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Langley Aerodrome (also known as Parlaunt Park or Harvey Park) was one of Britain’s most important aircraft‑production sites during the Second World War. It operated from 1939 to 1955 and was the primary Hawker Aircraft factory for Hurricanes, Typhoons, Tempests and early jet prototypes.

📍 Location & Operational Dates

• Location: Parlaunt Park, Langley — 3.5 miles east‑south‑east of Slough town centre.
• Operational period: 1939–1955, with limited flying until 1956.
• Built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd between 1936–1938.

✈️ Aircraft Manufacturing at Langley

Langley was one of the most important Hawker production sites in the UK. It produced or tested:

Hawker Hurricane (major production centre)

• Full production began in 1938–39.
• Output reached one Hurricane per day, rising to five per day by 1942.
• Multiple variants built here: Mk I, Mk II A/B/C/D, Mk IV, Mk V, and Sea Hurricane.

Hawker Typhoon

• Several Typhoons were built at Langley in 1941–42.

Hawker Tempest & Fury

• Tempest and Fury development and first flights took place at Langley.
• First flights recorded:
  • Typhoon PS212 – 24 Feb 1940
  • Tempest V HM595 – 2 Sept 1942
  • Fury NX798 – 1 Sept 1944

Early Jet Development

• The Hawker P.1040 (prototype leading to the Sea Hawk) conducted jet‑engine trials at Langley.
• Langley also assembled Hunter wings and fuselages.

🏭 Airfield Layout & Facilities

Langley was a major industrial complex, including:

• Three grass runways (main runway 05/23 approx. 1,289–1,400 yards long).
• Two main production buildings
• Four large flight sheds
• Control tower, admin block, repair hangars
• A concrete apron and even a football pitch
• A Barrage Balloon Squadron for airfield defence during WWII
• RAF 1st Film Unit used the site for wartime filming

🛫 Civil Aviation & Post‑War Use

After WWII, Langley briefly supported civil aviation before Heathrow fully opened. Users included:

• Silver City Airways
• Skyways
• British South American Airways
• Airwork
• Baynes Aircraft Interiors
• General Aircraft (testing the Hamilcar X glider)

It also hosted No. 125 Gliding School (Air Training Corps).

Langley‑built aircraft appeared in films such as Angels One Five and Battle of Britain.

📉 Decline and Closure

• Aircraft testing became difficult due to proximity to the expanding London Airport (Heathrow).
• Hawker moved operations to Dunsfold in 1950.
• Flying ceased by 1956, and the airfield closed in 1958.

Unexpected final chapter

In 1959, the Hawker Siddeley Nuclear Power Company converted the flight sheds into a nuclear submarine reactor test facility, which operated until 1961.

🏘️ What’s There Today?

The site is now a mix of:

• Housing
• Industrial units
• Open land Most original structures were demolished by the late 1990s.