Barton

[Phill]

This section was looking a bit empty so I thought I'd add some details for Barton Aerodrome (EGCB). It could technically fall into the Lancashire section but it is now known as City Airport Manchester so I think it will be safe here!

Construction of the airfield started in 1929 and it was opened in 1930, it was intended to be Manchester's municipal airport but was deemed to small and plans were adopted for Manchester Ringway in 1934.

It is home to the first purpose built control tower in Britain and this is still in use today.

It was requisitioned by the Air Ministry during the war and there are some buildings from that era still on the site.

It was home to Lancashire Aero Club for many years but they have effectively been forced out and have since been looking for a new strip.

Today it is owned by Peel Holdings who own the Liverpool John Lennon / Speke and Doncaster Robin Hood airports, they also own the Manchester Ship Canal and the Trafford centre among other enterprises.

I have some photos from Barton here:
http://www.phillrawlins.com/8673qu47e3/aroundbarton.htm

More historic details from the company website:
http://www.cityairportmanchester.com/generalinfo/index.asp?id=11

I worked at Barton for a number of years so I have plenty more information and photo's should anyone be interested, please PM me.
I will in time add them to this but I have other projects in hand first!

cheers
Phill

[PJH]

Thanks for starting this Phill - the Manchester section was looking worryingly empty. I grew up in Urmston and we used to watch the annual air display from the back bedroom window. Sadly of course this was where the last Mosquito came a cropper with the loss of both crew. Was this the last Barton display?

Going over the Barton high level bridge (now the M60, then the M63) you could clearly see the main hangar with Barton in large letters on the roof. Is it still there?

Peter

[Phill]

Hi Peter

Crikey, small world. I grew up in Flixton and spent each airshow day sat on the roof of the garden shed.
One of my best memories was of a Lightning streaking in from Ringway to start his display, right over my head and it seemed then so close I could touch it.
Deafened and with my first sniff of jet fumes, I was hooked!

I also still remember the Vulcan displays, even from the distance we were she took over the sky completely.

I remember the Mosquito very clearly, a sad day. I think this might have been the last, certainly the penultimate if not.
(the saddest part about the Mosquito is that it is understood the pilot recovered the aircraft but then hit tree tops)

With rising costs of insurances etc. and display lines getting pushed further back it became inevitable that the aerodrome could not physically get enough people in to cover the costs.
There was no shortage in punters, and even with park and ride facilities busing people in they could not get enough paying spectators in to cover the costs.

The Pemberton hangar is still there however the writing on the roof has long since faded away.


Cheers
Phill

[jeta1]

I was in the crowd at the airfield the fateful when the Mosquito was lost, it was a heart wrenching moment.
Have been visiting the airfield since late 60's, a lot of history but always in the shadow of MAN.
I remember taking a flying lesson from there on the day of an airshow, we had to be back on the ground by a certain time as the ATC changed to control the airshow, it was strange landing in a C150 in front of a growing crowd of people.
I still visit from time to time though currently the reason is that the club house is host to monthly meetings of Triumph sports car owners!

[REF]

Control Tower on 14 August 1995. Barry Abraham / AiX-ARG Archives

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb198/Flyer719/ALL%20OTHER%20PHOTOS/AiX-ARG%20Archives/scan0066-1.jpg

[carmedic]

The main hangar at Barton

http://i44.tinypic.com/2m34m11.jpg

I have more but cannot find them on my hard drive at the moment

[tamiya monkey]

Hi there here's some photo's i took while at our AGM on sunday.
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_7385.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_7382.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_7372.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_7396.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_7403.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_7404.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_7366.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_7335.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_7317.jpg

[jeta1]

Did anyone get a picture of the Hornet Moth which visited last week to celebrate 75th anniversary of the first flight into Manchester, I believe the aircraft visited Barton, Manchester and Woodford.

[tamiya monkey]

Some pictures from my brother terry.
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2985.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2979.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2976.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2963.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2949.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2938.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2936.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2907.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2891.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2878.jpg

[tamiya monkey]

again some more from terry
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2873.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2857.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2844.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2845.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2828.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2842.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2814.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tamiyamonkey/DSC_2940.jpg