Manchester (Wythenshawe) Aerodrome also known locally as Rackhouse Aerodrome was the first airfield built to serve, temporarily, as Manchester's municipal aerodrome.

Construction and facilities

Following a campaign by interested people, Manchester's council began to realise that Manchester needed a permanent airport. Four fields at Rackhouse Farm, which were part of a large area that had been bought from Lord Egerton of Tatton

Tatton Park

Tatton Park is a historic estate in Cheshire, England, to the north of the town of Knutsford. It contains a mansion, Tatton Hall, a manor house dating from medieval times, Tatton Old Hall, gardens, a farm and a deer park of . It is a popular visitor attraction and hosts over 100 events annually...

 by Manchester Corporation, and mainly intended for use as local authority housing, were chosen in early 1929 for use as Manchester's municipal aerodrome, until the new permanent Barton Airport, near Eccles was built.

The airfield's site was within the fork of Wythenshawe Road and Sale Road, just west of the intersection with today's Princess Parkway and just north of Wythenshawe Park. Hedges were grubbed out, some ground was levelled, and a barn was converted for use as a hangar

Hangar

A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...

 capable of housing one light aircraft. A country lane which is now Rackhouse Road ran along its east edge.

A farmhouse became the administration building. Temporary fuel pumps were installed.

The north-eastern field (seen dark-coloured on the adjacent photograph) was not made usable for aircraft operations. The only navigational help to pilots to identify the aerodrome were the letters 'M/C' in white, within a large circle. No airfield lighting or radio facilities were provided.

History

The first use of the airfield by an aircraft was on 2 April 1929.

The city's application for an aerodrome licence was dated 13 April 1929, and called the place "Wythenshawe

Wythenshawe

Wythenshawe is a district in the south of the city of Manchester, England.Formerly part of the administrative county of Cheshire, in 1931 Wythenshawe was transferred to the City of Manchester, which had begun building a massive housing estate there in the 1920s to resolve the problem of its inner...

, in the parish of Northenden

Northenden

Northenden is a suburban area and electoral ward of the city of Manchester in North West England. It lies on the south side of both the River Mersey and the M60 motorway, west of Stockport and south of Manchester city centre. Northenden is bounded by the districts of Didsbury, Gatley and...

, in the rural district of Bucklow

Bucklow Rural District

Bucklow Rural District was, from 1894 to 1974, a local government district in the north of the administrative county of Cheshire, England. Following the Local Government Act 1972, this rural district was split between the new Greater Manchester boroughs of Trafford and Manchester, and Macclesfield,...

, in the County of Chester".

The airfield was mainly used for private and club flying. Northern Air Lines (Manchester) Ltd based several aircraft here, their two-seat De Havilland DH.60 Moth

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

The de Havilland DH 60 Moth was a 1920s British two-seat touring and training aircraft that was developed into a series of aircraft by the de Havilland Aircraft Company.-Development:The DH 60 was developed from the larger DH 51 biplane...

s being available for charter at one shilling per mile. The Lancashire Aero Club

Lancashire Aero Club

The Lancashire Aero Club is the oldest established Flying Club in the United Kingdom.- Early history :* Late 1922: The club was formed by John F. Leeming and a group of friends who had started to build a glider in Leeming's garage at his home in Bowdon near Altrincham Cheshire...

, based at Woodford Aerodrome, regularly sent one of their training aircraft to Wythenshawe, for the convenience of local members.

On 22 April 1929 the Lord Mayor of Manchester and a civic party flew from the aerodrome to Croydon Airport

Croydon Airport

Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport...

 to collect Wythenshawe Aerodrome's temporary operating licence.

An 'Air Pageant' was held on 22 June 1929, attracting many aircraft and large crowds of interested Mancunian

Mancunian

Mancunian is the associated adjective and demonym of Manchester, a city in North West England. It may refer to:*The city of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England**The people of Manchester, or the list of people from Manchester...

 spectators.

On 1 January 1930 the aerodrome became redundant as Barton Airport opened.

On 19 June 1930 was the last recorded flight from Wythenshawe Airport.

In 1931, Manchester city's boundaries were extended southwards, and after that the site was in Manchester

Manchester

Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...

 and Lancashire

Lancashire

Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...

.

From the early 1930s Manchester Corporation built houses over the area for social housing.

External links

• Planes on Wythenshawe Aerodrome