Walsall Aerodrome
{{short description|Former airport in the West Midlands of England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Walsall Aerodrome
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| type = Public
| owner-oper = Walsall Council
| city-served = Walsall
| location = Aldridge, Staffordshire. England
| opened = 1930s
| closed = 1956
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| coordinates = {{coord|52|35|28|N|001|56|06|W|region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = West Midlands
| pushpin_label = Walsall Aerodrome
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Walsall Aerodrome, also known as Walsall Airport, Walsall Municipal Airport, and later as Walsall Aldridge Airport was an airport at Aldridge, Staffordshire, England, serving the town of Walsall, north Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and Lichfield (Aldridge is now part of Walsall, and in the West Midlands county). It operated from the 1930s–1956.
History
Walsall Council purchased Aldridge Lodge and {{convert|220|acres|ha}}{{cite web|url=http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/News/Helliwells-aircraft-component-factory-at-Walsall-airport.htm|title=Helliwells aircraft component factory at Walsall airport|date=2010-11-25|work=Black Country Bugle|accessdate=19 May 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928060551/http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/News/Helliwells-aircraft-component-factory-at-Walsall-airport.htm|archivedate=28 September 2011|df=dmy-all}} of its estate in 1930.{{cite web|url=https://www.blackcountryhistory.org/collections/getrecord/WAHER_MBL1341/|title=Airfield; S Of Aldridge|work=Black Country History|access-date=19 May 2013}} Work on the airport began in 1932 and in 1937 the council contracted Walker Brothers Ltd of Victoria Ironworks, Walsall, to erect a hangar.{{cite web|url=https://www.blackcountryhistory.org/collections/getrecord/GB148_35_54_7/|title=Contract for erection of new hangar at Walsall Aerodrome|publisher=Black Country History|access-date=19 May 2013}} A licence to operate was obtained in 1938.
In 1938 Amy Johnson gave a glider display to a crowd of around 6,000. On her final approach, her glider's wingtip touched a hedge and the aircraft turned over. She was taken to hospital, but was not seriously injured.
Operations were limited by the airfield's size, slope, and wet clay soil, making it unsuitable for larger aircraft. It closed in 1956 and most of the buildings were later demolished.
The land is now a public open space, known as Aldridge Airport, and hosts a variety of leisure activities under the auspices of Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council.{{cite web|url=http://cms.walsall.gov.uk/de/print/index/aldridge_airport.htm|title=Aldridge Airport|publisher=Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council|accessdate=19 May 2013}} However, it is still used for occasional helicopter landings, including training exercises by the West Midlands Police helicopter.{{cite web|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/WMP_Helicopter/status/335520541266022400|title=2145hrs..Then a quick training flight and landing at Walsall old airfield...|work=Twitter|publisher=West Midlands Police|date=17 May 2013|accessdate=19 May 2013}}
Currently it is also used by local dog walkers, Children's football league and all forms of model aircraft flying, this has been on going since the mid 1940s, continuing the tradition of an airfield.
Helliwells
File:Helliwells - Lady Look Ahead - 1939 - 2.jpg
The engineering company Helliwells Ltd. had a base at the airfield {{circa|1939|1955}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationancestry.com/Engineering/Helliwells/Helliwells-LadyBritanniaShallRule-1939-1.html|title=Helliwells Lady Britannia 1939|work=AviationAncestry|accessdate=19 May 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationancestry.com/Engineering/Helliwells/Helliwells-Christmas%20Greeting-1955-1.html|title=Helliwells Christmas Greeting 1955|work=AviationAncestry|accessdate=19 May 2013}} They made aircraft components and carried out modifications and repairs to aeroplanes.
Archives
Walsall Archives and Local History Centre holds a number of research files containing documents relating to the airport.{{cite web|url=https://www.blackcountryhistory.org/collections/getrecord/GB148_1469_2_1/|title=Walsall Aerodrome Research File 1|publisher=Black Country History|access-date=19 May 2013}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Defunct airports in the United Kingdom}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Defunct airports in England
Category:Buildings and structures in Walsall
Category:Transport in Staffordshire
Category:Airports established in 1938
Category:Airports in the West Midlands (region)
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