General Aircraft Limited

General Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer that operated from 1931 until its amalgamation with Blackburn Aircraft in 1949. The company began by commercialising aircraft using the Monospar wing system developed by the Monospar Wing Company, associated with Swiss inventor Helmut J. Stieger. Its first production activity was based at Croydon Aerodrome, where it built a small series of twin-engined Monospar light transports during the early 1930s. The business was reorganised in 1934 after investment from British Pacific Trust. The new company incorporated the assets of National Flying Services, including London Air Park at Hanworth and adjoining industrial premises originally developed by Whitehead Aircraft. In early 1935, General Aircraft moved its production facilities from Croydon to Hanworth. The relocation gave the company a larger industrial base and supported a wider programme of aircraft manufacture, development and maintenance. During the 1930s, General Aircraft produced several Monospar variants, including the ST-12, ST-18 and ST-25 Jubilee. The ST-25 became the company's most numerous civil light-aircraft family, with versions intended for general transport and private or commercial use. General Aircraft also undertook subcontract production for established British manufacturers. In 1936 it received an order for 89 Hawker Fury II fighters and later converted 125 Hawker Hinds into trainer aircraft. The company acquired the design of the C.W. Aircraft Cygnet after that company encountered financial difficulties and developed it into the GAL.42 Cygnet II. General Aircraft's pre-war activities also included experimental and specialist aircraft. These included the GAL.38 Fleet Shadower, intended to support naval fleet surveillance, the GAL.41 pressurised experimental aircraft, the GAL.45 Owlet, and the GAL.47 air observation post aircraft. The company operated an elementary flying training school for the Royal Air Force at Fairoaks Aerodrome in Surrey, linking its manufacturing activities with pilot training and operational aviation. The Second World War transformed General Aircraft into an important military production and support organisation. It became a significant designer and builder of military gliders, most notably the GAL.48 Hotspur troop-carrying glider and the larger GAL.49 Hamilcar tank-carrying glider. It also participated in the Civilian Repair Organisation, repairing Supermarine Spitfires at Hanworth and Bristol Beaufighters at Fairoaks. General Aircraft modified Hawker Hurricanes for catapult launching from convoy escort ships, and took part in experimental helicopter operations after Sikorsky helicopters were imported from the United States in 1943. These machines were assembled and flown at Hanworth, with aircraft supporting both the RAF and Fleet Air Arm; the company also performed overhaul and air-sea-rescue-related experimental work. After 1945, General Aircraft diversified beyond aircraft into prefabricated housing and car-body construction. Its principal aviation project in the immediate post-war period was the GAL.60 Universal, a large freight and transport aircraft. The company recognised that its Hanworth facilities could not support production at the required scale and approached Blackburn Aircraft, whose Brough works needed new business. On 1 January 1949, the two companies merged to create Blackburn and General Aircraft Ltd. The first GAL.60 prototype was moved by road from Hanworth to Brough and made its first flight there on 20 June 1950, after General Aircraft itself had ceased to exist as an independent company. The design subsequently developed into the Blackburn Beverley. The Hanworth factory was later closed.

General Aircraft Limited was created in 1931 to manufacture aircraft using the Monospar wing system. Its early production took place at Croydon Aerodrome, where it built a limited number of Monospar ST-4, ST-6, ST-10 and ST-11 aircraft. In 1934, the company was recapitalised with support from British Pacific Trust and reorganised alongside assets belonging to National Flying Services. The enlarged operation moved to Hanworth in early 1935, where it resumed production with the Monospar ST-12, ST-18 and ST-25. The company broadened its role during the later 1930s. It built Hawker Fury IIs under subcontract, converted Hawker Hinds into trainers and acquired the Cygnet design from C.W. Aircraft. The resulting GAL.42 Cygnet II joined a portfolio that included civil aircraft, experimental designs and specialist military projects. General Aircraft also ran an RAF elementary flying training school at Fairoaks Aerodrome. Wartime demand shifted the centre of gravity of the business toward military aviation. General Aircraft designed and manufactured the GAL.48 Hotspur troop glider and the much larger GAL.49 Hamilcar, which could carry armoured vehicles and other heavy loads. The company also produced or investigated aircraft such as the GAL.38 Fleet Shadower and GAL.47 air observation post aircraft. At Hanworth and Fairoaks it participated in the Civilian Repair Organisation, repairing frontline aircraft and modifying Hurricanes for shipboard catapult launch. In 1943, imported Sikorsky helicopters were assembled at Hanworth for RAF and Fleet Air Arm use, with General Aircraft providing overhaul and experimental support. The post-war company attempted to diversify into prefabricated housing and car bodies while continuing aviation development. Its most ambitious aircraft was the GAL.60 Universal, a large transport and freight aircraft. Because Hanworth lacked the capacity for series production, General Aircraft arranged a combination with Blackburn Aircraft, whose Brough factory could provide the necessary industrial base. The merger took effect on 1 January 1949 as Blackburn and General Aircraft Ltd. The GAL.60 prototype was later moved to Brough by road and flew on 20 June 1950. The aircraft became the basis of the Blackburn Beverley programme, while General Aircraft's Hanworth works were eventually closed.

• 1950

  GAL.60 makes first flight

  [1]General Aircraft Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  The GAL.60 Universal prototype flew at Brough on 20 June after being moved from Hanworth.

• 1949

  Merger with Blackburn Aircraft

  [1]General Aircraft Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  General Aircraft merged with Blackburn Aircraft on 1 January to form Blackburn and General Aircraft Ltd.

• 1943

  Sikorsky helicopters assembled at Hanworth

  [1]General Aircraft Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  Imported Sikorsky helicopters were assembled, operated and overhauled at Hanworth for experimental and service purposes.

• 1938

  Cygnet design acquired

  [1]General Aircraft Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  The company acquired the Cygnet design from C.W. Aircraft and developed it as the GAL.42 Cygnet II.

• 1936

  Hawker subcontract work

  [1]General Aircraft Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  General Aircraft received an order to build 89 Hawker Fury II aircraft.

• 1935

  Production moves to Hanworth

  [1]General Aircraft Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  Manufacturing transferred from Croydon to the London Air Park and industrial premises at Hanworth.

• 1934

  Reorganisation and recapitalisation

  [1]General Aircraft Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  British Pacific Trust investment supported a reconstituted General Aircraft that incorporated National Flying Services assets.

• 1932

  Monospar production begins at Croydon

  [1]General Aircraft Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  The company began producing the Monospar ST series at Croydon Aerodrome.

• 1931

  Company founded

  [1]General Aircraft Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  General Aircraft Limited was formed on 27 February to produce aircraft based on Monospar wing designs.

A British aircraft engineering and manufacturing company combining light-aircraft production, military glider design, subcontract construction, repair and modification work, and experimental aviation. During the Second World War it was particularly associated with airborne assault gliders and aircraft support work.

• Light transport aircraft · 1932

  Monospar ST series

  General Aircraft's earliest production family used the Monospar wing system and comprised the ST-4, ST-6, ST-10, ST-11, ST-12, ST-18 and ST-25 variants. The aircraft were twin-engined light transports intended for civil aviation and general utility work. Production began at Croydon and later continued at Hanworth, with the ST-25 Jubilee becoming the most numerous member of the family.

• Light aircraft · 1938

  GAL.42 Cygnet II

  The GAL.42 Cygnet II was General Aircraft's further development of a Cygnet design acquired from C.W. Aircraft. It represented the company's effort to maintain a civil and light-aircraft presence alongside its military production and subcontract work. Ten examples were built.

• Naval surveillance aircraft · 1939

  GAL.38 Fleet Shadower

  The GAL.38 Fleet Shadower was a specialist aircraft designed for fleet-following and maritime surveillance duties. Its purpose was to observe and track naval formations over extended periods. One aircraft was built, making it an experimental and limited-production project rather than a major commercial line.

• Troop-carrying military glider · 1940

  GAL.48 Hotspur

  The GAL.48 Hotspur was a British military glider designed to carry airborne troops and equipment. It became one of General Aircraft's principal wartime products and was manufactured in substantial numbers, with approximately 1,015 built. The programme established the company as an important contributor to Britain's airborne forces capability.

• Heavy military glider · 1942

  GAL.49 Hamilcar

  The GAL.49 Hamilcar was a large glider designed to carry tanks, armoured vehicles and other heavy military loads during airborne operations. More than 400 Hamilcars were built. A half-scale prototype and a powered derivative, the GAL.58 Hamilcar X, were also associated with the programme; 22 Hamilcar airframes were converted to the powered configuration.

• Freight and transport aircraft · 1950

  GAL.60 Universal Freighter

  The GAL.60 Universal Freighter was a large post-war transport aircraft developed by General Aircraft for freight and utility operations. Only one prototype was built by General Aircraft. Because Hanworth lacked sufficient space and production capacity for quantity manufacture, the project was transferred to the Blackburn organisation after the 1949 merger and ultimately developed into the Blackburn Beverley.

• Experimental and specialist aircraft · 1936

  GAL.42 and other experimental aircraft

  General Aircraft also produced or investigated a varied group of specialist designs, including the GAL.26 re-engined Monospar, GAL.41 pressurised experimental aircraft, GAL.45 Owlet, GAL.47 air observation post aircraft, GAL.55 training glider and GAL.56 experimental flying-wing glider. Most were single-aircraft or very small programmes intended to test particular operational concepts.

• 1949

  Merge with Blackburn Aircraft to support GAL.60 productionM&A

  Background

  General Aircraft had designed the large GAL.60 Universal but lacked the space and manufacturing capacity to produce it in quantity. Blackburn Aircraft needed work to sustain its factory at Brough Aerodrome.

  Action taken

  The two companies merged on 1 January 1949 to form Blackburn and General Aircraft Ltd. The GAL.60 prototype was subsequently moved from Hanworth to Brough.

  Aftermath

  The GAL.60 made its first flight at Brough in 1950 and became the basis for the Blackburn Beverley. General Aircraft ceased to operate as an independent company, and the Hanworth factory later closed.

  Source

• 1934

  Reorganise the company and consolidate operations at HanworthStrategy

  Background

  The original Croydon-based operation required additional capital and industrial capacity, while National Flying Services assets offered an opportunity to combine aircraft production with an established airfield and adjoining works.

  Action taken

  General Aircraft was reconstituted with investment from British Pacific Trust and incorporated National Flying Services assets. Production was transferred to Hanworth in early 1935.

  Aftermath

  The larger Hanworth base supported expanded civil aircraft production, military subcontract work, repair activity and later wartime glider manufacturing.

  Source

1. 1General Aircraft Limiteden.wikipedia.org