Heston Aircraft Company
Predecessor | Comper Aircraft Company Ltd |
---|---|
Founded | 1934 |
Headquarters | Heston Airport, Middlesex |
Products | Aircraft manufacture, modification and component manufacture |
Heston Aircraft Company was a British aircraft manufacturer based at Heston Aerodrome, Middlesex, England.
Starting in 1934 the company produced a number of aircraft designs beginning with the
History
Heston Aircraft Company Ltd was founded on 10 August 1934, being renamed from
The first aircraft type to be designed and built by Heston Aircraft Company was the Heston Phoenix, a high-performance five-seat private owner and commercial aircraft, six of which were completed between 1935 and 1939.[2]
In 1936 the company built the Hordern-Richmond Autoplane, a twin-engined two-seat low-wing monoplane that had been designed by the firm's test pilot E.G. Hordern in collaboration with the Duke of Richmond and Gordon. The sole example was registered G-AEOG.[3]
In 1937 the company designed the Heston T.1/37 trainer, and the first of two prototypes flew at Heston in 1938 with serial L7706. It was not selected for production for the RAF.[4]
In 1938 the company started work on the
In 1941 the company built the Boulton Paul P.92/2 half-scale piloted flying model of the Boulton Paul P.92, the full-scale contract for which had been cancelled in May 1940. The first flight of the sole P.92/2, serial V3142, was at Heston in early 1941.[6]
In 1947 the company designed and built the Heston JC.6, also known as the Heston A.2/45, that was intended to meet a Royal Air Force requirement for a new air observation post aircraft. Two examples were completed, serials VL529 and VL530 (not flown), but the competition was won by the Auster AOP.6.[7]
In 1948 the company built the Youngman-Baynes High Lift, and the sole aircraft first flew at Heston on 5 February 1948 with military serial VT789, later registered G-AMBL.[8]
Wartime aircraft and component design, modification and repair
From early in its operations, the firm supplemented its aircraft construction by securing contracts for sub-assembly and components for aircraft. These included assemblies for the Vickers Wellesley in the late 1930s.
During World War II, as a contractor within the
Postwar aircraft modification
Heston Aircraft was sub-contracted by
Postwar aviation operations
After the cessation of aircraft manufacture and modification, Heston Aircraft switched to a support role within the aviation industry, trading as Hestair. In early 1952 they were supplying components to de Havilland,
Aircraft built
- Heston Phoenix
- Hordern-Richmond Autoplane
- Heston T.1/37
- Napier-Heston Racer (Heston Type 5 Racer)
- Boulton Paul P.92/2
- Heston JC.6
- Youngman-Baynes High Lift
Notes
- ^ a b Smith (2002)
- ^ a b Meaden (2005)
- ^ Jackson (1974) Vol.3, p. 255
- ^ Jarrett (1991), p. 754
- ^ Jackson (1974) Vol.3, p. 253
- ^ Meaden (2006)
- ^ Lewis (1972), p. 445
- ^ Jackson (1974) Vol.3, p. 337
- ^ a b Sturtivant (1997), pp. 91–92
- ^ Thetford (1978), p. 96
- ^ Thetford (1978), p. 98
- ^ Flight, 8 February 1952, p. 23
- ^ Flight, 20 November 1953, p. 688
References
- Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Vol.2. Putnam & Co. Ltd. ISBN 0-370-10010-7.
- Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Vol.3. Putnam & Co. Ltd. ISBN 0-370-10014-X.
- Jarrett, Phil (1991). "Aeroplane Monthly December 1991". IPC Magazines Ltd.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - Lewis, Peter (1972). "Heston Aircraft". Air Pictorial. No. November 1972. Seymour Press Ltd. pp. 440–445.
- Meaden, Jack (Winter 2005). "Air-Britain Archive". UK: Air-Britain: 2005–149.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - Meaden, Jack (Winter 2006). "Air-Britain Archive". UK: Air-Britain: 2006–181.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - Smith, Ron. 2002. British Built Aircraft Vol.1: Greater London. Tempus ISBN 0-7524-2770-9
- Sturtivant, Ray (1997). Royal Air Force Flying Training and Support Units. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-252-1.
- Thetford, Owen (1978). British Naval Aircraft since 1912. Putnam & Co. Ltd. ISBN 0-370-30021-1.