The role of Somerset in early British aviation history

By How weather affects flight planning in the West Country
Comments 35
10 Sep 2026

The role of Somerset in early British aviation history

Somerset's overlooked aviation heritage

Somerset is famous for its cider, cheese and rolling hills, but its contribution to early British aviation is less well known. Yet from the windswept slopes of the Mendips to the flat expanses of the Somerset Levels, the county provided both the geography and the workforce that helped Britain take to the skies. This is a story of quiet determination, practical engineering and the occasional daring display.

Pioneering gliders on the Mendips

Before powered flight became a reality, the Mendip Hills were already attracting attention. Their west-facing slopes, particularly around Cheddar Gorge and Burrington Combe, catch the prevailing south-westerly winds, creating ideal conditions for slope soaring. In the early 1900s, local enthusiasts experimented with gliders here, testing designs that owed much to the work of pioneers like Otto Lilienthal. These were precarious machines of wood, wire and fabric, but they proved that unpowered flight was possible.

By the 1920s and 1930s, gliding had become a popular sport, and local gliding clubs formed on the Mendips and the Quantocks. The hills offered reliable lift and long ridges, perfect for training and for pushing the boundaries of what unpowered aircraft could do. That legacy continues today, with gliders still a common sight above the Somerset hills.

The first powered flights and public displays

Powered flight arrived in Somerset in the years just before the First World War. In 1910 and 1911, pioneer aviators toured the country, staging public displays that drew thousands. Taunton was no exception. A temporary flying ground was set up on the outskirts of the town, and crowds watched as fragile biplanes took off and landed. Similar events took place at Weston-super-Mare, where the wide beach provided a natural runway at low tide.

These displays were as much about spectacle as progress. Pilots performed circuits, figure-of-eights and mock dives, often in machines that were only just airworthy. For many Somerset residents, it was their first glimpse of a heavier-than-air flying machine. The experience inspired a generation of local engineers and would-be pilots.

Training fields of the First World War

When war broke out in 1914, Somerset's open spaces became invaluable. The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) established several training aerodromes in the county, taking advantage of the relatively calm weather and wide, flat fields. The most significant was at Norton Fitzwarren, just west of Taunton. Opened in 1916, it grew into a busy training station with hangars, workshops and accommodation for hundreds of personnel.

Other RFC airfields included Castle Cary and Weston-super-Mare. Here, pilots learned the basics of flight, from take-off and landing to navigation and formation flying. The training was rudimentary and often dangerous; crashes were common, and many young men lost their lives before ever reaching the front. Local people worked alongside the military, maintaining aircraft, driving transport and providing food.

The legacy of these fields is still visible today. At Norton Fitzwarren, the outline of the old airfield can be traced in the landscape, and a memorial commemorates those who served there.

Engineering and innovation in Somerset

Somerset's contribution was not limited to flying fields. The county had a strong tradition of engineering, and during the First World War, local workshops turned their skills to aircraft production. In Taunton, Bridgwater and Yeovil, craftsmen manufactured components such as:

Wooden struts and ribs
Fabric covers and dope
Metal fittings and brackets
Propellers and engine mounts

These were essential for the aircraft being assembled elsewhere. The work required precision and patience. A single propeller, for example, had to be carved from layers of wood, balanced and varnished to withstand the stresses of flight. Many of the techniques used were adapted from furniture-making and boat-building, industries that were already well established in the region. This practical, hands-on expertise helped keep the RFC flying.

The heritage that remains

Today, Somerset's aviation heritage is preserved in several ways. The Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton, though focused on later naval aviation, tells the broader story of flight in the region. The former RFC airfield at Norton Fitzwarren is a scheduled monument, and gliding still takes place on the Mendips, continuing a tradition that began over a century ago.

For anyone interested in early aviation, a visit to these sites is rewarding. You can stand on the same hills where pioneers tested their gliders, or walk the perimeter of a wartime training field. It is a reminder that the story of British aviation was not written solely in London or on the south coast; it was also written in the quiet fields and windy ridges of Somerset.

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5 Comments

Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply
- John Abraham says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
  
  I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
  Reply
  - Robert Sonnysays Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
    
    I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
    Reply
Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply

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