A. H. Tiltman
Encyclopedia
Arthur Hessell Tiltman FRAeS (1891 – 28 October 1975), known as Hessell Tiltman, was a notable British aircraft designer, and co-founder of Airspeed Ltd.
He graduated in engineering from London University, then served an apprenticeship with the Daimler Co in 1910-11 and worked on structural steel design in Canada (the Quebec bridge) and England.
In 1916 he joined Geoffrey de Havilland
’s company Airco; then moved to the De Havilland Aircraft Company when it was formed in 1921. As assistant designer he was involved in the design and testing of a number of DH aircraft, from the small DH 60 Moth
to the DH 66 Hercules airliner.
He then worked on the R100
airship with Nevil Shute Norway. Norway and Tiltman formed Airspeed Ltd in 1931, where he designed several basic aircraft like the Airspeed Oxford
the standard RAF twin engined trainer, and pioneered now-standard items like the retractable undercarriage, self sealing fuel tanks and in-flight refuelling.
He designed about 15 different types of aircraft including the Horsa
glider which, required to carry troops for the second front, went from the drawing board to the air in ten months; which he said was “not too bad considering the drawings had to be made suitable for the furniture trade who were responsible for all production".
He left Airspeed soon after, and in 1948 co-founded Tiltman Langley, of which he was Technical Director and Chairman for six years.
He graduated in engineering from London University, then served an apprenticeship with the Daimler Co in 1910-11 and worked on structural steel design in Canada (the Quebec bridge) and England.
In 1916 he joined Geoffrey de Havilland
Geoffrey de Havilland
Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, OM, CBE, AFC, RDI, FRAeS, was a British aviation pioneer and aircraft engineer...
’s company Airco; then moved to the De Havilland Aircraft Company when it was formed in 1921. As assistant designer he was involved in the design and testing of a number of DH aircraft, from the small DH 60 Moth
De Havilland Moth
The de Havilland Moths were a series of light aircraft, sports planes and military trainers designed by Geoffrey de Havilland. In the late 1920s and 1930s they were the most common civil aircraft flying in Britain and during that time every light aircraft flying in the UK was commonly referred to...
to the DH 66 Hercules airliner.
He then worked on the R100
R100
HM Airship R100 was a privately designed and built rigid airship made as part of a two-ship competition to develop new techniques for a projected larger commercial airship for use on British empire routes...
airship with Nevil Shute Norway. Norway and Tiltman formed Airspeed Ltd in 1931, where he designed several basic aircraft like the Airspeed Oxford
Airspeed Oxford
The Airspeed AS.10 Oxford was a twin-engine aircraft used for training British Commonwealth aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery during the Second World War.-Design and development:...
the standard RAF twin engined trainer, and pioneered now-standard items like the retractable undercarriage, self sealing fuel tanks and in-flight refuelling.
He designed about 15 different types of aircraft including the Horsa
Airspeed Horsa
The Airspeed AS.51 Horsa was a British World War II troop-carrying glider built by Airspeed Limited and subcontractors and used for air assault by British and Allied armed forces...
glider which, required to carry troops for the second front, went from the drawing board to the air in ten months; which he said was “not too bad considering the drawings had to be made suitable for the furniture trade who were responsible for all production".
He left Airspeed soon after, and in 1948 co-founded Tiltman Langley, of which he was Technical Director and Chairman for six years.