Aviation on Sheppey

The Isle of Sheppey is the birthplace of British Aviation. In 1908, the three Shorts brothers, Horace, Eustace and Oswald, formed a partnership to build six Wright flyer aircraft, under licence from the Wright brothers. They already made balloons at premises in Battersea, but these were not big enough for aircraft, so, in 1909, they moved to Sheppey, Kent. The land here was perfect for flying, being flat, windy and close to London. It had been leased by a flying friend of theirs, Griffin Brewer at Shellness Beach, adjacent to 16th-century Mussel Manor, near Leysdown, they built the world's first aircraft factory.

On May 2, 1909, John Brabazon, who housed his Voisin aircraft in one of Shorts's hangars, flew it 500 yards (457 m) at a height of 35 ft (10.7 m) over the Leysdown fields, thus completing the first flight in Britain and becoming the first Englishman to fly. He was awarded Pilot's Licence No. I. Two days later, Orville and Wilbur Wright came to visit the Shorts factory at Mussel Manor and were driven down from London by C S Rolls in the First Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. The first aircraft made by Shorts, Short No. 1, was made for C S Rolls. Shorts No. 2 was made for Brabazon and it was in this aircraft, on October 30, 1909, that he flew the First Circular Mile In Britain, in fact nearly 2 miles (3km) at a height of 20ft (6m) circling over Mussel Manor.

In November 1909, the Shorts moved their factory to bigger premises at Eastchurch, just up the road. These buildings have since become Eastchurch Prison. Shorts Brothers went on to design and build seaplanes for the Royal Navy and, in 1912, at Sheerness, a Shorts 538 became the first plane in the world to take off from a warship. In 1915, a Shorts Admiralty Type 184 became the first aircraft in the world to sink an enemy ship at sea with a torpedo. Shorts also built the ill-fated R101 at their vast hangars in Cardington, Bedfordshire.

Mussel Manor, now Muswell Manor, is still there, hidden behind a collection of holiday caravans, but well worth a visit. Inside is a fascinating photograph of the "Founding Fathers of Aviation". Sitting together in the front row are C S Rolls, Orville and Wilbur Wright and John Brabazon, while standing behind are all three Shorts brothers.

For More informative information on aviation at Leysdown please visit the Muswell Manor Web Site.http://www.muswellmanorholidaypark.com/aviation_history.htm

2009 see a celebration of avaition on sheppey with numerous events as part of Sky Sheppey 2009. Please visit the Eastchurch Parish Council Web Site. http://www.eastchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk/default.cfm?pid=543