London Ashford Airport (Lydd) first opened to the public in 1956. Purpose-built to cater for a superior class of traveller. Politicians, celebrities, and VIPs who wanted their expensive automobiles with them on the mainland continent of Europe. Luxury, style and speed was expected by this select clientele. It took just under an hour from check-in to touch-down flying to Le Touquet. Among the great and the good to use Silver City were Hollywood legends such as Gregory Peck and Dirk Bogard, along with HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Silver City was a subsidiary of British Aviation Services (Britavia), who operated a regular air service between Lydd and Le Touquet. The aircraft used were Bristol 170 Freighters, which powered by two 2000hp Bristol Hercules engines, cruised at 165 mph at 1000 to 1500 ft, making the crossing in only 20 minutes.

By 1958, Silver City had 22 aircraft in operation, and one in four cars traveled to the continent by air. The total number carried during its 10 years in service, had reached 215,000 cars, 48,000 motorcycles, and 759,000 passengers. At the peak, there were 220 flights in a single day. Today, you'll find that FAL Aviation offers the same 'Royal' service to their passengers as Silver City did then.