Ronaldsway
really came to be in 1934 when Captain Olley set up Isle of Man
Air Services Ltd. The new company secured landing right for
Ronaldsway and were soon managing the limited facilities there.
Yet this was just the beginning as the small airfield at
Ronaldsway looked to become the island's National
Airport.
In 1935 work began to clear
away the 88 acre site. During the work an ancient historical site
was uncovered and the Manx Museum was called in to deal with the
artifacts. Soon after basic runways were completed and available
for flights. By 1936 the hanger was enlarged and various building
appeared about the site, including a booking office and wooden
terminal building as passengers numbers reached 8,000. The next
year Ronaldsway Airport saw the installation of a wireless station
for its aircrafts. Passenger numbers rose to 12,000 and considering
most aircraft seating capacity was 8 to 14, Ronaldsway had become
fairly busy. Carriers included West Coast, the new Manx Airlines,
and Aer Lingus Teoranta. Ronaldsway was now receiving flights from
Manchester, Liverpool, Blackpool, Leeds, Carlisle, Glasgow, and
Dublin.
The airport land was on
lease from the Ronaldsway Estate, after the death of the owner the
trustees granted a 12 year lease of the land at £220 a year with
optional airfield extension rights for 150 acres. Grazing rights
were retained by the owner. This often meant sheep were let out to
graze at night and had to be rounded up in the morning before
services could begin.
In 1943, during World War
II the UK Government took control of the Ronaldsway Estate and
other houses and cottages nearby by compulsory purchase under the
UK Defence of the Realm Acts. The airport was to become a Royal
Navy Air Station. Long runways were made and covered with gravel
and tarmac. A three story control tower built and many new hangers
erected.
As the war time passed,
Ronaldsway was eventually sold to the Manx Government from the UK
Government at the price of 200,000 pounds. Normal flights and air
services continued and Ronaldsway's future looked
bright.
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