Heston Aerodrome

Heston Aerodrome was a 1930s airfield located to the west of London, UK situated on the border of the Heston and Cranford areas of Hounslow. Heston Air Park was conceived by fellow pilots and aircraft co-owners Nigel Norman and Alan Muntz in 1928, and it was constructed by their new company, Airwork Ltd. It was officially opened on 5 July 1929, to coincide with hosting the two day King's Cup air race. By then, the Airwork Flying School had become well established, many privately-owned aircraft had moved in, and the Household Brigade Flying Club, also known as the Guards flying club, had moved from Brooklands. Frequent public events helped promote Heston as a major centre of private flying, air displays, public demonstrations of new aircraft types, 'garden parties', air races, and as the starting point for long-distance flight record attempts.

Lowry, Jan Gabrial and Elizabeth Cheyne flew from the airfield with Tom Forman, a friend of Lowry's from Cambridge, who had hired a plane to fly to Hooton Aerodrome on the Wirral en route to North Wales. On 26th September 1933, they had to cancel their trip to Wales because of poor weather flying instead to Woodley Airfield amongst other airfields. (Jan Gabrial Inside The Volcano Pg 24). Lowry and Jan Gabrial with Tom Forman made a short flight on the 27th September from Heston to an unidentified airfield after once again cancelling their trip to Wales. The three flew from Heston on 28th September 1933 en route to RAF Hooton Park but had to land at Castle Bromwich Aerodrome because of poor weather.