page_title: Blackpool Aviation Week 1909
section_title: Creation of the show
hierarchical_section_title: Blackpool Aviation Week 1909 / Creation of the show
caption_attribution_description: English: Organising Committee of the 1909 Blackpool Aviation Week
context_page_description: The Blackpool Aviation Week was an early British air show that took place in Blackpool in October 1909. It was recognised by the Aero Club of Great Britain making it Britain's first official air show.
context_section_description: In the six years following the Wright Brothers's first powered flight aviation had spread across the world. France had become the centre of European flight. In July 1909, Louis Blériot became the first person to cross the English Channel in a powered aircraft. In August 1909, inspired by the accomplishments of the French, Lord Northcliffe, the owner of the Daily Mail wrote to the Blackpool Corporation suggesting they hold their own air show. The Mayor of Blackpool led a delegation to the Grande Semaine d'Aviation de la Champagne in Rheims and in early September the Corporation started planning for their own event. Over £6000 in prize funds was raised, primarily the Corporation, Lord Northcliffe and Sir Thomas Lipton.
  In order to run the event, the Lancashire Aero Club was formed in August 1909. The club then leased land from a local golf course about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Blackpool. The golf course was converted over the course of six weeks, with the Ministry of Labour paid for 200 unemployed men to build the course, complete with grandstands, a clubhouse and hangars.
caption: The organising committee of the Lancashire Aero Club at Blackpool in 1909
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