Prestwick Airport History

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Prestwick Airport History

Glasgow Prestwick International Airport began its operation in around 1934 with only a few small airplanes, using the meadows at the end of Monkton village. Historians however discovered evidence that aircraft has been on or around the site around 1913, this was 10 years before the Wright brothers first became airborne.

In the pre- war years the site was used as a training air field, but the first person to develop and set up the airport was David McIntyre who
started Scottish Aviation LTD in 1935, he acquired 348 acres of Ayrshire countryside just behind Orangefield House. By the end of 1935, accommodation had been developed including a hangar for Tiger Moth biplanes, offices, lecture rooms and a small control tower.

As World War 2 intervened, the site advanced into a major airport, with regular deliveries of American aircraft under the Lend Lease programme. On some days up to 300 aircraft would arrive for onward delivery! At this time, training was replaced by aircraft production, undertaken by
Scottish Aviation Ltd. Many famous aircraft types were built at Prestwick Airport right up until production of the BAe Jetstream ceased in 1998.
The original factory was expanded beyond all recognition in 1941 when the Palace of Engineering that was originally built in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow for the 1938 Empire Exhibition was taken down, transported, then rebuilt brick by brick at Prestwick. This magnificent building (an excellent example of Art Deco architecture) survives to this day under the ownership of British Aerospace Engineering Systems and can be seen on the North side of the airport directly opposite the terminal.

Unfortunately, a building that has not survived the expansion of the airport is Orangefield House. Built in 1690 by local landlord DR Hugh Baillie, Orangefield House became the main terminal building for the airport in the postwar era. Famed for its restaurant and hotel facilities, the appearance of the building was hardly enhanced by the addition of the control tower onto the roof! Sadly, Orangefield House was demolished in 1966 to make way for the new parallel taxiway, a victim of the introduction of the jet-age. The only known remaining items from Orangefield House are the murals which once decorated the main lounge (now sited in the Prestwick Indoor Bowling Rink) and the maple floor which now graces the Aviator Suite function room in the present terminal building.

To maintain the airport’s place at the forefront of modern aviation, the Government announced in 1958, plans for a new terminal building, freight building, runway extension, control tower and loop road around the airport. The latter was necessary because the main road out of Prestwick towards Monkton passed across the runway! By April 1962 the new control tower had been built and by September 1964, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, officially opened the present terminal building.

Glasgow Prestwick International Airport is synonymous with the history of Scottish Aviation. Many people will remember the airport for the legend Elvis Presley visited Prestwick in 1960 or as the transatlantic gateway during the 1960’s to 1980’s. However, the airport’s future has never been brighter. The foresight in 1964 of the airport architects and planners in designing a facility capable of handling 3 million passengers a year now looks certain to be justified.

Prestwick Airport continues in growth with over 1.8 million passengers last year and a projected 2.2 million this year, Glasgow Prestwick offers unrivalled exposure to consumers of all ages and many nationalities. Where else can you accurately forecast exactly how many customers you
will have, when you will have them or what type of customer they will be? The History continues!

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