National Flying Services (NFS) was founded in November 1928 by Freddie Guest, a cousin of Winston Churchill, who had been the Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Bristol North, losing his seat in the general election held in May that year, and had been Secretary of State for Air in 1921-2.

In 1929, the government published a white paper that effectively established a subsidy for the company’s operations, especially in training new pilots and maintaining their proficiency.

An inaugural luncheon was held at the Savoy Hotel on 17 April 1929,[4] and an advert in August 1929 claimed that NFS would “form a chain of 71 flying clubs and landing stations, with London Air Park at Hanworth as the centre".

[5] The London Air Park opened on 31 August 1929, with the house now a country club, and it operated with a great deal of success, becoming a social and aeronautical hub.

With this slow progress, two noted aviators joined the board, Sir Alan Cobham[A] and Colonel the Master of Sempill who became chairman.

NFS also did some maintenance and repair work, ran air taxi services, and became dealers for second-hand light aircraft.

[14] Remaining assets were taken over by a company called The British Pacific Trust (BPT), who had previously acquired General Aircraft Limited (GAL).

The mainstays of the NFS fleet were the de Havilland DH.60 Moth, with around 30 operated, the Desoutter 1 with around 19, the Simmonds Spartan (12), and the Blackburn Bluebird IV with 10.