Airco
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For other uses, see Air conditioning.
| Industry | Aviation |
|---|---|
| Fate | Bankruptcy |
| Successor(s) | de Havilland |
| Founded | 1912 |
| Defunct | 1920 |
| Headquarters | The Hyde, Hendon, London, England |
| Key people | Geoffrey de Havilland |
| Products | Aircraft |
| Subsidiaries | Aircraft Transport and Travel |
The Aircraft Manufacturing Company Limited (Airco) was a British aircraft manufacturer operating from 1912 to 1920. Airco produces thousands of aircraft for the British military during the First World War, most of which were designed by their chief designer, Geoffrey de Havilland. Advertised in 1918 as the largest aircraft company in the world, Airco established the first airline in the United Kingdom, Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited, as a subsidiary. A glut of war surplus aircraft and a lack of government interest in aviation caused the company to become unprofitable, and in 1920 it was sold to Birmingham Small Arms Company, who had its operations liquidated later that year.
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Geoffrey de Havilland
Airco was established in 1912 by George Holt Thomas at The Hyde in Hendon, north London, England. Two years later, learning that Geoffrey de Havilland, who was then at the Royal Aircraft Factory in Farnborough, might be available, Holt Thomas invited de Havilland to join Airco as chief designer. De Havilland's Airco designs were to provide around 30% of all trainers, fighters and bombers used by Britain and the United States during the First World War.[1]
De Havilland's designs for Airco were marked with his initials "DH". The first great success was the pusher configuration fighter DH.2 of 1916, that helped to end the "Fokker scourge" of 1915. Later notable aircraft produced during the war were the DH.6 trainer, of which more than 2,280 examples were built, and the DH.4 and DH.9 light bombers. These types, and the DH.9A, a developed version that served for many years with the postwar Royal Air Force, formed the basis of early de Havilland designed airliners, including the company's DH.16 and DH.18 types which were operated by Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited, the first airline established in the United Kingdom, also owned by George Holt Thomas.
A new aircraft every 45 minutes
By November 1918, Holt Thomas was able to advertise that his was the largest aircraft company in the world. His companies built aeroplanes and their engines and propellors in large numbers and also airships and flying boats. He had the latest metal-working machinery, a laboratory for materials testing and a wind tunnel. Between 7,000 and 8,000 people were employed at Hendon.[2] His companies turned out a new aircraft every 45 minutes.[3]
The world's first regular daily international service
Airco subsidiary Aircraft Transport and Travel using DH.16s carried out that first flight from Hounslow Heath Aerodrome to Le Bourget on 25 August 1919.
Sale to BSA and liquidation
Following the cessation of hostilities, the large number of war-surplus machines, sharp fluctuations in business confidence, and the government's failure, unlike those of USA and France, to provide any form of support, Airco became unprofitable.[2] Thomas endeavoured to sell Airco to a car manufacturer. Airco and BSA, parent company of Daimler, announced on 1 March 1920 that Airco had amalgamated with Birmingham Small Arms Company.[4]
Within days BSA discovered Airco was in a far more serious financial state than Thomas had revealed. Thomas was immediately removed from his new seat on the BSA board and all BSA's new acquisitions were placed in liquidation. BSA failed to pay a dividend for the following four years.[5]
With help from Thomas, de Havilland bought the group's assets he required to form the de Havilland Aircraft Company in 1920.
Aircraft Transport and Travel had been allowed to continue to operate until December 1920. BSA then bought Aircraft Transport and Travel's aircraft from the liquidator and, in early 1921, established Daimler Airway and Daimler Air Hire under Daimler Hire Limited's Frank Searle.
List of Airco Aircraft
- DH.1 (1915) – Two-seat biplane fighter with single pusher propeller
- DH.2 (1915) – One-seat biplane fighter with single pusher propeller
- DH.3 (1916) – Two-engine biplane bomber. Two prototypes only built; formed basis for later DH.10 design
- DH.4 (1916) – Two-seat biplane day bomber with single tractor propeller
- DH.5 (1916) – One-seat biplane fighter with single tractor propeller
- DH.6 (1916) – Two-seat biplane training aircraft with single tractor propeller
- DH.9 (1917) – Two-seat biplane day bomber with single tractor propeller.
- DH.8 (1918) – Development of DH.9 with more powerful engine and greater wingspan
- DH.10 Amiens (1918) – Two-engine biplane bomber. First prototype used pusher propeller; second prototype and production aircraft used tractor propellers. Manufactured by Daimler.
- DH.11 Oxford (1919) Variant of DH.10 with radial engines. One prototype built; not produced
- DH.16 (1919) – Variant of DH.9A with cabin for four passengers. Used as airliner
- DH.18 (1920) – Single-engine biplane airliner. Cabin for eight passengers
Notes
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References
- ^ The King's Interest In Flying. Factory And Aerodrome Visited. The Times, Friday, 1 Jun 1917; pg. 9; Issue 41493
- ^ a b Mr. G. Holt Thomas. The Times, Friday, 4 Jan 1929; pg. 14; Issue 45092
- ^ Mr. G. Holt Thomas. Colonel G. W. Dawes. The Times, Saturday, 5 Jan 1929; pg. 14; Issue 45093
- ^ Air Transport Combine. Aircraft And B.S.A. Firms Unite The Times, Monday, 1 Mar 1920; pg. 14; Issue 42347
- ^ Dudley Docker: The Life and Times of a Trade Warrior R. P. T. Davenport-Hines 1984 Cambridge University Press
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