World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers

344 Pages·2005·53.48 MB·English

by  Bill Gunston

BILL GUNSTOIU

WORLD ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF
AIRCRAFT
MANUFACTURERS
OTHER TITLES BY BILL GUNSTON
Avionics: The story and technology of aviation electronics
The Development of Piston Aero Engines
Faster Than Sound: The story of supersonic flight
Fighters ofthe Fifties
Giants of the Sky: The biggest aeroplanes of all time
Night Fighters: A development and combat history
Plane Speaking: A personal view of aviation history
Rolls-Royce Aero Engines
AIRCRAFT
MANUFACTURERS
From the pioneers to the present day
GUNSTON
BILL
Naval Institute Press
S. S. F. PUBLIC LIBRARY
Annapolis, Maryland WEST ORANGE AVENUE
© Bill Gunston 1993
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
First published in 1993 by Patrick Stephens Ltd,
an imprint of Haynes Publishing,
Sparkford, Somerset BA22 7JJ, UK.
Published and distributed in the United States of America and Canada
by the Naval Institute Press, 118 Maryland Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5035
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 93-87264
ISBN 1-55750-939-5
This edition is authorized for sale only in the United States,
its territories and possessions, and Canada
Printed in Great Britain
Contents
Introduction 6
A-Z listings of aircraft manufacturers 9
—
Introduction
In this book I have attempted to list all the pany, some of them being pioneers early in this
makers of what you might call ‘significant air- century. Another part ofthe grey area is compa-
craft'. Ofcourse, such an undertaking is doomed nies whose business is modification of existing
to failure from the start. No sooner will this hefty aircraft, forwhateverreason, and on a completely
tome hit the streets than someone will remind me unquantifiable basis I have included those that
ofsomething I have omitted. I would like to think seemed sufficiently important. At one extreme
the omissions will be obscure. If I have left out you have entries like Aero Spacelines and Satie;
any obvious name, I apologize. In any case, long at the other are people who dope a length ofcord
as it is, this listing is merely the important centre along an aileron and hardly qualify. We in the
ofagrey area round theedges populated by many West are familiar with the notion of an ‘aircraft
thousands ofenthusiasts around the world. Once company’, but not with how they used to do
there was no aircraft industry, just enthusiasts. things in the former Soviet Union (called USSR
Today I have included many hundreds ofpeople here). Except for light aircraft, every design was
OKB
who, often working in a backyard or, like V.B. carried out by an (experimental construc-
Shavrov, in their tiny apartment, have created tion bureau) which invariably also built and
worthwhile flying machines. tested the prototype(s). The head of the bureau,
What usually with the rank (and uniform) of General
aircraft?
Constructor, was often famous and entries
I have l—isted producers of aeroplane—s and appear under their names. TGhAeZy invariably had
rotorcraft manned, powered aerodynes from little say regarding which (state aircraft
about 1852 onwards. Excluded are aerostats factory) would be chosen for series production,
balloons and airships most microlights, hang and the factories are not included. But today
gliders, unpowered gliders and sailplanes other every factory manager is an aggressive capitalist,
than large transport gliders, and most replicas private factory companies are appearing almost
and restored aircraft (though scaled replicas daily, and the problems of the ex-USSR chron-
made in quantity for sale oras homebuilts are in). icler are self-evident!
In a few cases the product was a single aircraft What order?
which failed to fly but which was sufficiently
famous to merit inclusion. Other worthy one-offs For convenience, the entire book is in rigid
which never flew, such as Allen Wheeler’s Slymph alphabetical order by company or organization
(which still exists after over 60 years), had to be name, no matter what the product might be or
omitted. There are limits! where the entry may be located. Thus we find the
sequence: Max Holste, Maximov, Maximum
What companies?
Safety, Max Plan, Maxson, Mayenberger and
Obviously 1 have tried to include all companies May, Harden and May. Some lexicographers say
whose primary business was making aeroplanes you must group organizations known by a set of
for sale. In the ‘grey area' I have also included initials in front ofthose having names, but this is
numerous enthusiasts who never formed a com- often difficult. Where would you put Socata,