# Hendon Aerodrome Hendon was one of Britain's pioneering aviation sites: a civil aerodrome, aircraft-manufacturing centre and later a major RAF station. ## History ### Hendon became the London Aerodrome Claude Grahame-White acquired the site in 1911 and promoted it as the London Aerodrome, combining flying schools, aircraft manufacture and public air displays. ### Britain's first airmail flew from here The first British airmail service departed Hendon in September 1911. The airfield also became famous for aerial derbies and huge public flying displays. ### The RAF took over The government took possession of Hendon after the First World War. It became an RAF station and remained an important military aviation site for decades. ## Legacy ### The RAF Museum occupies the site The last fixed-wing aircraft landed at Hendon in 1968. The RAF Museum opened there in 1972, preserving several historic hangars and the site's aviation heritage. --- ## Links here - [History of London's airports](page:62999)