London in the Air - Films about Londoners and Flying
Pioneers to Protesters to Plane Spotters
If you live in London, chances are you’ve heard a plane before you’ve seen it. Sometimes it’s a gentle hum, sometimes it’s a full-on rattling-your-teacup roar. Our skies are busy, noisy, and fascinating — and at 1000 Londoners, we’ve been peeking into the lives of people whose worlds are shaped by air travel.
Recently, we’ve met three Londoners whose stories prove that aviation here isn’t just about ticket prices and departure gates. We’ve got a daring pioneer, a determined activist, and a devoted enthusiast — all connected by the same stretch of sky.
The Secret Plane Factory at Clapham Junction
Let’s start with a shocker: did you know Clapham Junction — famous for being the busiest railway station in Europe — once had an aircraft factory? No, really. In our newest animated film, we meet Hilda Hewlett, the first British woman to earn a pilot’s licence. Back when “ladies” were supposed to sip tea, not soar through clouds, Hilda co-founded Hewlett & Blondeau Ltd, building planes for the First World War.
Imagine it: rows of aircraft taking shape just a stone’s throw from the commuter chaos. Hilda wasn’t just ahead of her time — she practically lapped it. Her story is a reminder that London’s aviation roots run deeper (and closer to the high street) than you might think.
Pulling Pints, Stopping Planes
Fast-forward a century and we meet Tracy Howard, a barmaid by day and campaigner by… well, also by day (activism doesn’t exactly keep office hours). Tracy’s mission? To stop the Heathrow Airport Expansion.
She lives under the flight path, so she knows the soundtrack of jet engines all too well. Her film takes us behind the bar and into the heart of a community worried about more noise, more pollution, and less peace. Tracy’s not anti-flight — she’s just pro-sleep, pro-health, and pro-not-losing-your-back-garden-to-a-runway.
Spotting Beauty in the Skies
And then there’s Henry Hemming. Henry loves planes. He really loves planes. While some Londoners avoid airports unless they absolutely have to, Henry heads to the runway with camera in hand, ready to catch that perfect shot of an A380 climbing into the clouds.
For Henry, it’s not about where the plane is going — it’s about the magic of flight itself. He’s part of a community of spotters who can tell you the make, model, and airline of a plane from a speck in the sky. Where Tracy hears noise, Henry hears music.
One City, Many Skies
Put Hilda, Tracy, and Henry together, and you’ve got three very different ways of looking at London’s airways. Hilda saw opportunity, Tracy sees a challenge, and Henry sees beauty. Between them, they remind us that aviation isn’t just a global business — it’s a deeply personal part of city life.
London’s relationship with air travel is complicated: it’s invention and inspiration, it’s noise and negotiation, it’s passion and protest. And all of it happens under the same stretch of sky.
Got Your Own Sky Story?
We’ve got a feeling there are plenty more Londoners out there with aviation in their blood. Maybe you’re a pilot who’s flown over the Thames at sunrise. A cabin crew member with tales from 35,000 feet. An air traffic controller who knows what really goes on in that mysterious tower. Or perhaps you’re a frequent flyer whose air miles could get you to the Moon (and back).
If the skies are part of your life — whether you work in them, live under them, or simply can’t stop watching them — we want to hear from you. Your story could be the next to take flight on 1000 Londoners.
