Foster Wikner Aircraft
Encyclopedia
The Foster, Wikner Aircraft Company Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer formed in 1936.
, London and built the prototype Foster Wikner Wicko
.
In 1937 the company moved to premises at Southampton (Eastleigh) Airport
, Hampshire. Production of the Wicko was started but was abandoned after the eleventh aircraft due to the start of the Second World War.
Geoffrey Wikner flew for the Air Transport Auxiliary
during the war, and in 1946 returned to Australia in a converted Handley Page Halifax
bomber.
History
The Australian aircraft designer Geoffrey N. Wikner moved to England in May 1934 he look for partners to build cheap and efficient aircraft. With V. Foster and J.F Lusty they formed the Foster, Wikner Aircraft Company Limited on the 9 September 1936. J.F Lusty and the Lusty family were furniture manufacturers (William Lusty & Sons Limited). The company set up in their furniture factory at Lusty's Works in Bromley-by-BowBromley-by-Bow
Bromley-by-Bow, historically and officially Bromley, is a place in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is an inner-city district situated east north-east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
, London and built the prototype Foster Wikner Wicko
Foster Wikner Wicko
|-References:*Grey, C.G. and Bridgman, L. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938. . Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0 7153 5734 4...
.
In 1937 the company moved to premises at Southampton (Eastleigh) Airport
Southampton Airport
Southampton Airport is the 20th largest airport in the UK, located north north-east of Southampton, in the Borough of Eastleigh within Hampshire, England....
, Hampshire. Production of the Wicko was started but was abandoned after the eleventh aircraft due to the start of the Second World War.
Geoffrey Wikner flew for the Air Transport Auxiliary
Air Transport Auxiliary
The Air Transport Auxiliary was a British World War II civilian organisation that ferried new, repaired and damaged military aircraft between UK factories, assembly plants, transatlantic delivery points, Maintenance Units , scrap yards, and active service squadrons and airfields—but not to...
during the war, and in 1946 returned to Australia in a converted Handley Page Halifax
Handley Page Halifax
The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing...
bomber.