Privately funded British military aircraft?
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Privately funded British military aircraft?
It's lazy of me, I admit it, but rather than pulling out and plodding through my various reference works, can somebody vastly more familiar with the subject than I am give me the names of several important British privately funded military airplanes? (I'm doing an Aviation History magazine article on the Napier-Heston racer.)
I know the Sopwith Bulldog and Napier-Heston T.5 were, and I'm pretty sure the Spitfire was, but were there any others? DH Mosquito? Any of the late-'40s/early-'50s jet projects/
Am I right in thinking this was a largely British phenomenon, wealthy private individuals stepping in where the Government feared to tread? Certainly doesn't seem to happen here in the U. S...
I know the Sopwith Bulldog and Napier-Heston T.5 were, and I'm pretty sure the Spitfire was, but were there any others? DH Mosquito? Any of the late-'40s/early-'50s jet projects/
Am I right in thinking this was a largely British phenomenon, wealthy private individuals stepping in where the Government feared to tread? Certainly doesn't seem to happen here in the U. S...
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What about the Bristol Blenheim? Didn't it arise from a privately funded aeroplane called "Britain First" which was actually faster than the then current RAF aircraft?
In 1934, Lord Rothermere ordered a Mercury-engined version of the Bristol 135 for his own use as part of his campaign to stimulate interest in commercial aviation. The aircraft soon caused great interest to the Air Ministry because its high performance was better than that of any RAF fighter then in service.
Lord Rothermere presented the aircraft (named 'Britain First') to the nation for evaluation and in early 1936 the modified design was designated Blenheim Mk I.
Another 1930's icon was the famous Lady Lucy Houston. In addition to generously funding Britain's winning Schneider Trophy team (after the government pulled out) she also savaged the government of the day for its lamentable efforts in the field of air defence. Both these events accelerated development of aero engines and airframes, such as the Spitfire.
Unfortunately the abdication crisis was too much for Lady Houston to take; she gave up eating and died in 1936.
Lord Rothermere presented the aircraft (named 'Britain First') to the nation for evaluation and in early 1936 the modified design was designated Blenheim Mk I.
Another 1930's icon was the famous Lady Lucy Houston. In addition to generously funding Britain's winning Schneider Trophy team (after the government pulled out) she also savaged the government of the day for its lamentable efforts in the field of air defence. Both these events accelerated development of aero engines and airframes, such as the Spitfire.
Unfortunately the abdication crisis was too much for Lady Houston to take; she gave up eating and died in 1936.
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Or aircraft parts. I have heard that some aristocrat privately financed constant speed propellors for the Spitfire. Thought it was Lady Houston but obviously not.
After an excellent landing you can use the airplane again!
After an excellent landing you can use the airplane again!
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SW: Other than BE's example, be very wary of assertions that any British military product was a private venture - neither Spitfire, nor Mosquito were. They were instead examples of Boards initiating design ahead of/in anticipation of a Govt. contract, then trying to claim PV and/or recover asserted cost, because Treasury terms give (us) User Right in funded design. So production can be put out to tender, with the design parent having no privilege. Hence Austin Battle, HP Canberra. Schneider types, Comet racer, Heston T.5 were not "military". "Ownership" of Design examines the notion of "Background" (PV) or "Foreground" (Govt.-funded) Intellectual Property, with parents trying to maximise their "owned"/heritage contribution. Each Blenheim built at Rootes/Avro shadows involved Air Ministry settling with Bristol a fee/royalty for that element of the business that could be traced to Britain First.
Folland flew Midge without MoS funding...except that its Viper and its wing had been funded on GW tickets. Its conversion to Gnat F.1 came by an MoS order for 6; its T.2 variant was MoS-funded in R&D. F.G.Miles did M.100 Student PV, not explicitly aimed at RAF/FAA.
Folland flew Midge without MoS funding...except that its Viper and its wing had been funded on GW tickets. Its conversion to Gnat F.1 came by an MoS order for 6; its T.2 variant was MoS-funded in R&D. F.G.Miles did M.100 Student PV, not explicitly aimed at RAF/FAA.
Slightly off thread. But the CEOs of General Atomics bought out Abraham Karem's bankrupt UAV company in the 90s and developed, without external funding the PREDATOR A. They then went on to develop PREDATOR B "REAPER" and then PREDATOR C "AVENGER" all from company money - maybe British Industry could learn a thing or two??!
PREDATOR A
PREDATOR B REAPER
PREDATOR C AVENGER
PREDATOR A
PREDATOR B REAPER
PREDATOR C AVENGER
Perhaps another way of looking at it would be that (say) the mossie was developed initially without interference or meddling from any government ministries etc.The UK aircraft procurement 'system' sure has managed to completely screw up a fair number of potentially successful types.
