Frank Trounson Hearle
Francis Trounson Hearle, C.B.E., F.R.Ae.S., M.I.P.E., aeronautical engineer and MD of de Havillands.
1886 Born in Penryn
Apprenticed in marine engineering.
1908 With Geoffrey de Havilland he left the Vanguard Motor Bus Co at Walthamstow in order to collaborate in the building of a flying machine.
1910 Together they achieved their first successful flight
1911 Aeroplane Engineer, boarding at Oxford Road, Farnborough, Hants[1]
c.1912 Went to work for Deperdussin and then for Vickers
1917 Took charge of the experimental shop of the Aircraft Manufacturing Co., Ltd., at Hendon, where Captain de Havilland was chief designer
1919 Joined the Edgware Lodge of the Masons
1920 Became works manager of the De Havilland Aircraft Co when it was formed
Later became general manager of the company
1922 Became a director
1927 he planned an engine factory for the company and had it in production within 16 weeks.
1930 he laid out the Hatfield works
1935 he went to America to negotiate the British Empire manufacturing rights for Hamilton controllable-pitch airscrews
1938 Became managing director of the company
1939 Managing Director of the De Havilland Aircraft Co, lived in Cheshunt with Ione Hearle (b.1885) and Patrick P Hearle, Engineer (Aero Engines) (b.1915)[2]
1954 Retired from the chairmanship of de Havillands
1965 of Bushey Heath when he died[3]
See Also
Sources of Information
- Flight 6 August 1954
- Flight 5 October 1956