Brooklands was the experimental flying grounds used by many of our early aero pioneers, including the firm that would later dominate its aviation history, Vickers. Dr Gardner, who spent over forty years with Vickers and BAC, takes us through the story of Brooklands. After starting with its archaeology and pre-motoring history, Gardner moves on to explore how the aviation pioneers used a car racing circuit to solve some of the mysteries of heavier than air flight and reminisces about the days of the Brooklands flying club, before looking at the achievements made during the Vickers era.

Dr H. H. Gardner FRAeS gave his lecture to a meeting organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Historical Group on 18 November 1969. The lecture is introduced by J. L. Nayler FRAeS FAIAA, the recording was digitised thanks to a grant from the RAeS Foundation and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.