De Havilland Propellers
Encyclopedia
de Havilland Propellers was established in 1935, as a division of the de Havilland Aircraft company when that company acquired a license from the Hamilton Standard
company of America for the manufacture of variable pitch propellers. The division was incorporated as a separate company on 27 April 1947.
for the development of a compact turbo-alternator to meet electrical power requirements of missiles developed by other companies. In the same year a second contract was received for the development of an infra-red homing head. When these contracts had been successfully completed the M.o.S. awarded the company a development contract for a complete weapon system for an air-to-air missile with infra-red homing guidance. Originally under the project designation Blue Jay
, later to be Firestreak. Production of the Firestreak was shared between all the U.K. plants of de Havilland Propellers:- Hatfield
was responsible for design, research and development; Lostock manufactured a proportion of the weapon (the remainder being sub-contracted) and was also responsible for assembly and testing; Farnworth
carried out manufacture and assembly of development rounds; and the factory at Walkden
handled all production assembly. Woomera, Australia and Aberporth
were used for test firing. The company was also responsible for the Blue Streak
rocket, Britain's own nuclear missile. Although cancelled in 1960 as a weapon, the technology went into providing Europe with an indigenous satellite launcher. Blue Streak as first stage of the Europa rocket, it performed flawlessly with every flight and bears the distinction of being the only rocket to have a 100% success rate in test firing. During preliminary investigations regarding the propellent system of Blue Streak, which DHP were the prime contractors, engineers from de Havilland's visited the Convair
Division of the Dynamics Corporation in the United States to discuss problems associated with refuelling. A reciprocal technical information agreement existed between the two firms.
s for airscrew spinners, blade root fairings and other components were also developed extensively by de Havilland Propellers Ltd. at their Stevenage plant. Dr. Norman de Bruyne
, FREng, FRS (Aero Research Limited
), successfully developed the use of reinforced phenol-formaldehyde resins in the manufacture of variable pitch propellers for de Havilland's. The attraction of this material was that, with a density of about a one half that of aluminium alloy, centrifugal forces at the root were correspondingly reduced.
Other products included the production of radar scanners and also the erection of a wind driven electricity-generator for (Enfield Cables, Ltd.)The first industrial-scale electricity-generating wind turbines to be built in the UK were constructed under the direction of the British Electrical and Allied Industries Research Association (more commonly known as the Electrical Research Association, or simply the ERA) during the 1950s and 1960s. de Havilland Propellers Ltd., erected during 1953 in St. Albans a 24 m diameter 2-bladed Enfield-Andreau type turbine. Other components produced at the company’s Lostock works were De Havilland Comet
undercarriages.
Hamilton Standard
Hamilton Standard, an aircraft propeller parts supplier, was formed in 1929 when United Aircraft and Transport Corporation consolidated Hamilton Aero Manufacturing and Standard Steel Propeller into the Hamilton Standard Propeller Corporation. Other members of the corporation included Boeing,...
company of America for the manufacture of variable pitch propellers. The division was incorporated as a separate company on 27 April 1947.
Post war production
After the war, the company diversified; originally a propeller manufacturer it developed a wide range of products. The de Havilland Propeller company, became involved in guided-weapon work in 1951. In that year the company received a contract from the Ministry of SupplyMinistry of Supply
The Ministry of Supply was a department of the UK Government formed in 1939 to co-ordinate the supply of equipment to all three British armed forces, headed by the Minister of Supply. There was, however, a separate ministry responsible for aircraft production and the Admiralty retained...
for the development of a compact turbo-alternator to meet electrical power requirements of missiles developed by other companies. In the same year a second contract was received for the development of an infra-red homing head. When these contracts had been successfully completed the M.o.S. awarded the company a development contract for a complete weapon system for an air-to-air missile with infra-red homing guidance. Originally under the project designation Blue Jay
Blue Jay
The Blue Jay is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to North America. It is resident through most of eastern and central United States and southern Canada, although western populations may be migratory. It breeds in both deciduous and coniferous forests, and is common near and in...
, later to be Firestreak. Production of the Firestreak was shared between all the U.K. plants of de Havilland Propellers:- Hatfield
Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Hatfield is a town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England in the borough of Welwyn Hatfield. It has a population of 29,616, and is of Saxon origin. Hatfield House, the home of the Marquess of Salisbury, is the nucleus of the old town...
was responsible for design, research and development; Lostock manufactured a proportion of the weapon (the remainder being sub-contracted) and was also responsible for assembly and testing; Farnworth
Farnworth
Farnworth is within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. It is located southeast of Bolton, 6 miles south-west of Bury , and northwest of Manchester....
carried out manufacture and assembly of development rounds; and the factory at Walkden
Walkden
Walkden is a town within the metropolitan borough of the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. It is west-northwest of Salford, and west-northwest of Manchester....
handled all production assembly. Woomera, Australia and Aberporth
Aberporth
Aberporth is a community and small town in Ceredigion on the west coast of Wales. The population was 2,485 in 2001.- Location :The town lies at the southern end of Cardigan Bay about six miles north of Cardigan and ten miles south of New Quay approximately one mile west of the A487, on the...
were used for test firing. The company was also responsible for the Blue Streak
Blue Streak
-Entertainment:* Blue Streak , a 1995 album by American blues guitarist Luther Allison* Blue Streak , a secret identity used by three separate Marvel Comics supervillains...
rocket, Britain's own nuclear missile. Although cancelled in 1960 as a weapon, the technology went into providing Europe with an indigenous satellite launcher. Blue Streak as first stage of the Europa rocket, it performed flawlessly with every flight and bears the distinction of being the only rocket to have a 100% success rate in test firing. During preliminary investigations regarding the propellent system of Blue Streak, which DHP were the prime contractors, engineers from de Havilland's visited the Convair
Convair
Convair was an American aircraft manufacturing company which later expanded into rockets and spacecraft. The company was formed in 1943 by the merger of Vultee Aircraft and Consolidated Aircraft, and went on to produce a number of pioneering aircraft, such as the Convair B-36 bomber, and the F-102...
Division of the Dynamics Corporation in the United States to discuss problems associated with refuelling. A reciprocal technical information agreement existed between the two firms.
Associated products
The use of epoxy resin/glass fibre-reinforced plasticFibre-reinforced plastic
Fibre-reinforced plastic is a composite material made of a polymer matrix reinforced with fibres. The fibres are usually fibreglass, carbon, or aramid, while the polymer is usually an epoxy, vinylester or polyester thermosetting plastic...
s for airscrew spinners, blade root fairings and other components were also developed extensively by de Havilland Propellers Ltd. at their Stevenage plant. Dr. Norman de Bruyne
Norman de Bruyne
Norman Adrian de Bruyne FRS was born in Punta Arenas Chile on November 8, 1904, baptized on March 19, 1905 at the Anglican Church St. James Church, by the Rev. Edwin Aspinall. His father was Dutch and his mother English. He grew up in England, studied science at the University of Cambridge and...
, FREng, FRS (Aero Research Limited
Aero Research Limited
Aero Research Limited was a British company that pioneered several new adhesives, intended initially for the aeronautical industry.Formed in 1934 by Norman de Bruyne at Duxford, Cambridgeshire from an earlier company of his, the Cambridgeshire Aeroplane Construction Company, ARL started a...
), successfully developed the use of reinforced phenol-formaldehyde resins in the manufacture of variable pitch propellers for de Havilland's. The attraction of this material was that, with a density of about a one half that of aluminium alloy, centrifugal forces at the root were correspondingly reduced.
Other products included the production of radar scanners and also the erection of a wind driven electricity-generator for (Enfield Cables, Ltd.)The first industrial-scale electricity-generating wind turbines to be built in the UK were constructed under the direction of the British Electrical and Allied Industries Research Association (more commonly known as the Electrical Research Association, or simply the ERA) during the 1950s and 1960s. de Havilland Propellers Ltd., erected during 1953 in St. Albans a 24 m diameter 2-bladed Enfield-Andreau type turbine. Other components produced at the company’s Lostock works were De Havilland Comet
De Havilland Comet
The de Havilland DH 106 Comet was the world's first commercial jet airliner to reach production. Developed and manufactured by de Havilland at the Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom headquarters, it first flew in 1949 and was a landmark in aeronautical design...
undercarriages.
See also
- Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom
- de Havilland Aircraft Heritage CentreDe Havilland Aircraft Heritage CentreThe de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre, formerly the Mosquito Aircraft Museum, is a volunteer-run aviation museum in London Colney, Hertfordshire, England...