

 the printed news on the breakfast table of the early-rising visitor to Mona's 

 Isle. 



The average journey time from Blackpool to the Island is about 40 minutes, 

 but, helped by a strong following wind, one of the machines last year completed 

 the trip in 29 minutes. Another notable record was from Liverpool to 

 Blackpool in 13 minutes. A striking contrast to the journey by coach 150 

 years ago ! 



