Rare 1909 Blackpool Flying Meeting Lapel Badge (Chris Balm Early Aviation & Motoring Items)

Rare 1909 Blackpool Flying Meeting Lapel Badge

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Rare, enamelled lapel badge made as a souvenir of the famous 1909 Blackpool Aviation Meeting. This was Britain's first ever official flying meeting.

This small, gilt brass lapel badge is decorated with white and blue enamel and bears the image of a period biplane and monoplane flying over Blackpool (the well known landmarks of the Giant Ferris Wheel and the Blackpool Tower are visible). Around the edge is the caption, "Blackpool Aviation Week - October 1909". The reverse is signed with the maker's mark, "S Lyon Jun'r - Blackpool". Mounted on a button hole fastening. Diameter : 24mm. Very good condition (tiny bump on top edge).

This aviation meeting was held at Blackpool (Lancashire, North-West England) between the 18th and 23rd October 1909. At the same time a rival event was being held at Doncaster. The Blackpool event however had the backing of the (Royal) Aero Club and the municipal authorities making it Great Britain's first official flying meeting. The aircraft (and pilots) participating in the event consisted of : 3x "Voisins" ( Rougier, Fournier, & Mortimer Singer), 1x "Farman" (Henry Farman & Louis Paulhan), 2x "Bleriots" (LeBlanc & Parkinson), 1x "Antoinette" (Latham), 1x "A.V.Roe Triplane" (A.V. Roe), 3x unspecified monoplanes (Saunderson, Creese & Neale), and 1x unspecified biplane (Fernandes). Two memorable events were Hubert Latham's flight in a high wind (the first time a pilot had successfully handled an aeroplane in these conditions) and Henry Farman's outstanding performance during the meeting which won him £2400.00 in prizes. Particularly impressive was his flight in which he covered over 47 miles in 1hr 30mins.

Inventory No. A-348

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