Blackburn Aircraft Since 1909

Beretter om den engelske flyfabrik Blackburn og flytyperne fra fabrikken

Traces the history of the British aircraft company and describes the development and characteristics of each model of commercial and military aircraft they produced

The de Havilland Aircraft Company was founded in 1920, but had its origins with the first steps in biplane design made by Geoffrey de Havilland, who in 1908 left his job with the Motor Omnibus Construction Company to embark on a career as an aeroplane designer. During the First World War, his D.H. 4 bomber design was supplied in hundreds to both the Royal Flying Corps and the United States Army Air Service. A D.H.4 variant was also the first aeroplane to provide a passenger service, between Paris and London. The tradition built on the reputation of de Havilland's work during the First World War, also provided the foundation for some of the most popular aircraft for civil and military aviation - the D.H.60 G Gipsy Moth, the D.H.71 Tiger Moth, the D.H.98 Mosquito light bomber, and the D.H.106 Comet are all storied names in the history of British aviation. The story that unfolds in these pages also includes the tragic death of Geoffrey de Havilland's son, Geoffrey Jr., a test pilot killed flying the De Havilland D.H.108. The late A J Jackson had a particular affection for de Havilland aircaft and was particularly fond of flying Tiger Moths. He is also the author of Avro Aircraft since 1908 and Blackburn Aircraft since 1909 (both Putnam).

British Aircraft Manufacturers since 1909 traces one hundred years of the British aviation industry, its history, origins, mergers and takeovers. It details the evolution of the British aviation industry and is an epitaph to household famous names such as Armstrong-Whitworth, de Havilland, Chadwick, Claude-Graham White, Sopwith, A. V. Roe, Mitchell, Hawker, Handley Page, Petter and Fairey to name but a few. Of more recent times, the likes of Sidney Camm, Hooker and Hooper, all of whom, made VTOL more than just a dream, are also covered in astonishing and exhausting detail. Of the major firms, most at some time or other have been absorbed, merged or reorganised to form a single conglomerate, BAe Systems and Rolls-Royce are chronicled from the outset to the mighty companies they are today. Only PBN-Britten Norman - who on several occasions escaped extinction due to financial difficulties - and Westland, now part of AgustaWestland, and Short Bros of Northern Ireland remain independent, although even the latter, are part of Canadian, Bombardier Co. British Aircraft Manufacturers since 1909 tells the complete and enthralling story of how Britain ruled the world in terms of manufacturing and aircraft design from nimble but fragile biplanes and majestic airliners that united the world to the advanced bombers and fighters of today.