From the early 20th century to the 1930s the racecourse was also used as an airfield. The Cardiff Citizen reported on 22 Sept 1911 that pilot B.C. Hucks in conjunction with inventor Mr H Grindell-Matthews established the first ground to air wireless telephony communication in terrible conditions of wind and rain. Flights continued from Ely for the next two decades giving flying displays and offering flights to brave locals.