Primarily for general aviation discussion, but other aviation topics are also welcome.
#1663675
Rob P wrote:
Lockhaven wrote:Birkdale has been mentioned earlier in the thread, but these were clearly Southport - just South of the pier.


Maybe he just landed very long?

Rob P

The section of beach used was shown on charts as 'Southport, Birkdale Sands'.
#1663679
I think I have been misquoted as mentioning 'Birkdale' it was PaulB who posted it earlier.

PaulB wrote:
PaulB wrote:I seem to remember a Cessna (poss a 172) when I lived there as a kid... (that'd be the mid 70's)

I may be mistaken.....


Well, I was correct with the aircraft but wrong with the decade.... or should I say that I'd acquired a camera by the time this pic was taken in May 1982. (It would have been a Canon AE1 bought from Comet on Lord Street, Southport)

Birkdale has been mentioned earlier in the thread, but these were clearly Southport - just South of the pier.

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#1663689
chevvron wrote:
Rob P wrote:
PaulB wrote:Birkdale has been mentioned earlier in the thread, but these were clearly Southport - just South of the pier.


Maybe he just landed very long?

The section of beach used was shown on charts as 'Southport, Birkdale Sands'.


Ahh... so are we saying that there was just the one landing area on the sand and that it was *called* Birkdale Sands, despite not actually being Birkdale Sands (as it's clearly Southport Beach). (I'd have said that Birkdale started further south along the Coast Road as opposed to Marine Drive, although to be fair they are quite close together.)
By PaulB
#1663694
Thanks for that..... Looks like the same place..... I guess it's a local thing..... If you were to go to the beach at Southport, you'd drive on by the pier of a little further South on the Marine Drive. If you were to go to the dunes/beach at Birkdale, you'd drive on further down the Coast Road.

All that said, the Pooley's image in the link you gave ties in quite nicely with my photos - whatever it was called! :-)
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By Lockhaven
#1663695
As towns Southport and Birkdale are more or less joined, the original airport was Hesketh Park until approx 1912 then the aerodrome was moved on to the beach just south of the pier and became Southport Sands aerodrome, in later years it was named Southport/Birkdale.

Over the years there have been many different users and historic flights that have taken place right along the area of the beaches from Ainsdale through to Southport ending at the pier.
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By John 22
#1747274
alanevans wrote:My first flight was off the beach at Southport in 1952 or 53, when I was about 7 years old.

The aircraft was a biplane with an open cockpit forward and an aft cabin with seats for four passengers. As I remember it, the seats were of a deep bucket-type design. The flight cost five shillings for adults and half-a-crown for children. (This is a cue for a thread-diversion, or even a hijack).

My memory could well be playing tricks, but I would be interested to know if that aircraft might have been G-ADDI. Anybody got a photo?

Alan.

Glad to see a post which is close to my memory/experience. My recollection is that my first flight was from Southport Beach as a small boy in the sixties. When I saw the pleasure flight sold as a "10 bob flip" I borrowed 5 shillings from my pals dad. He reminded me that I would not be able to go on any other rides. I think I said "I don't care, I may never get the chance to fly again". For years I thought that aircraft was a Dragon Rapide. Also my other recollection is that the seats were wicker? Does any of this strike a chord with anyone? Finally...I have spent the last 40+ years working in aviation.
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By Rob P
#1747279
dH Fox Moth

Almost certainly G-ACEJ or G-ACCB

A google of the registrations brings up lots of images on the beach.

Lots of them on the early pages of this thread.

Rob P
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By Smaragd
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1747398
I remember sitting in the cockpit of Fox Moth G-AOJH at Ringway around 1959 and operating the mag switches while Harry Patterson swung the prop.
By Terry Eiss
#1748501
My uncle took me up in 1961; the aircraft had four seats, one of which was for the pilot, and, as well as ourselves, there was a married couple. My uncle was in the right-hand seat, and I was squeezed in the back between the other two passengers with no seat belt, highly illegal I suppose but great fun.
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By The Kissimmee Bum
FLYER Club Member (reader)  FLYER Club Member (reader)
#1748592
I came within seconds of having a ten bob ride with Captain Johnny in ACEJ when I was a kid. (OK I know it sounds like some kind of nefarious activity but totally hinocent guv).

My old man was about to part with the ten bob but my mother on seeing the aircraft declared that her precious son would not be boarding. Over protective she was, especially given some of the stupid activities I’ve undertaken since. Entirely without her knowledge I should add. Gawd bless her soul!
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By Lockhaven
#1762878
Here are a few more interesting images of aircraft flying from Southport, Blackpool and the Isle of Man beaches.

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Captain Barnard’s aircraft the ‘Spider’ caught by the incoming tide during one of the flying circus demonstrations on Southport Beach in the 1920's and 1930's.

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Southport, Merseyside. There's always a queue for the air trip at 12 and 6 a time when the aircraft that uses the beach as a landing strip. 5th August 1959.

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An Avro 504K 3 seater landing on Southport Sands in 1919. The original booking office survived and was used by the Giro Aviation Joy-riding company until the 1960s.

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Avro Transport Co. Avro 504Ks at Blackpool with the South Pier in the background.
The hand written note reads: ‘How would you like this. £1-1-0 (£1.05 in today’s money) a time for 5 or 6 minutes. £2-2-0 (£2.10 in today’s money) for looping the loop’.

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Two of the Avro Transport Avro 504Ks E4360 (ATC Fleet No. 2) & D6230 at Douglas, Isle of Man.
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By PaulB
#1762879
Some fantastic photos there..... I spent my teenage years in Southport.