Vickers, Sons, and Maxim
Armaments firm Vickers, Sons and Maxim Ltd. established an aircraft office in 1908 and in that year built an airship. Captain, later Major, Herbet F. Wood headed aviation department. Ca. late 1912, Richard Harold Barnwell, known as Harold, joined as test pilot, becoming chief pilot and a designer until his accidental death in August 1917. In 1913, George Henry Challenger, chief engineer, works manager, and a designer at British and Colonial Aeroplane Co., 1910-1913, transferred to Vickers; he resigned from there in 1918. Other pioneers at Vickers were Archibald Reith Low and Howard Flanders.
On initiative of Wood, acquired license from REP in 1911 and built eight REP-designed monoplanes 1911-12. Opened flying school in late 1911 at Brooklands/Weybridge. Barnwell designed several fast machines, notably the Vicker Bullet, which he also piloted.
Gunston says Wood had idea to acquire RFP license in 1910. Dir1920 pp34-35 has ads for this firm listed at Aviation Department, Imperial Court, Basil Street, Knightsbridge, London, S.W.3. In November 1928, Vickers acquired all equity of Supermarine Aviation Works Ltd, becoming Vickers Supermarine Aviation Works Ltd.
Sources
- Gunston, 1993, p316, p109
- Gunston, 2005, p483, p150
- SD293
- 1917FM897-898
- 1938FM124
- 11948FM76
- 954FM338
Wikipedia:
Patents whose inventor or applicant is Vickers Ltd.
- Patent FR-1912-443849 (English title: refinements to bombs designed to serve with aeroplanes and other flying machines, Supplementary to patent: GB191108220, Filing date: 1912-03-30)
| Names | Vickers, Vickers Ltd., Vickers, Sons, and Maxim |
|---|---|
| Country | Great Britain |
| City | many |
| Affiliations | |
| Keywords | |
| Started aero | 1908 |
| Ended aero | |
| Key people | Herbet F. Wood, Harold Barnwell, George Henry Challenger, Archibald Reith Low, Howard Flanders |
| Wikidata id |
