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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 1187.PDF
26 August 1955 301 Bristol executives: (seated) B. A. Chalmers, A.V-M. A. L. James, R. J. Reynolds, W. S. Haggett, J. H. Holt; (standing) E. Burns, V. V. R. Symonds, C. D. David- son, E. J. Foley, K. L. Marshall, R. H. May. THE BRISTOL AEROPLANE COMPANY OF CANADA, LTD., AND ASSOCIATED COMPANIES MOST significant trend in Bristol's Canadian activities duringthe last twelve months has been the development and expan- sion of the facilities of MacDonald Bros. Aircraft, Ltd., whichwere acquired just over a year ago. The current interests of the Bristol organization in Canada may best be described under theseparate headings of the respective companies. The Bristol Aeroplane Company of Canada, Ltd., is the hold-ing company for the various units of the Bristol group in Canada, and is situated in Montreal. It acts as an information and salescentre concerning the technical resources and aviation products of the British parent company, and sponsored a Canadian demon-stration tour by a Bristol Sycamore helicopter this summer. This aircraft, purchased by MacDonald Aircraft, operated into and outof the International Trade Fair at Toronto in July, and has since been chartered by Okanagan Helicopters. Sir Reginald VerdonSmith (who is chairman of each of the remaining three companies) is president, and R. J. Reynolds is executive vice-president. Bristol Aero Engines, Ltd., has as its home a modern, well-laid-out plant built in North Montreal in 1952. Here is undertaken the servicing and overhaul of Bristol Centaurus and Herculesengines and Wright Whirlwinds; Cyclone R-1820s, R-2600s and R-335Os; the overhaul of Rolls-Royce Merlins; and the overhauland limited manufacture of Lancaster and North Star powerplant components. During 1954 a double-cell test house, adjacent to theplant, was officially opened: it can accommodate piston-engines up to 5,000 h.p. and can be converted to handle turboprops.President of Bristol Aero Engines is R. J. Reynolds; vice-president (engineering) and general manager is A. V-M. A. L. James; andL. W. Smith is works manager. Bristol Aero Engines (Western), Ltd., located at Vancouver Air-port, carries out the overhaul of Pratt and Whitney and Wright engines for the R.C.A.F. and for civil aircraft, together with therepair of airscrews, carburettors and fuel-injection systems for the R.C.A.F., R.C.N. and civilian operators. The chairman and president of Bristol Aero Engines also holdthese same respective appointments with the Western company, of which J. H. Holt is vice-president and J. McCracken super-intendent. MacDonald Bros. Aircraft, Ltd., of Stevenson Field, Winni-peg, have a 25-year record of aircraft manufacture and overhaul which began with the production of Edo floats for the aircraftflown by bush pilots from the Red River seaplane base at Winni- peg in 1930. In the period between the end of the war and thepurchase of the company by Bristol last year, MacDonald Bros, began by repairing,overhauling and modi- fying many wartimetypes of aircraft for the R.C.A.F., and con-tinued the manufacture of Edo floats and also (as a major contribution towards overheads)of agricultural equipment. In connection with the development of the Orenda turbojet, precision manufacture of a variety of com-ponents for this engine was carried out, and became one of the company's major activities.In parallel with this manufacturing programme, the major modification of Mustangs and Expeditors for the R.C.A.F. pro-vided a programme of aircraft sheet-metal work which has employed a high proportion of the labour force for several years. In July last year, the shares of the MacDonald company werepurchased by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and since then a remarkable expansion and "streamlining" of facilities and workhas taken place. One can visualize that a self-sufficient organiza- tion capable of manufacturing complete aircraft is the eventualgoal of the Canadian Bristol group, and it is on the MacDonald plant that the group's future airframe manufacture, at least, willbe concentrated. The 250,000 sq ft area in operation when Bristol acquired theplant has been increased to 350,000 sq ft over the past year. This has resulted from the purchase and equipping of No. 2 Plant,which has been in operation over the past four months only. Hufford stretch-presses and other large machines have been in-stalled, in order to build up the potential for aircraft manufacture. Agricultural equipment is no longer produced, and certain distri-buting rights for aviation supplies have recently been sold to Field. One main purpose in the expansion and rearrangement of facilitieshas been to segregate the sheet-metal processes and the aircraft work. New projects began during the past year include, on the over-haul and modification side, a contract to modify 50 Avro CF-lOOs Mark 3s to trainer versions, and another for the light-bomberconversion (from various versions) of R.C.A.F. auxiliary squad- rons' B-25 Mitchells. On the manufacturing side, the company'stooling is well advanced for the sub-contracted production of Grumman CS2F-1 engine nacelles and other components. Thegreatest manufacturing activity at present concerns the welded stainless-steel components produced under sub-contract for theOrenda, while the manufacture of floats (including amphibious floats) continues for de Havillands (Beaver and Otter) and Cessna(Cessna 180). At present the company acts as sales agents for the products ofthe parent company. The future manufacture of British heli- copters at Winnipeg, however—provided the Canadian demand(service or civilian) is sufficient—is envisaged. Approximately 1,100 people are employed by the company. Sir Reginald Verdon Smith and R. J. Reynolds are chairman andpresident, respectively, of MacDonald Bros. Aircraft. Vice-presi- dent and general manager in charge at Winnipeg is W. S. Haggett. MacDonald Bros. Air- craft plant at Stevenson Field, Winnipeg.
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