Beagle Aircraft Limited was a British light aircraft manufacturer, with factories at Rearsby in Leicestershire and Shoreham in Sussex.
1960 The British Executive and General Aviation Limited (trading as BEAGLE) was formed in 1960 when the Pressed Steel Co combined its aircraft design office with the former aircraft manufacturers Auster Aircraft Company of Rearsby, Leicestershire and the aviation business of F. G. Miles Ltd of Shoreham, Sussex. Mr F. G. Miles became deputy chairman of F. G. Miles Ltd and Mr G. H. Miles was group chief engineer[1]
Initially the three parts of the company operated independently, the Rearsby factory as Beagle-Auster Limited and the Shoreham factory as Beagle-Miles Limited. This did not last long and the three parts of the company were merged at Shoreham as Beagle Aircraft Limited in 1962.
The parent company Pressed Steel became part of the motor industry when it was absorbed into the British Motor Corporation. The company reviewed the involvement in light aircraft manufacturing and requested financial help from the British Government.
1963 George H. Miles resigned and left the company[2]
1966 The British government bought Beagle and provided the help it needed.
1967 The prototype Beagle Pup had its first flight on April 8th. Under the auspices of Beagle, the Pup, B.206, Bulldog and M.218 flew from Shoreham Aerodrome.
1969 The company needed more financial help but the Government put it into receivership. The Receiver tried to revive and sell the company (now re-named Beagle Aircraft (1969) Limited).
1970 George Miles, chairman of Miles Aviation and Transport Ltd, of Ford Aerodrome, Sussex, bid for the Shoreham part of the business, which had orders for 58 Bulldogs[3]. Uncertainty about the future of Shoreham Aerodrome meant that the receiver could not accept the bid[4]. In July George Miles announced his offer had been accepted subject to contract[5]. In the end the receiver failed to sell the company and its assets were disposed of.
Beagle Aircraft
The Bassett was a short-lived, twin piston-engined design evolved from the Bristol 220 project whilst the single-engined Bulldog/Pup family of lightplanes sold in greater numbers. Bulldog production was completed by Scottish Aviation at their Prestwick factory following the demise of the Beagle Aircraft Company. At the turn of the 21st Century, many Bulldogs were being sold by air forces to civilian operators, in much the same way that Austers were transferred from Army or RAF squadrons during the 1940s and 1950s.
- Beagle Husky
- Beagle-Auster D4/108
- Beagle A.61 Terrier - single-engined high-winged monoplane
- Beagle A.109 Airedale - single-engined high-winged monoplane
- Beagle B.206 - twin-engined low-winged light transport aircraft
- Beagle B.206R Bassett - military version of the B.206
- Beagle B.121 Pup - single-engined low-winged light aircraft
- Beagle B.125 Bulldog - military version of the Pup, built by Scottish Aviation after the company was liquidated.
- Terrier
- Airedale
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Wikipedia