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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0303.PDF
that it is no exaggeration to say that Boulton and Paul, Ltd., now hold a leading position in this very specialised form of construction. It should be noted that the metal employed is high-grade steel, and not duralumin, Boulton and Paul construction differing entirely from the methods adopted by many French and German aircraft constructors. The Bristol Aeroplane Co., Ltd. Head Office : Filton House, Bristol. Works : Filton, Bristol. The Bristol Aeroplane Co. was formed in 1909 by the late Sir George White, Bart., and this is one of the oldest aircraft firms in Great Britain. The firm commenced by building biplanes of the Farman type, but soon established a designing office of its own, from which a long series of successful machines has issued. Among the most famous types built during the war was the Bristol fighter F.2b. Since the war the firm has produced many excellent types of machines, some of which will be found described in the various sections of the Supplement. The Managing Director of the Bristol Aeroplane Co., Ltd., is Sir G. Stanley White, Bart., son of the late Sir George White, Bart., and the Chairman is Mr. Samuel White, J.P. Sir Henry White Smith is a Director and Secretary of the company, and Capt. F. S. Barnwell is Chief Engineer and Designer. The De Havilland Aircraft Co., Ltd. Head Office and Works : Stag Lane Aerodrome, Edgware, Middlesex. Capt. Geoffrey de Havilland is one of the pioneers of British aviation, and is moreover one of the most successful of modern aircraft designers. He started designing and building aeroplanes round about 1909, and was then given a post at the Royal Aircraft Factory, where he designed the original B.E. Shortly after the outbreak of war, Capt. de Havilland joined the Aircraft Manufacturing Co., and produced the series of famous military machines that made history during the war. After the war, when the Aircraft Manufacturing Co. closed down, Capt. de Havilland established his present firm, in which he has the assistance of Mr. C. C. Walker, as Chief Engineer, with Mr. Hagg in charge of the drawing office and Mr. F. N. St. Barbe as business manager. One of the directors of the firm is Mr. A. Butler, who is at present touring Europe in his private aeroplane. The English Electric Co., Ltd. Head Office : Queen's House, Kingsway, London, W.C. 2. Works : Preston, and Lytham, Lancashire. The English Electric Co. is a very large concern with works at Bradford, Coventry, Preston, Rugby and Stafford, but the aircraft section, with which we are concerned, is established at Preston, Lancashire. The firm specialises in flying-boats, but their Chief Designer, Mr. W. O. Manning, was also the designer of the famous Wren which was the first British light 'plane ever to be built. The Fairey Aviation Co., Ltd. Head Office : Hayes, Middlesex. Works : Hayes, Middlesex and Hamble, near Southampton. The Fairey Aviation Co., Ltd., was founded in 1915 by Mr. C. R. Fairey, who had previously been on the technical staff of Short Bros, at Rochester and Eastchurch. The Fairey Aviation Co. has produced a number of different types both during the war and since the war, and is at present one of the busiest aircraft factories in Great Britain. A num ber of Fairey machines will be found described elsewhere, and it will be seen that Mr. Fairey concentrates particularly on seaplane work, although he has produced very fine land machines also. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that Mr. Fairey is Chairman of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors. Mr. Fairey in addition to being Chairman of his firm, is also its designer and Chief Engineer, his Chief Assistant being Mr. F. Duncanson, with Mr. A. C. Barlow as Chief Draughtsman. _. The Gloucestershire Aircraft Co., Ltd. Head Office and Works : Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Founded as an aircraft firm in 1915, the Gloucestershire Aircraft Co. at first built machines to Government design. At the end of the war Mr. A. W. Martyn and Mr. David Longden decided to become permanently active members of the aircraft industry, and consequently the services of Mr. H. P. Folland were secured for the post of chief engineer and designer. Mr. Folland had previously acted in the same capacity for the British Nieuport Co. and has produced a number of very interesting types since joining the Gloucester shire Aircraft Company. It should be mentioned that in addition to military and commercial types of machines, the Gloucestershire Aircraft Co. has always been well to the fore in the design and construction of racing machines, and for several years their racing machines have been the fastest British aeroplanes in existence. The H. G. Hawker Engineering Co., Ltd. Head Office and Works ; Canbury Park Road, Kingston- on-Thames. The Hawker Engineering Co., Ltd., was formed in 1920 from the nucleus of the old Sopwith concern, with Mr. T. O. M. Sopwith, C.B.E., and Mr. F. Sigrist as managing directors. The firm is earrying on a great deal of experimental work, but about this no information may be published. It may be stated, however, that a number of machines of different types are now nearing completion, among which may be mentioned the "Woodcock," a special night-flying single-seater fighter with Bristol "Jupiter" engine. The "Duiker" is illus trated elsewhere. One machine is a high performance single- seater scout of quite remarkable performance, whilst another machine is a three-seater reconnaissance type incorporating in its detail design several novel features. The firm is also building a light 'plane for the 1924 Air Ministry compe titions. Handley Page, Ltd. Head Office and Works : Cricklewood, London, X.W.2. Mr, F. Handley Page is one of the pioneers of British aircraft constructors, having built his first machine in 1909. Probably Mr. Handley Page is best known outside the British Empire for his large twin-engined bombing machines. Since the war Handley Page, Ltd., have produced several types of military and commercial machines,, and some of the latest types are being fitted with the Handley Page slotted wing, from which great things are expected. George Parnall and Co. Head Office and Works : Coliseum Works, Park Row, Bristol. Founded during the war by the present proprietor, Mr. George C. Parnall, this firm has specialised particularly on seaplanes, amphibians and ship planes, although recently certain other types have also been developed. Mr. Parnall's chief designer, Mr. H. Bolas, has very original ideas on the subject of aircraft design, and the firm is at present busily engaged on certain very interesting experimental work in connection with Air Ministry types. A. V. Roe and Co., Ltd. Head Office : Newton Heath, Manchester. London Office : 166, Piccadilly, W.l. Works : Manchester and Hamble, near Southampton. To Mr. A. V. Roe can trulv be applied the name of pioneer, not only as a pioneer of British aviation, but of aviation in general. To Mr. A. V. Roe belongs the credit of having introduced the tractor tvpe of machine which now holds the field almost to the exclusion of all other types. A. V. Roe and Co. have produced a very long series of machines both during the war and after, and one of their machines—the Avro "Lynx"—will be exhibited at Prague. The chief engineer and designer of the Avro firm is Mr. Roy Chadwick, who has been associated with Mr. A. V. Roe since the very earliest days. Mr. R. J. Parrott is general manager of the Hamble establishment. S. E. Saunders, Ltd. Head Office and Works : East Cowes, Isle of Wight. Mr. S. E. Saunders is one of the best known British designers and constructors of racing motor boats, and during the war his aviation department produced several types of machines. More recentlv the Cowes works have built the Vickers-Saunders "Valentia," a large twin-engined flying-boat. Quite recently Mr. Saunders has re-organised his aircraft department, and it is expected that before long some very interesting types of machines will be produced. Mr. Saunders is the inventor of the " Consuta " form of plywood, in which two layers of wood are cemented together and afterwards stitched with hemp thread. Short Brothers, Ltd. London Office : Whitehall House, 29-30, Charing Cross, London, S.W. 1. Works : Rochester, Kent. One of the first British aircraft firms to be established was that of Short Brothers, who commenced their activities as aeroplane and seaplane constructors in 1909, at Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey. Three brothers were originallv interested in the undertaking, one of whom, Mr. Horace Short, died some 3 C 2
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