Instone Airlines

Instone Air line Ltd

Formed by the Instone brothers, Instone was the first British airline and probably the first in the world. In April 1920 it ran the service between London and Paris as a public service using the name Instone Air Line. In 1920 it was the first airline to transport a racehorse. In December 1921 it became a Ltd Company, and on the 1st of January 1922 the company introduced uniforms to its pilots and staff; Instone are believed to be the first airline to do so. It started a London to Cologne - Butzweilerhof Airport service in May 1922. It stopped operating the London-Paris route in October 1922 due to competition. In 1923, a Government committee recommended that the main British airlines should merge, to establish one, financially strong, airline, and to enable it to undertake the necessary expansions. Following this recommendation, Imperial Airways was created on the 1st of April 1924, absorbing the assets and routes of Handley Page Transport, Instone Air Line, Daimler Airway and British Marine Air Navigation Co Ltd.

Fleet
de Havilland DH.18 which was loaned to Instone from 1921 to 1924 and named "City of Cardiff"

Airco DH.4
BAT F.K.26
Bristol Type 47 Tourer
Bristol Type 62
de Havilland DH.18
de Havilland DH.34
Vickers Vimy Commercial
Vickers Vulcan
Westland Limousin

(above) the Instone brothers. Note name on the 'Vickers Vimy' aircraft is before becoming a Ltd Company. (below) early air crew and ground crew members in front of the first booking office at Waddon.

(above) Instone booking office at Waddon Aerodrome early 1920's

(above) 'City of Newcastle'. a 'BAT FK26'. (below) the same aircraft but later with both 'Instone' and 'Imperial' markings and renamed 'City Of New York'.