Heston Aircraft Company
Encyclopedia
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 Heston Phoenix
and the Hordern-Richmond Autoplane
. During the Second World War the company transitioned to being a sub-contractor, modifying Supermarine Spitfire
s amongst other types. After the war the company built aircraft components for companies such as de Havilland Aircraft.
Ltd, that had moved to Heston aerodrome in March 1933, having previously built 40 Comper Swift
s at Hooton Park
aerodrome. Most of the directors of Comper Aircraft, including Nick Comper, resigned and gave up the assets to a new group of investors and directors. The new board was headed by Sir Norman J. Watson and included Brindley 'Bryn' R.S. Jones and George A. Lingham. Chief designer was George Cornwall, and Chief Test Pilot was Edmund G Hordern. On 8 November 1935, a new company was formed with the same name that took over the existing business and personnel. The company continued to support Comper aircraft and owners, but discarded its own Comper aircraft and assets.
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.
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.
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.
In 1938 the company started work on the Heston Type 5 Racer
which was to be used in an attempt on the world's air speed record. The aircraft had been designed by Napier & Son
and had an estimated maximum speed of 480 mph. Registered G-AFOK, it first flew at Heston in June 1940 but was damaged on landing and a second example was not completed.
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.
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
.
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.
in the late 1930s.
During World War II, as a contractor within the Civilian Repair Organisation, Heston Aircraft Company was heavily engaged in repair and other support work on military aircraft. From late 1940, Heston Aircraft played a major role in modifying Supermarine Spitfire
s for the photographic reconnaissance task. The company equipped the Spitfires with vertical and oblique cameras, additional fuel tanks, and modified cockpit canopies. Many marks of Spitfire were repaired at Heston throughout the war. Other types to be repaired and modified included the Fairchild Argus, Fairey Battle
and the naval Vought-Sikorsky Chesapeake.
s to Sea Hornet standards, for testing by the Fleet Air Arm
. The first example, serial PX212, was completed to partial Sea Hornet F.20 standard but without folding wings. This was followed in January 1946 by serial PX219, that was fitted at Heston to full Sea Hornet F.20 standard with arrester gear, folding wings, tail-down accelerator gear and naval radio equipment. The company also converted two Hornet Is to Sea Hornet NF.21 night fighter standard. The first, serial PX230, first flew on 9 July 1946 with an A.S.H. radar
scanner in its lengthened nose, but the folding wings and long dorsal fin fillet did not appear until the second aircraft, serial PX239, was converted. The modification involved fitting a second cockpit, to house the radar operator.
de Havilland Comet
s and Bristol Britannia
s, and mobile servicing docks for BEA
's Heathrow engineering base.
Heston Aerodrome
Heston Aerodrome was a 1930s airfield located to the west of London, UK, operational between 1929 and 1947. It was situated on the border of the Heston and Cranford areas of Hounslow, Middlesex...
, Middlesex, England.
Starting in 1934 the company produced a number of aircraft designs beginning with the Heston Phoenix
Heston Phoenix
-See also:...
and the Hordern-Richmond Autoplane
Hordern-Richmond Autoplane
The Hordern-Richmond Autoplane was a 1930s British twin-engined two-seat cabin touring monoplane designed by Edmund Hordern, and constructed by Heston Aircraft Company Ltd....
. During the Second World War the company transitioned to being a sub-contractor, modifying Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
s amongst other types. After the war the company built aircraft components for companies such as de Havilland Aircraft.
History
Heston Aircraft Company Ltd was founded on 10 August 1934, being re-named from Comper Aircraft CompanyComper Aircraft Company
The Comper Aircraft Company Ltd was a 1930s British light aircraft manufacturer. It was based at Hooton Aerodrome, Cheshire , and Heston Aerodrome, Middlesex .-History:...
Ltd, that had moved to Heston aerodrome in March 1933, having previously built 40 Comper Swift
Comper Swift
-See also:-References:*Boughton, Terence. 1963. The Story of The British Light Aeroplane. John Murray*Meaden, Jack & Fillmore, Malcolm. . The Comper Lightplanes. Air-Britain Archive . Air-Britain. ISSN 02624923...
s at Hooton Park
Hooton Park
RAF Hooton Park, on the Wirral Peninsula, Cheshire, was a Royal Air Force station originally built for the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 as a training aerodrome for pilots in World War I. During the early/mid 1930s, it was one of the two airfields handling scheduled services for the Merseyside...
aerodrome. Most of the directors of Comper Aircraft, including Nick Comper, resigned and gave up the assets to a new group of investors and directors. The new board was headed by Sir Norman J. Watson and included Brindley 'Bryn' R.S. Jones and George A. Lingham. Chief designer was George Cornwall, and Chief Test Pilot was Edmund G Hordern. On 8 November 1935, a new company was formed with the same name that took over the existing business and personnel. The company continued to support Comper aircraft and owners, but discarded its own Comper aircraft and assets.
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.
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.
In 1938 the company started work on the Heston Type 5 Racer
Napier-Heston Racer
-Comparable aircraft:*Hughes H-1 Racer: 352 mph in 1935 .*Messerschmitt Bf 109 V-13, D-IPKY: 379 mph on 11 November 1937...
which was to be used in an attempt on the world's air speed record. The aircraft had been designed by Napier & Son
Napier & Son
D. Napier & Son Limited was a British engine and pre-Great War automobile manufacturer and one of the most important aircraft engine manufacturers in the early to mid-20th century...
and had an estimated maximum speed of 480 mph. Registered G-AFOK, it first flew at Heston in June 1940 but was damaged on landing and a second example was not completed.
In 1941 the company built the Boulton Paul P.92
Boulton Paul P.92
-See also:-External links:* * * *...
/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.
In 1947 the company designed and built the Heston JC.6
Heston JC.6
|-See also:-References:* *-External links:*...
, also known as the Heston A.2/45, that was intended to meet a Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
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
Auster AOP.6
-Bibliography:*Halley, J.J., The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988, Air-Britain, Tonbridge, ISBN 0-85130-164-9....
.
In 1948 the company built the Youngman-Baynes High Lift
Youngman-Baynes High Lift
|-See also:...
, and the sole aircraft first flew at Heston on 5 February 1948 with military serial VT789, later registered G-AMBL.
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 WellesleyVickers Wellesley
The Vickers Wellesley was a British 1930s light bomber built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Brooklands near Weybridge, Surrey, for the Royal Air Force...
in the late 1930s.
During World War II, as a contractor within the Civilian Repair Organisation, Heston Aircraft Company was heavily engaged in repair and other support work on military aircraft. From late 1940, Heston Aircraft played a major role in modifying Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
s for the photographic reconnaissance task. The company equipped the Spitfires with vertical and oblique cameras, additional fuel tanks, and modified cockpit canopies. Many marks of Spitfire were repaired at Heston throughout the war. Other types to be repaired and modified included the Fairchild Argus, Fairey Battle
Fairey Battle
The Fairey Battle was a British single-engine light bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company in the late 1930s for the Royal Air Force. The Battle was powered by the same Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine that gave contemporary British fighters high performance; however, the Battle was weighed...
and the naval Vought-Sikorsky Chesapeake.
Postwar aircraft modification
Heston Aircraft was sub-contracted by de Havilland Aircraft to convert prototype de Havilland HornetDe Havilland Hornet
The de Havilland DH.103 Hornet was a piston engine fighter that further exploited the wooden construction techniques pioneered by de Havilland's classic Mosquito. Entering service at the end of the Second World War, the Hornet equipped postwar RAF Fighter Command day fighter units in the UK and was...
s to Sea Hornet standards, for testing by the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
. The first example, serial PX212, was completed to partial Sea Hornet F.20 standard but without folding wings. This was followed in January 1946 by serial PX219, that was fitted at Heston to full Sea Hornet F.20 standard with arrester gear, folding wings, tail-down accelerator gear and naval radio equipment. The company also converted two Hornet Is to Sea Hornet NF.21 night fighter standard. The first, serial PX230, first flew on 9 July 1946 with an A.S.H. radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
scanner in its lengthened nose, but the folding wings and long dorsal fin fillet did not appear until the second aircraft, serial PX239, was converted. The modification involved fitting a second cockpit, to house the radar operator.
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, Vickers-Armstrong and D. Napier & Son. In late 1953, the company was building passenger steps for BOACBoac
Boac may refer to:* Boac, Marinduque, a municipality in the Southern Philippines* Boac , an American rapper* British Overseas Airways Corporation, a former British state-owned airline...
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...
s and Bristol Britannia
Bristol Britannia
The Bristol Type 175 Britannia was a British medium-to-long-range airliner built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1952 to fly across the British Empire...
s, and mobile servicing docks for BEA
British European Airways
British European Airways or British European Airways Corporation was a British airline which existed from 1946 until 1974. The airline operated European and North African routes from airports around the United Kingdom...
's Heathrow engineering base.
Aircraft built
- Heston PhoenixHeston Phoenix-See also:...
- Hordern-Richmond AutoplaneHordern-Richmond AutoplaneThe Hordern-Richmond Autoplane was a 1930s British twin-engined two-seat cabin touring monoplane designed by Edmund Hordern, and constructed by Heston Aircraft Company Ltd....
- Heston T.1/37
- Heston Type 5 RacerNapier-Heston Racer-Comparable aircraft:*Hughes H-1 Racer: 352 mph in 1935 .*Messerschmitt Bf 109 V-13, D-IPKY: 379 mph on 11 November 1937...
- Boulton Paul P.92Boulton Paul P.92-See also:-External links:* * * *...
/2 - Heston JC.6Heston JC.6|-See also:-References:* *-External links:*...
- Youngman-Baynes High LiftYoungman-Baynes High Lift|-See also:...