Empire Air Day (1935)

February 1935: "Empire Air Day is to be organised again by the Air League of the British Empire in 1935, and the date fixed is Saturday, May 25. The Air League ... asks all 'B' licence pilots to put their services at the disposal of their local clubs so that every available aeroplane may take the air".

So, in May 1935, besides the 40 RAF stations which were open, there were displays and/or joyriding opportunities at:

- Heston: Airwork and Birkett Air Services operated a Short Scion. (Joy ride fares for first flights reduced from 5s to 4s);

- Hanworth: Aircraft Exchange and Mart;

- Croydon: Provincial Airways Ltd (50 per cent reduction on ordinary fares);

- Brooklands: Brooklands Aviaiton Ltd and Hawker Aircraft Ltd doing demonstrations;

- Gravesend: Gravesend Aviation Ltd;

- Reading: Philips and Powis Aircraft operating from 2pm to 3pm;

- Bristol: Joy-rides;

- Eastleigh: half-fare flights for people making their first flights;

- Portsmouth: Airspeed operating flights;

- Bekesborne: Kent Flying Club;

- Lympne: Cinque Ports Flying Club;

- Tunbridge Wells: Air-Trips Ltd (joy-rides in a 3-seater Spartan);

- Manchester: Lancashire Aero Club (joy-ride flights in Avro and autogiro);

- Liverpool: Blackpool and West Coast Air Services Ltd (giving short joy-ride flights at 2s 6d a head; good value, though, eh);

- Braunstone, Leicestershire: Joy flights at cheap rates(!);

- Cramlington: Joy flights;

- Norwich: Admission: Adults 4d and children 2d. Cheap joy flights;

- Nottingham: Joy flights at 2s 6d;

- Witney, Oxon: Universal Aircraft Services Ltd offering joy-flights reduced from 5s to 3s for people making their first flights;

- Redhill, Surrey: British Air Transport Ltd joy flights;

- Ipswich: Eastern Counties Aero Club;

- Yeadon: Yorkshire Aero Club;

- Brough: North Sea Aerial and General Transport Ltd, and Blackburn Aircraft Flying School;

- Doncaster: Crilly Airways Ltd offered a 10 per cent reduction for those making their first flight (skinflints);

- Leamington: Warwick and District Aero Club;

- Inverness: Special cheap flights operated by Highland Airways Ltd, in Dragons, 2s 6d a head. (barrrgain!)