To many, the Wilson Airport is Kenya’s hub for beat aircrafts that were used by colonialists and a hub for politicians and their helicopters.
However, little is told of how the tiny airstrip that started as a grazing field came about.
The airport was established as Nairobi West Aerodrome in 1929, by Florence Kerr Wilson, a wealthy widow.
Mrs. Wilsonwas married to Wilson William Herbert, an early farmer of the Gunners Venture Syndicate.
After his death, Mrs. Wilson settled in Karen, Nairobi at their family farm.
Flight School Charm
A maverick pilot, Captain Thomas Campbell Black met Ms. Wilson on a Kenyan Aircraft Company plane that was owned by a rich English man John Carberry.
The Fokker Universal type of aircraft nicknamed Miss Kenya, was registered on September 10, 1928 and is currently on display in a British aircraft museum.
The duo were on a four-day journey from London to Nanyuki, when they fell in love.
He later resigned from Carberry’s company and went to start an aircraft company with Mrs Wilson.
Wilson Airways was formed thanks to a substantial investment from Mrs. Wilson. The airfeild was built at a cost of £50,000 (£70.8 million in 2021).
Wilson Airways’ first office was located at the intersection of Ngong and Naivasha Roads,before relocating to Nairobi West Aerodrome.
The Moth
Mrs Wilson watched her first plane, dubbed ‘The Moth,’ land in what was then a grazing field from this office.
As Managing Director and Chief Pilot, Campbell oversaw operations in transporting mail across East Africa, and the small airline thrived.
By 1931, the firm had three pilots and two Avro Fives, two DH Puss Moths, and three Gipsy Moths in its fleet. Campbell Black was the first to fly nonstop from Zanzibar to Nairobi, as well as the first to fly from Nairobi to Mombasa and back in a single day.
Mrs Wilson piloted herself on occasion, and with Captain C.P. Mostert flew 8531 miles in a Puss Moth from Zanzibar to Croydon, through the Congo, Kano, and Dakar, in 80 hours and 40 minutes, averaging 106 miles per hour.
Due to his charming tendencies with women while training them on how to fly airplanes, Campbell eloped with a renown actress and returned back to London.
Ms. Wilson was left to run operations at the Airport alone. Nonetheless, Wilson Airways thrived and expanded to a fleet of 17 planes, serving high rollers and wealthy travelers, including members of the British Royal Family.
Hostile take over
However, during the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the Royal Airforce took over operations alongside its aircraft fleet.
All the pilots were recruited into the Kenya Auxiliary Unit, a lethal unit under the East Africa Command of the British Army..
After the war, the airport continued to prosper before it was officially renamed Wilson Airport in 1962.
Mrs Wilson was there to witness the unveiling, which celebrated her pioneering spirit.
In 1968, Mrs. Wilson died in Karen, Nairobi.
Her efforts in aviation resulted in the establishment of airfields in Kenya, the first air ambulance service, and the first flying training school.
A plaque is laid at the Aero Club, to honor her achievements.
