, ▁Cro yd on ▁Airport ▁became ▁the ▁principal ▁London ▁Airport . ▁▁ 1 9 2 0 s ▁▁ 1 9 2 5 : ▁Norman ▁Mac mill an , ▁an ▁R AF ▁officer , ▁made ▁a ▁forced ▁landing ▁and ▁take - off ▁at ▁He ath row . ▁He ▁noted ▁the ▁flat ness ▁of ▁the ▁land ▁and ▁its ▁suit ability ▁for ▁an ▁air field . ▁The ▁land ▁was ▁at ▁the ▁time ▁used ▁for ▁market ▁garden ing ▁and ▁whe at ▁growing . ▁ 1 9 2 8 : ▁The ▁Air ▁Ministry ▁gave ▁F aire y ▁notice ▁to ▁ce ase ▁using ▁North olt . ▁F aire y ▁A viation ▁needed ▁an ▁air field ▁for ▁flight ▁testing ▁of ▁aircraft ▁designed ▁and ▁manufact ured ▁at ▁its ▁factory ▁in ▁North ▁Hy de ▁Road , ▁Hay es . ▁Norman ▁Mac mill an , ▁by ▁then ▁F aire y ' s ▁chief ▁test ▁pilot , ▁remembered ▁the ▁forced ▁landing ▁and ▁take - off ▁at ▁He ath row ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 5 , ▁and ▁recommended ▁the ▁suit ability ▁of ▁the ▁area ▁for ▁an ▁aer od rome . ▁Mac mill an ▁fle w ▁aer ial ▁surve ys ▁of ▁the ▁site . ▁ 1 9 2 9 : ▁F aire y ▁A viation ▁started ▁by ▁bu ying ▁ ▁of ▁far ml and ▁in ▁four ▁ad jo ining ▁plots ▁near ▁sout heast ▁of ▁the ▁ham let ▁of ▁He ath row ▁from ▁four ▁local ▁land own ers , ▁for ▁about ▁£ 1 , 5 0 0 , ▁at ▁the ▁typical ▁ 1 9 2 9