Uploaded August 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
This second of three videos was also filmed on 10th August 2022 and shows the two large industrial buildings at the rear of the site beside 'Viscount Way' and once opened directly onto the west end of the airfield. The first shed was 'Final Assembly' which housed the end of the factory's innovative Moving Track Assembly Line and still retains its original sliding doors through which numerous Miles Master and Martinet aircraft passed from 1939 to 1945.
An adjacent smaller 'Wood Store' building was incorporated into this building after the war. The second larger building was the 'Dope Shop' which has lost its tall folding doors post-war but features typical 1930s 'north light' roofs. Newly-built aircraft were all painted here in individual spray booths created using mobile protective screens. They were then pushed outside briefly en route to an even larger adjacent 'Flight Shed' (unfortunately destroyed by fire when used as a warehouse in 1956).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Our grateful thanks to the management and staff of Thermal Management Solutions for allowing us to make this video record of these historic aviation buildings at this critical time'.
HISTORICAL SUMMARY
Phillips & Powis Aircraft (Reading) Ltd formed in 1928, opened Woodley Aerodrome and a flying school in 1929 and began aircraft design and manufacture on teaming up with F G and 'Blossom' Miles (Britain's first woman aircraft designer) in 1933. Initially specialising in wooden light aeroplanes and air racing machines, the firm achieved unprecedented success in the 1935 King's Cup Air Race. A leading producer of modern monoplane training aeroplanes for the RAF from 1936, the company's increasing success required almost continual factory expansion and a £2M Air Ministry order for an initial 500 Miles Masters in 1938 was the largest ever contract for a British training aircraft at the time.
To prepare for mass production, besides expanding its production facilities and building a new HQ beside Headley Road East in 1939, P&P also introduced Britain's first 'Moving Track Assembly Line'. Renamed Miles Aircraft Ltd in 1943, the company already had a reputation for ambitious and innovative private-venture projects including the M.52 supersonic jet research aircraft (cancelled in 1946 by the government just before completion).
By the time the business entered receivership in 1947-48, just over 6,000 Miles aircraft had been built at Woodley and another 1,115 at other factories - a remarkable achievement in just 14 years. Restructured as a general engineering company in 1948, it was progressively renamed Western Manufacturing Estate Ltd, Adamant & Western and then the Adwest Group.
The latter gradually redeveloped and sold off most of the old airfield and factory for housing and other commercial uses before its remaining pre-war premises were taken over by Magal Engineering then by Arlington Automotive who recently sold the site to Goya Developments. All buildings were occupied until 12th August 2022 by Thermal Management Solutions to manufacture and supply a wide range of components to the motor industry.
© Compiled by Julian C Temple, Aviation Heritage Connections, 21/08/2022;
This second of three videos was also filmed on 10th August 2022 and shows the two large industrial buildings at the rear of the site beside 'Viscount Way' and once opened directly onto the west end of the airfield. The first shed was 'Final Assembly' which housed the end of the factory's innovative Moving Track Assembly Line and still retains its original sliding doors through which numerous Miles Master and Martinet aircraft passed from 1939 to 1945.
An adjacent smaller 'Wood Store' building was incorporated into this building after the war. The second larger building was the 'Dope Shop' which has lost its tall folding doors post-war but features typical 1930s 'north light' roofs. Newly-built aircraft were all painted here in individual spray booths created using mobile protective screens. They were then pushed outside briefly en route to an even larger adjacent 'Flight Shed' (unfortunately destroyed by fire when used as a warehouse in 1956).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Our grateful thanks to the management and staff of Thermal Management Solutions for allowing us to make this video record of these historic aviation buildings at this critical time'.
HISTORICAL SUMMARY
Phillips & Powis Aircraft (Reading) Ltd formed in 1928, opened Woodley Aerodrome and a flying school in 1929 and began aircraft design and manufacture on teaming up with F G and 'Blossom' Miles (Britain's first woman aircraft designer) in 1933. Initially specialising in wooden light aeroplanes and air racing machines, the firm achieved unprecedented success in the 1935 King's Cup Air Race. A leading producer of modern monoplane training aeroplanes for the RAF from 1936, the company's increasing success required almost continual factory expansion and a £2M Air Ministry order for an initial 500 Miles Masters in 1938 was the largest ever contract for a British training aircraft at the time.
To prepare for mass production, besides expanding its production facilities and building a new HQ beside Headley Road East in 1939, P&P also introduced Britain's first 'Moving Track Assembly Line'. Renamed Miles Aircraft Ltd in 1943, the company already had a reputation for ambitious and innovative private-venture projects including the M.52 supersonic jet research aircraft (cancelled in 1946 by the government just before completion).
By the time the business entered receivership in 1947-48, just over 6,000 Miles aircraft had been built at Woodley and another 1,115 at other factories - a remarkable achievement in just 14 years. Restructured as a general engineering company in 1948, it was progressively renamed Western Manufacturing Estate Ltd, Adamant & Western and then the Adwest Group.
The latter gradually redeveloped and sold off most of the old airfield and factory for housing and other commercial uses before its remaining pre-war premises were taken over by Magal Engineering then by Arlington Automotive who recently sold the site to Goya Developments. All buildings were occupied until 12th August 2022 by Thermal Management Solutions to manufacture and supply a wide range of components to the motor industry.
© Compiled by Julian C Temple, Aviation Heritage Connections, 21/08/2022;
