Douglas Bader in Newtownards, 1961

[smudge]

Scanned from the Ards Chronicle newspaper from a few weeks ago ( hence the creases! ), a photo of Douglas Bader opening the first UFC air display in 1961.

http://occurs.lineum.org.uk/public/scanned/ards/douglas_bader_ufc_air_display_ards_1961.jpeg

Unfortunately I have no record of what transpired at that event.  A trip to PRONI may be required...

[Angry Turnip]

Would be good to know what the line-up was,interesting to see that photograph.
 
They probably had some Miles aircraft at the display,I`m pretty sure Miles aircraft were built at Newtownards at some point.

[Sneaky_Nikon]

Would be good to know what the line-up was,interesting to see that photograph.
 
They probably had some Miles aircraft at the display,I`m pretty sure Miles aircraft were built at Newtownards at some point.

Yep.  For many years the windsock at Ards was held up by the tailboom of a Miles Aerovan.

[smudge]

They probably had some Miles aircraft at the display,I`m pretty sure Miles aircraft were built at Newtownards at some point.

Indeed you are correct!  They started off in the former RAF hangars, assembling Geminis at first and later, when sales weren't so good, dictaphones, Bic biros and other office sundries.  There had been ambitious plans for expansion at the site but sadly never came to fruition.

I'm trying to determine what is going to happen to the hangars / factory as the rest of the Marm site has now been cleared for a housing development.

Everything within the ring road in this satellite image has now been removed other than the black factory buildings in the corner.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=comber+road+newtownards&hl=en&ll=54.583379,-5.693418&spn=0.003973,0.009645&geocode=+&hnear=Comber+Rd,+Newtownards,+Ards,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=17

[smudge]

Not widely known is that Miles obtained patent rights for worldwide marketing of Mr Bic's pen, but they had to invest a ridiculous number of man hours in making it work properly.  They offered their first pen customers a no-quibble replacement policy whilst they tackled the problems.

[ni_gaz]

I'm trying to determine what is going to happen to the hangars / factory as the rest of the Marm site has now been cleared for a housing development.

from a dreamers point of view the whole site would be ideal as some sort of local aviation museum probably administered by the UAS with new "display hangars" built on the foundations of the old factory and the Miles hangars for maintenance etc.England has memorial museums for Bomber Command , Battle of Britain etc. We could have one dedicated to Coastal Command .... anyone won euromillions lately  

[smudge]

Wow, has it been that long since we last discussed the Miles site in Ards?

Unfortunately a section of the roofing has recently been removed from the old RAF sheds, so I fear they'll decline quickly once the Winter weather attacks.

[Angry Turnip]

I had noticed the roof was disappearing when I was passing the site in works van-I hope the local hoods don`t move in and trash the place.

[Dr Draken]

I visited the Reading & Berkshire Aviation Museum a number of years ago which I'd highly recommend if you have an interest in Miles aircraft.
Their Martinet restoration is quite amazing, and would put some larger organisations to shame.

Pity the building is being left to rot, but that always seems to be a sign that a developer has bought a site or building and is usually their first tactic in getting rid of it. Think the Aviation Society lost interest in pursuing Ards and its potential after the council opted to put its money into developing Exploris,and look how that ended up going. But it would have been a great location. And always thought it was a bit sad that that the tail boom from the Aerovan hadn't been recovered for preservation. It's probably the last substantial piece of the type, and if it was near the Reading & Berkshire museum I'm sure they'd have got it years ago. Maybe someone should make them aware of its existence.   

 Lastly, press cutting of the factory in model form; circa 1947

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