Prestwick 1920-30s

[PIKAviationTours]

I am looking to fill some gaps as regards aviation activity at Prestwick around the 1920s and 30s prior to the Prestwick Airfield being fully licenced in 1934 with the creation of The Scottish College of Aviation being formed (later Scottish Aviation). I do know that the first recorded aviation activity was in 1913 when the RFC use the 'Monkton Meadows' to land their BE2s when on exercises at the close by Gailes Camp and then again in the 1933 / 34 years when Scottish and Midland Air Ferries used the landing site as a diversion airfield to Glasgow's Renfrew Airport. However, the years between 1913 and 1933 remain a bit of mystery. If anyone has any information or can point me in the direction of said information I would be very grateful. Cheers.

[muggins]

From my fading memory, didn't flying around Ayr/Prestwick start with a landing ground at Seafield in Ayr? at the old racecourse?

Then things moved to a site near Heathfield in Prestwick. Looking at Google Maps you can see the remains of some runways near the threshold of 03, but those would be post 1934. Don't ask me about dates

you probably know all that

[PIKAviationTours]

Thanks Muggins. There was early aviation activity at the present Ayr Racecourse around 1918 and also at Turnberry at this time, Seafield was probably used as a landing area for pleasure flights as a possible alternative to Ayr Beach as the Monkton Landing Ground was an alternative to Prestwick Beach. As regards Heathfield, it didn't become an airfield until 1939/40 and ironically the local council had refused David McIntyre permission to build an airfield there in 1935 as this his preferred site to build his new training airfield. This is why he chose Prestwick which was next to the Monkton Landing Ground. In fact Heathfield (RAF Ayr) had concrete runways before Prestwick, and yes you can still see the remains of two of the runways (small portions albeit) and peritrack at the threshold of Prestwick's 21/03 runway.

[Liffy 1M]

From my fading memory, didn't flying around Ayr/Prestwick start with a landing ground at Seafield in Ayr? at the old racecourse?

Then things moved to a site near Heathfield in Prestwick. Looking at Google Maps you can see the remains of some runways near the threshold of 03, but those would be post 1934. Don't ask me about dates

you probably know all that

The remains in the 03 area are from RAF Ayr, I believe.

[muggins]

Thanks Liffy, that makes sense

[PIKAviationTours]

Hi Muggins - I posted a fairly long reply but it appears stuck with the mods for some reason! (You'll probably get 2 replies now!) The first aviation activity in the area was at the Monkton Meadows (the area opposite the present pax terminal) and later ( around 1916-18) the main aviation activity in Ayrshire took place at the present Ayr Racecourse and Turnberry. The Old Racecourse may have been used as an alternative to Ayr Beach for pleasure flights around then (and into the 20s) and Monkton did similar for Prestwick Beach. You mention Heathfield (RAF Ayr) and ironically this only became an airfield in 1940 when the MOD requisitioned the land from the local council and this was after the council had refused David McIntyre the land for building his Scottish College of Aviation (later Scottish Aviation Ltd) airfield in 1935. The council had earmarked the area for housing and industrial use. McIntyre then set up SAL at Prestwick next to the Monkton Meadows. Heathfield actually had three concrete runways in 1940 whilst Prestwick had grass runways until 1941. As you point out, small remains of two of the runways exist close to Prestwick's 03 threshold as do sections of peritrack and hanger bases.