MEDWAY AIRCRAFT PRESERVATION SOCIETY Ltd

Do you realise that North Kent was actually the birthplace of the aviation industry? 

The world's first aeroplane factory was built and operated by the Short Brothers in 1909 for the construction of six Wright flyer aircraft under licence, following the meeting between the Wright Brothers and the Short Brothers at Mussel (now Muswell) Manor at Leysdown, Sheppey alongside the Aero Society's flying field.  The factory was soon moved to higher ground at Eastchurch Aerodrome (now the site of HM prisons and a Museum commemorating the Aerodrome).   During the Great War, Shorts moved production to a larger new factory on Rochester Esplanade, where they developed their range of seaplanes and flying boats, culminating in the Empire Class and the Sunderland of flying boats.  In the 1930's, Shorts opened another factory at Rochester Airport, where they developed Britain's first four-engined heavy bomber, the Short Stirling.