This souvenir programme is for the aerial derby held at the London
Aerodrome in Hendon on Saturday 23 May 1914. The drawing on the front
cover shows a scene from a previous year's aerial derby.
London Aerodrome at Hendon
The London Aerodrome was set up in 1911 by the pilot and flying enthusiast
Claude Grahame-White. A military flying display was held for the public.
The first British airmail service also departed from the site. During the
1920s, the aerodrome was taken over by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and
became an important centre for military aviation. Today, it is the site of
the RAF Museum.
An annual event
The first of many aerial derbies was held in 1912. The flying race around
London started and finished at Hendon. At a time when few people had been
in an aeroplane, the spectacular air displays were hugely popular,
attracting up to 500,000 spectators. This annual event continued at Hendon
until the early 1950s.
