Grace's Guide To British Industrial History

Registered UK Charity (No. 115342)

Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 162,253 pages of information and 244,496 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.

Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 147,919 pages of information and 233,587 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.

Difference between revisions of "Aircraft Manufacturing Co (Airco)"

From Graces Guide
m
(28 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:Contractors-AviationManufacturing-1917-1.jpeg|thumb| 1917. Ref AA below]]
[[Image:Im1917EnV123-p518.jpg|thumb| 1917. ]]
[[Image:Im1917EnV123-p518a.jpg|thumb| 1917. ]]
[[Image:Im1919EnV127-p068.jpg|thumb| 1919. ]]
[[Image:Airco-Airco18-1920-1.jpeg|thumb| 1920. Ref AA below]]
[[Image:Airco-Airco18-1920-1.jpeg|thumb| 1920. Ref AA below]]
[[Image:Im090617SC-Hu-500.jpg|thumb| 1920. Hucks Aircraft Engine Starter based on a Ford Model T. Exhibit at the [[Shuttleworth Collection]]. ]]
The '''Aircraft Manufacturing Co (Airco)''' was established at The Hyde in Hendon, North London, England during 1912 by [[George Holt Thomas]].
1911 [[George Holt Thomas]] obtained the UK manufacturing rights to the Henry and Maurice Farman aircraft.
1914 [[Geoffrey de Havilland]] joined as chief designer. His designs were marked with his initials DH.
1914 [[Hugh Burroughes]] was appointed general manager<ref>The Times, 31 October 1985</ref>. 


The [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co (Airco)]] was established at The Hyde in Hendon, North London, England during 1912 by [[George Holt Thomas]].  
WWI: The company built 4,000 aircraft, ranging from the DH2 to the DH10, including substantial numbers built by [[H. H. Martyn]] from 1915.


* 1911 [[George Holt Thomas]] obtained the UK manufacturing rights to the Henry and Maurice Farman aircraft.
1917 The company acquired the aircraft manufacturing activities of [[H. H. Martyn]] to form the [[Gloster Aircraft Co|Gloucestershire Aircraft Co]] which was producing 45 aircraft / week by 1918. They produced ten of the Felixstowe F5 Seaplane


* 1912 [[Geoffrey de Havilland]] joined as the chief designer. His designs were marked with his initials DH.  
1920 Following the cessation of hostilities, the company's undue reliance on military orders became a handicap and the company became bankrupt in 1920. Its assets were bought by the Birmingham Small Arms Company ([[BSA]]) which did not pursue aviation-related business. The aviation-related assets of the company were bought by [[Geoffrey de Havilland]] and he formed [[De Havilland]] in the same year.


* 1920 Following the cessation of hostilities, the company's undue reliance on military orders became a handicap and the company became bankrupt in 1920. Its assets were bought by the Birmingham Small Arms Company ([[BSA]]) which did not pursue aviation-related business. The aviation-related assets of the company were bought by [[Geoffrey de Havilland]] and he formed the [[de Havilland]] Aircraft Company in the same year.
Post-WWI: The company, in conjunction with [[Gnome Engine Co|La Societe des Moteurs Gnome]] and [[George Holt Thomas]], was awarded £74,000 by the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors for the Gnome 80 hp and La Rhone engines in addition to the £200,000 already received from H.M. Government; and £75,000 for the Gnome monosoupape engine. Also the company together with Captain De Havilland were awarded £35,000 by the Commission, for the D.H. aeroplanes. And the company was awarded £65,000 by the Commission in respect of communication to the US government of inventions, designs, etc in relation to aircraft and aircraft accessories<ref>The Times, Jan 13, 1925</ref>


* 1937 Aeroplane spares, flying clothing, maps, books, airport lighting and equipment. <ref>[[1937 The Aeroplane Directory of the Aviation and Allied Industries]]</ref>
1937 Aeroplane spares, flying clothing, maps, books, airport lighting and equipment. <ref>[[1937 The Aeroplane Directory of the Aviation and Allied Industries]]</ref>


== List of Models ==
== List of Models ==
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.1| DH.1]] (1915)  
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.1| DH.1]] (1915)  
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.2| DH.2]] (1915) Single-seater fighter biplane. The first success was a pusher engine fighter DH2 of 1915, that helped to repel the "Fokker scourge". The first production models appeared in November 1915. It lasted in service until June 1917. Around 400 were made. Powered by 100 hp [[Gnome Engine Co| Gnome Monosoupape]] or 110 hp [[Le Roche]] 9J Rotary engine
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.2| DH.2]] (1915)  
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.3| DH.3]] (1916) In the spring of 1916 the DH3, a twin engined biplane was designed as a three-seater long-range bomber. In September a contract for 50 planes was placed. The DH3 was fitted with two 120 hp [[William Beardmore and Co|Beardmore]] engines and the DH3a with the 160 hp versions.
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.3| DH.3]] (1916)  
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.4| DH.4]] (1916)  
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.4| DH.4]] (1916)  
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.5| DH.5]] (1916) Single-seater fighter. In Autumn the '''DH5''' fighter was completed. It went in to production in 1917. The plane was also made by [[British Cauldron]], [[Darracq]] and [[March, Jones and Cribb]] and powered by a 110 hp [[Le Rhone]] 9J rotary engine.
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.5| DH.5]] (1916)  
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.6| DH.6]] (1916) Two-seater trainer. In October the prototype '''DH6''' two-seater trainer first flew. More than 2,280 examples of the DH6 trainer were built. Beside Airco the plane was made by [[Ransomes, Sims and Jeffries]], [[Grahame-White]], [[Gloster Aircraft Co]], [[Harland and Wolff]], [[Kingsbury Aviation]], [[Morgan]] and Canadian Aeroplanes. Powered by the 90 hp [[Royal Aircraft Factory Engines|RAF]] 1a; 90 hp [[Curtiss]] OX-5 or by the 80 hp [[Renault]] engine.
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.6| DH.6]] (1916)  
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.9| DH.9]] (1917)  
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.9| DH.9]] (1917)  
* DH10 Amiens (1917) Bomber. In July 1917 a development of the '''DH3''' was started and became the '''DH10'''. It was not made in great numbers but beside Airco (200), [[Alliance Aeroplane Co]], [[Birmingham Railway Wagon and Carriage Co]] (100), [[Daimler]], [[Mann, Egerton and Co]], [[National Aircraft Factory]] and [[Siddeley-Deasy]] made some. 1,291 planes were built
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.10 Amiens| DH.10 Amiens]] (1917)  
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.11 Oxford| DH.11 Oxford]] (1919)
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.16| DH.16]] (1919)
* [[Aircraft Manufacturing Co: DH.18| DH.18]] (1920)
 
The company's DH16 and DH18 types were operated by [[Aircraft Transport and Travel]], the first airline established in the United Kingdom, which was also owned by [[George Holt Thomas]].
 
== See Also ==
<what-links-here/>


The company's DH16 and DH18 types were operated by Aircraft Transport and Travel, the first airline established in the United Kingdom, that was also owned by [[George Holt Thomas]].


==Sources of Information==
==Sources of Information==
Line 29: Line 50:
* The Encyclopedia of British Military Aircraft by Chaz Bowyer. Published in 1982. ISBN 1-85841-031-2
* The Encyclopedia of British Military Aircraft by Chaz Bowyer. Published in 1982. ISBN 1-85841-031-2
* Warplanes of the World 1918-1939 by Michael J. H. Taylor. Published 1981. ISBN 0-7110-1078-1
* Warplanes of the World 1918-1939 by Michael J. H. Taylor. Published 1981. ISBN 0-7110-1078-1
* AA. [http://www.AviationAncestry.com] Image courtesy of Aviation Ancestry


 
[[Category: Town - Westminster]]
[[Category: Town - Hendon]]
[[Category:Aircraft Builders]]
[[Category:Aircraft Builders]]

Revision as of 21:00, 16 May 2020

1917. Ref AA below
1917.
1917.
1919.
1920. Ref AA below
1920. Hucks Aircraft Engine Starter based on a Ford Model T. Exhibit at the Shuttleworth Collection.

The Aircraft Manufacturing Co (Airco) was established at The Hyde in Hendon, North London, England during 1912 by George Holt Thomas.

1911 George Holt Thomas obtained the UK manufacturing rights to the Henry and Maurice Farman aircraft.

1914 Geoffrey de Havilland joined as chief designer. His designs were marked with his initials DH.

1914 Hugh Burroughes was appointed general manager[1].

WWI: The company built 4,000 aircraft, ranging from the DH2 to the DH10, including substantial numbers built by H. H. Martyn from 1915.

1917 The company acquired the aircraft manufacturing activities of H. H. Martyn to form the Gloucestershire Aircraft Co which was producing 45 aircraft / week by 1918. They produced ten of the Felixstowe F5 Seaplane

1920 Following the cessation of hostilities, the company's undue reliance on military orders became a handicap and the company became bankrupt in 1920. Its assets were bought by the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) which did not pursue aviation-related business. The aviation-related assets of the company were bought by Geoffrey de Havilland and he formed De Havilland in the same year.

Post-WWI: The company, in conjunction with La Societe des Moteurs Gnome and George Holt Thomas, was awarded £74,000 by the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors for the Gnome 80 hp and La Rhone engines in addition to the £200,000 already received from H.M. Government; and £75,000 for the Gnome monosoupape engine. Also the company together with Captain De Havilland were awarded £35,000 by the Commission, for the D.H. aeroplanes. And the company was awarded £65,000 by the Commission in respect of communication to the US government of inventions, designs, etc in relation to aircraft and aircraft accessories[2]

1937 Aeroplane spares, flying clothing, maps, books, airport lighting and equipment. [3]

List of Models

The company's DH16 and DH18 types were operated by Aircraft Transport and Travel, the first airline established in the United Kingdom, which was also owned by George Holt Thomas.

See Also

Loading...


Sources of Information

  1. ↑ The Times, 31 October 1985
  2. ↑ The Times, Jan 13, 1925
  3. ↑ 1937 The Aeroplane Directory of the Aviation and Allied Industries
  • [1] Wikipedia
  • The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing) by J. M. Bruce. Published in 1982. p38
  • The Encyclopedia of British Military Aircraft by Chaz Bowyer. Published in 1982. ISBN 1-85841-031-2
  • Warplanes of the World 1918-1939 by Michael J. H. Taylor. Published 1981. ISBN 0-7110-1078-1
  • AA. [2] Image courtesy of Aviation Ancestry
Retrieved from "https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/index.php?title=Aircraft_Manufacturing_Co_(Airco)&oldid=1168914"
Privacy policy Disclaimers About Grace’s Guide Contact Grace’s Guide

Grace's Guide web site design is Copyright © 2021 by Grace's Guide Ltd. The text of this web site is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Maintained by Sapere Software