Alan Muntz
Encyclopedia
Frederick Alan Irving Muntz BA FRAeS (7 June 1899 – 7 March 1985) was a British consulting aeronautical engineer.
and Trinity College, Cambridge
, gaining a BA in Mechanical Sciences. In 1918, during World War I
, he served in France as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 432nd Field Company, Royal Engineers
. In 1927, he learned to fly in an Avro 548
of the Henderson School of Flying at Brooklands
aerodrome.
with Nigel Norman
. In 1929, the company opened Heston Aerodrome
that was active in private, commercial and military aviation until its closure in 1947. In the same period, architect Graham Dawbarn joined the pair to form an airport consultancy firm called Norman, Muntz & Dawbarn In 1932, he co-founded Misr Airwork SAE, with Talaat Harb Pasha, Banque Misr, Cairo. In 1933, he helped R.E. Grant Govan to found Indian National Airways Ltd. In 1937, he founded Alan Muntz & Co. Ltd to develop the Pescara
free-piston engine
system and other inventions.
During World War II
, Alan Muntz & Co was involved in many projects, including Turbinlite
. Alan Muntz & Co, and its aircraft consultant L.E. Baynes, was responsible for the design and development of the Youngman-Baynes High Lift
aircraft that first flew in 1948.
Early years
Alan Muntz was the son of Major Irving Muntz and Jessie Challoner. He was educated at Winchester CollegeWinchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, gaining a BA in Mechanical Sciences. In 1918, during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he served in France as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 432nd Field Company, Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
. In 1927, he learned to fly in an Avro 548
Avro 548
-External links:*...
of the Henderson School of Flying at Brooklands
Brooklands
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...
aerodrome.
Professional life
In 1928, Muntz co-founded Airwork LtdAirwork Services
During the post-war period Airwork also further expanded its business into civil aviation. This expansion was financed by its wealthy shareholders, including Lord Cowdray, Whitehall Securities, the Blue Star shipping line, Furness Withy and Thomas Loel Evelyn Bulkeley Guinness.Airwork's other air...
with Nigel Norman
Nigel Norman
Air Commodore Sir Henry Nigel St Valery Norman Bt, CBE, RAF was a consulting civil engineer and Royal Air Force officer during the first half of the 20th century.-Early years:...
. In 1929, the company opened Heston Aerodrome
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...
that was active in private, commercial and military aviation until its closure in 1947. In the same period, architect Graham Dawbarn joined the pair to form an airport consultancy firm called Norman, Muntz & Dawbarn In 1932, he co-founded Misr Airwork SAE, with Talaat Harb Pasha, Banque Misr, Cairo. In 1933, he helped R.E. Grant Govan to found Indian National Airways Ltd. In 1937, he founded Alan Muntz & Co. Ltd to develop the Pescara
Raúl Pateras Pescara
Raúl Pateras Pescara de Castelluccio , marquis of Pateras-Pescara, was an Argentine lawyer and inventor specializing in seaplanes and helicopters, as well as motors, compressors, and the Pescara free-piston engine.-Biography:At the beginning of the 20th century, his family returned from Buenos...
free-piston engine
Free-piston engine
A free-piston engine is a linear, 'crankless' internal combustion engine, in which the piston motion is not controlled by a crankshaft but determined by the interaction of forces from the combustion chamber gases, a rebound device and a load device A free-piston engine is a linear, 'crankless'...
system and other inventions.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Alan Muntz & Co was involved in many projects, including Turbinlite
Turbinlite
The Helmore/GEC Turbinlite was a 2,700 million candela searchlight fitted in the nose of a number of British Douglas Havoc night fighters during the early part of the Second World War and around the time of The Blitz....
. Alan Muntz & Co, and its aircraft consultant L.E. Baynes, was responsible for the design and development of the Youngman-Baynes High Lift
Youngman-Baynes High Lift
|-See also:...
aircraft that first flew in 1948.