What was the first airfield in the UK?

Farnborough (1907-Present) Farnborough became the first airfield in the UK in 1905, base to the Army Balloon Factory. Being the epicentre to British aviation research and innovation there have been many aviation firsts at Farnborough. In 1907, British military's first airship designed and built at Farnborough.



Farnborough Airfield in Hampshire is widely recognized as the first "official" airfield in the UK and the birthplace of British aviation. It was here in 1908 that Samuel Cody made the first sustained, powered, and controlled flight of a heavier-than-air machine in the United Kingdom. Originally established as the Balloon Equipment Store for the British Army, it evolved into a world-class center for aeronautical research and the home of the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE). In 2026, Farnborough is famous globally for its International Airshow, a high-value event where the latest aerospace technologies are debuted. While there were other early landing strips and "flying fields," Farnborough’s continuous history of military and civil research makes it the technical and spiritual "ground zero" for UK flight. Today, it operates as a premium business aviation airport, maintaining its high-value status as a hub for innovation and the "executive gateway" to London for the world's most influential leaders in aviation and commerce.

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The UK's oldest airport is at Shoreham, near Brighton. It opened in 1910, with several flying enthusiasts using it as a base for bold, early flights. The first (according to the airport's documented history) was Harold Piffard. He was one of the first British aviators and had experimented with aircraft since 1909.

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