page_title: Great West Aerodrome
section_title: Flight testing
hierarchical_section_title: Great West Aerodrome / Flight testing
caption_attribution_description: English: Heavy bomber Fairey Hendon. The prototype K1695 with two Rolls-Royce Kestrel 600 HP engines. Français&#160;: Le plus récent des bombardiers britanniques à grand rayon d'action: le Farley à deux moteurs Rolls-Royce "Kestrel" 600 CV.
context_page_description: The Great West Aerodrome, also known as Harmondsworth Aerodrome or Heathrow Aerodrome, was a grass airfield, operational between 1930 and 1944. It was on the southeast edge of the hamlet of Heathrow, in the parish of Harmondsworth. The Fairey Aviation Company owned and operated it, for assembly and flight testing of Fairey-manufactured aircraft. The area was to later be the site of London Heathrow Airport.
context_section_description: On 25 November 1930, the maiden flight of the Fairey Night Bomber (K1695) was the first major experimental activity at the Great West Aerodrome. On 15 March 1931, the aircraft overran the boundary at Cain's Lane during an emergency landing, requiring re-design of engine installations, major repairs and project delay. Other notable types flown from there included Fairey Fox, Fairey Gordon, Fairey Firefly IIM (biplane), Fairey Fantome, Fairey Swordfish, Fairey Albacore, Airspeed Horsa, Fairey Barracuda, Fairey Battle and Fairey Firefly (monoplane). By March 1938, a second permanent hangar and a temporary canvas Bessonneau hangar had been built.
caption: The prototype Fairey Night Bomber K1695
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