1912 – Creation of Carlingnose Air Station

The Scotsman – Friday 30th August 1912

HYDROPLANE STATION FOR NORTH QUEENSFERRY

It was ascertained at North Queensferry yesterday that the Government have decided to establish a hydroplane station on high ground above North Queensferry, in the vicinity of the present forts near the War Office ground at Port Laing.

From this point it will be possible to make searches at any time up and down the Forth, and the new department will probably act in cooperation with the Channel or North Sea Fleet so far as scouting operations are concerned. To the east of Carlingnose, the highest point of the promontory, -·there lies at great depth a fine stretch of sand, upon which a former generation of West Fife people were accustomed to disport themselves without let or hindrance, but which is now practically closed against the public. There is an inclination to believe that Carlingnose will ere long supersede Leith Forts as the headquarters for artillery training.

The Scotsman – September 1912

ARRIVAL OF A HYDROPLANE AT PORT LAING

Yesterday afternoon a lighter conveying the first of the Admiralty hydroplanes arrives at Port Laing, near North Queensferry, at a time when the tide was full. On the arrival of the vessel at the pier passers-by along a favourite walk observed lying in the bow a huge rectangular packing case, bearing the lettering, “Aeroplane, Henry Farman.”

For transportation from ship to shore a large squad of men were in readiness to handle the curious cargo, which is destined to form an arm of defence for the Forth Bridge and Rosyth Dockyard. A narrow gauge railway running between the pier and the permanent buildings, at one time used to convey the heavy mines for their shipment to various points in the Forth, will probably be brought into requisition for the conveyance of the air craft.

Preparations for the housing of the hydroplanes are being proceeded with rapidly. Sites for the hangars have been selected near the shore at the base of the Ferryhills, where workmen are levelling the ground. Messrs Cowieson & Company, Glasgow, who have obtained the contract for the construction of the hangars, had a staff of men in the district yesterday with a view to the work being begun, but as the metal sheets had not yet arrived they were unable to start operations. The expectation is, however, that the hydroplane sheds will rapidly take shape, and that sea scouts will soon make themselves manifest in a quiet way.