Eric Gordon England
Encyclopedia
Eric Cecil Gordon England (5 April 1891-February 1976) was a British aviator, racing driver and engineer. E.C. Gordon England was one of the early pioneers of gliding, and his glider
flight in 1909 is considered to be the birth of the sport of soaring
.
in Suffolk. He then started an engineering apprentice
ship with the Great Northern Railway
works at Doncaster
.
at South Fambridge
in Essex. While working for Pemberton Billing he met José Weiss, who designed and built tailless gliders, and England became an assistant to Weiss. On 27 June 1909, England flew a Weiss glider (named Olive after one of Weiss's five daughters), at Amberley Mount, Sussex on a height-gaining flight that reached 100 feet. It is the first recorded soaring flight, and is considered to be the birth of the sport of Gliding
.
, and he gained Pilot Certificate No. 68 in three hours that morning. Later in 1910, he joined the Bristol Aeroplane Company
as a staff pilot, but was soon recognised as a designer. One of his first design jobs was to convert a Bristol T-type biplane
into a tractor design, which was then called the Bristol Challenger-England. This conversion was followed by three biplanes (the G.E.1, G.E.2 and G.E.3), all designed by England. England left the Bristol company, and in 1912 in association with James Radley the pair produced the Radley-England waterplane; it was the first three-engined aircraft built in the United Kingdom. England also built and tested the Cedric-Lee circular aeroplane. Between 1913 and 1916, he was a test pilot and consultant engineer to a number of aircraft constructors, mainly on the English south coast.
In 1916, he became the factory manager for Frederick Sage & Company
, that was building Short-designed seaplane
s and Avro 504K
s under licence. The company also built some experimental aircraft designed by England.
sports cars. Using his skills gained with aircraft, he designed and patented a new lightweight body made from plywood box-girders and an ash framework covered with thin plywood panels. In 1925, he entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans
race using one of his own designs, but he failed to finish. By 1927, over 20,000 Austin Sevens had been built with England bodies. He incorporated the company as Gordon England (1929) Ltd, but with the increase in the use of metal bodies, the firm eventually closed in 1930.
England became manager of the automotive lubricants department at the Vacuum Oil Company 1930-1935. He was managing director of General Aircraft Limited
1935-1942 and chairman of the Engineering Industries Association 1940-1944. General Manager, Eugene Ltd, 1945–50. Life Member Council British Automobile Racing Club; Founder Member of Railway Conversion League; Member, Economic Research Council. FIMI, FRAeS, MIProdE
In 1945, Gordon England contested the Bury St Edmunds
seat in the General Election
, standing for the socialist Common Wealth party but failed to get elected. England died in February 1976.
Glider (sailplane)
A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the sport of gliding. Some gliders, known as motor gliders are used for gliding and soaring as well, but have engines which can, in some cases, be used for take-off or for extending a flight...
flight in 1909 is considered to be the birth of the sport of soaring
Gliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
.
Early years
Gordon England was born in Argentina in 1891, the son of British parents George and Amy England. When he came to England aged ten, he was educated at New College, Eastbourne; then from 1904 to 1906 at Framlingham CollegeFramlingham College
Framlingham College is an independent, coeducational boarding and day school in the town of Framlingham, near Woodbridge, Suffolk, England. Together with its preparatory school, Brandeston Hall and Little Bears Nursery it serves pupils from 2 1/2 to eighteen years of age.-History of Framlingham...
in Suffolk. He then started an engineering apprentice
Engineering apprentice
An engineering apprenticeship is an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering or electrical engineering. A typical example is the apprenticeships formerly available at the BTH and EEC at Rugby in England...
ship with the Great Northern Railway
Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)
The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
works at Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
.
Early aviation and gliders
In 1908, he left the railways for his first job in aviation, working as an assistant for the aviator Noel Pemberton BillingNoel Pemberton Billing
Noel Pemberton Billing was an English aviator, inventor, publisher, and Member of Parliament. He founded the firm that became Supermarine and promoted air power, but he held a strong antipathy towards the Royal Aircraft Factory and its products...
at South Fambridge
South Fambridge
South Fambridge is a village in Essex, England. It is located about 300 yards from the River Crouch. The village lies within the Rochford district and the parliamentary constituency of Rayleigh...
in Essex. While working for Pemberton Billing he met José Weiss, who designed and built tailless gliders, and England became an assistant to Weiss. On 27 June 1909, England flew a Weiss glider (named Olive after one of Weiss's five daughters), at Amberley Mount, Sussex on a height-gaining flight that reached 100 feet. It is the first recorded soaring flight, and is considered to be the birth of the sport of Gliding
Gliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
.
Aviator, designer and engineer
On 25 August 1910, Gordon England taught himself to fly at the Bristol flying school at BrooklandsBrooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
, and he gained Pilot Certificate No. 68 in three hours that morning. Later in 1910, he joined the Bristol Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aeroplane Company
The Bristol Aeroplane Company, originally the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, was both one of the first and one of the most important British aviation companies, designing and manufacturing both airframes and aero engines...
as a staff pilot, but was soon recognised as a designer. One of his first design jobs was to convert a Bristol T-type biplane
Bristol Biplane Type 'T'
The Bristol Biplane Type 'T', sometimes called the Challenger-Dickson Biplane, was a derivative of the Bristol Boxkite. It was built in 1911 by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company. It was designed as a cross-country racing aircraft.-Development:...
into a tractor design, which was then called the Bristol Challenger-England. This conversion was followed by three biplanes (the G.E.1, G.E.2 and G.E.3), all designed by England. England left the Bristol company, and in 1912 in association with James Radley the pair produced the Radley-England waterplane; it was the first three-engined aircraft built in the United Kingdom. England also built and tested the Cedric-Lee circular aeroplane. Between 1913 and 1916, he was a test pilot and consultant engineer to a number of aircraft constructors, mainly on the English south coast.
In 1916, he became the factory manager for Frederick Sage & Company
Frederick Sage & Company
Frederick Sage & Company was a British shop fitting company based in London with an extensive practice in Europe, South Africa, and South America...
, that was building Short-designed seaplane
Short Folder
Short Folder is a generic name often applied to several different Short Brothers' aircraft types designed and built prior to and during World War I...
s and Avro 504K
Avro 504
The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during...
s under licence. The company also built some experimental aircraft designed by England.
Motor racing, car building and later life
In 1919, Gordon England left Frederick Sage & Co to become a consultant, and started an interest in motor racing. In 1922, with his father George, he became interested in building bodies for the Austin SevenAustin Seven
There were four Austin Motor Company cars to use the Seven name:* A single cylinder car produced in 1909* The 1922-1939 Austin 7* The original Mini* The launch title of the Austin A30...
sports cars. Using his skills gained with aircraft, he designed and patented a new lightweight body made from plywood box-girders and an ash framework covered with thin plywood panels. In 1925, he entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
race using one of his own designs, but he failed to finish. By 1927, over 20,000 Austin Sevens had been built with England bodies. He incorporated the company as Gordon England (1929) Ltd, but with the increase in the use of metal bodies, the firm eventually closed in 1930.
England became manager of the automotive lubricants department at the Vacuum Oil Company 1930-1935. He was managing director of General Aircraft Limited
General Aircraft Limited
General Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1931 to amalgamation with Blackburn Aircraft in 1949 to become Blackburn and General...
1935-1942 and chairman of the Engineering Industries Association 1940-1944. General Manager, Eugene Ltd, 1945–50. Life Member Council British Automobile Racing Club; Founder Member of Railway Conversion League; Member, Economic Research Council. FIMI, FRAeS, MIProdE
In 1945, Gordon England contested the Bury St Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds (UK Parliament constituency)
Bury St Edmunds is a county constituency located in Suffolk and centred on the town of Bury St Edmunds. It elects one Member of Parliament to in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
seat in the General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
, standing for the socialist Common Wealth party but failed to get elected. England died in February 1976.
See also
- Bristol Gordon England biplanes
- Gordon England (coachbuilder)Gordon England (coachbuilder)Gordon England was a British coachbuilding company based in Putney, South West London and Wembley, North London..E. C. Gordon England started work as an apprentice in the railway industry and went on to work in aircraft manufacture rising to works manager at Bristol during World War I.After the war...
- Gordon England glider