Category Archives: Aviation

Swingate Part IIa – World War I Front Line Aerodrome

Posted on October 6, 2019 by Lorraine

Swingate is a large stretch of downland on the east side of Dover Castle. It is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the history of the site is internationally unique, particularly in relation to communication. This essay is … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Services, Open Spaces, Swingate, Swingate Part II World War I Aerodrome, Swingate Part II World War I Aerodrome, Swingate Part II World War I Aerodrome, World War I | Comments Off on Swingate Part IIa – World War I Front Line Aerodrome

Swingate Part 1 Marconi, South Foreland and Wireless Communication

Posted on July 29, 2019 by Lorraine

Dover is a positive treasure-trove of historic jewels, many neglected, some forgotten and some, like Swingate Downs, described by one of the town’s moronic councillor/business person as wasteland while a stalwart on Dover’s tourism and Dover Harbour Board committees wants … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Services, Aviation, Open Spaces, Radio and Telecommunications, Swingate Part 1 Marconi South Foreland and Wireless Communication, Swingate Part 1 Marconi South Foreland and Wireless Communication, Swingate Part 1 Marconi South Foreland and Wireless Communication, Swingate Part 1 Marconi South Foreland and Wireless Communication, Tourism | Comments Off on Swingate Part 1 Marconi, South Foreland and Wireless Communication

Dover’s Seaplane Base and Mote Bulwark Part II

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Lorraine

Part 1 of Dover’s Seaplane Base and Mote Bulwark started with the foundation of Mote Bulwark, the military site at the base of the Castle cliffs on the east side of Dover bay. This remained in the hands of the military … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Services, Buildings, Dover's Seaplane Base and Mote Bulwark Part II, Dover's Seaplane Base and Mote Bulwark Part II, Dover's Seaplane Base and Mote Bulwark Part II, Wanton Destruction | Comments Off on Dover’s Seaplane Base and Mote Bulwark Part II

Part 3 Swingate, Radar and the Towers

Posted on February 7, 2015 by Lorraine

By the late 1920’s all that remained of the former World War I (1914-1918) Swingate aerodrome, east of Dover, were empty hangars.  (see: Marconi, Wireless & Swingate Aerodrome)  Since the War, the Regular and Territorial (TA) armies had used the site, … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Open Spaces, Radio and Telecommunications, Swingate, Swingate - Radar and the Towers, Swingate - Radar and the Towers, Swingate - Radar and the Towers, Swingate - Radar and the Towers, World War II | Comments Off on Part 3 Swingate, Radar and the Towers

Ralph Stott – A maligned experimenter in Vertical takeoff flying machines?

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Lorraine

The word ‘helicopter’ is adapted from the French ‘hélicoptère‘, and is said to have been coined in 1861 by experimental aeronautics engineer Gustav de Ponton d’Amecourt (1825-1888). The machines are defined as being able to take off and land vertically … Continue reading →

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