In August 1909, inspired by the accomplishments of the French, Lord Northcliffe, the owner of the Daily Mail wrote to the Blackpool Corporation suggesting they hold their own air show.

[1] The Mayor of Blackpool led a delegation to the Grande Semaine d'Aviation de la Champagne in Rheims and in early September the Corporation started planning for their own event.

[2] The golf course was converted over the course of six weeks, with the Ministry of Labour paid for 200 unemployed men to build the course, complete with grandstands, a clubhouse and hangars.

Farman was the first to fly at the event, completing half of the main circuit using "Gypaète" – a plane owned by Paulhan.

At his second attempt Farman became the first pilot to complete a full circuit of the course; Paulhan then took over his aircraft plane and flew another lap.

[2] Mortimer Singer attempted a flight in his Voisin around noon on the third day, but failed to take off, as did Blackpool Councillor A. Parkinson in his Blériot aircraft.

The Manchester Guardian newspaper offered a cup and £100[4] for the slowest complete circuit of the course[5] won by Latham for a lap at 21.65 miles per hour (34.84 km/h).