General Aircraft Limited
Encyclopedia
General Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1931 to amalgamation with Blackburn Aircraft
in 1949 to become Blackburn and General. Its main products were military glider
s and light transport aircraft.
, plus adjoining industrial premises built in 1917 by Whitehead Aircraft Ltd. In early 1935, the Croydon production facilities were transferred to the Hanworth site, near Feltham
. Production then re-started with the Monospar ST-12, Monospar ST-18, and Monospar ST-25.
In 1936, GAL received an order to build 89 Hawker Fury II
s; this was followed by other sub-contract work including the conversion of 125 Hawker Hind
s into trainers. In 1938, the company bought the design of the Cygnet light aircraft from the foundering C.W. Aircraft Ltd and it was further developed as the GAL.42 Cygnet II
. GAL also operated an RAF flying training school at Fairoaks aerodrome
, Surrey.
During World War II, GAL became an important designer and manufacturer of gliders. It was part of the Civilian Repair Organisation, to repair Supermarine Spitfire
s at Hanworth, and Beaufighters at Fairoaks. It also modified Hawker Hurricane
s to enable catapult-launching from convoy escort ships. In 1943 Sikorsky helicopters were imported from the U.S.A. for experimental work. Supplied in crates, they were assembled and flown at Hanworth Aerodrome – one squadron for the RAF, and two squadrons for the Fleet Air Arm. Major overhauls were carried out at Hanworth on the helicopters, plus experimental work in Air Sea Rescue, limited by the weight-lifting capacity of the helicopters.
After World War II, GAL diversified into the construction of pre-fabricated houses and car bodies. The company had designed and built a large transport aircraft, the GAL.60 Universal
. However, GAL realised it did not have the room or capacity to produce the aircraft in quantity, and approached Blackburn Aircraft Ltd
, that was looking for work to keep its factory at Brough Aerodrome
busy. On 1 January 1949, this led to the two companies merging to form the Blackburn and General Aircraft Ltd. The first GAL.60 was transported by road from Hanworth to Brough, and the factory at Hanworth was later closed.
Blackburn Aircraft
Blackburn Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer that concentrated mainly on naval and maritime aircraft during the first part of the 20th century.-History:...
in 1949 to become Blackburn and General. Its main products were military glider
Military glider
Military gliders have been used by the military of various countries for carrying troops and heavy equipment to a combat zone, mainly during the Second World War. These engineless aircraft were towed into the air and most of the way to their target by military transport planes, e.g...
s and light transport aircraft.
History
On 27 February 1931, General Aircraft Limited (GAL) was formed to undertake production of aircraft using the 'monospar' wing designs of the Mono-spar Company Ltd. Both firms were headed by Helmut J. Stieger, the Swiss inventor of the technique. GAL produced about 28 examples of the Monospar series of twin-engined light transport aircraft at Croydon Aerodrome between 1932 and 1934. In October 1934, both companies were re-capitalised by investment group British Pacific Trust, and were re-formed in a new company also named General Aircraft Limited. Also included in the new company were the assets of National Flying Services Ltd, the owner of London Air ParkLondon Air Park
London Air Park, also known as Hanworth Air Park, was a grass airfield, operational 1917-1919 and 1929-1947. It was situated on the southeastern edge of Feltham, now part of the London Borough of Hounslow...
, plus adjoining industrial premises built in 1917 by Whitehead Aircraft Ltd. In early 1935, the Croydon production facilities were transferred to the Hanworth site, near Feltham
Feltham
Feltham is a town in the London Borough of Hounslow, west London. It is located about west south west of central London at Charing Cross and from Heathrow Airport Central...
. Production then re-started with the Monospar ST-12, Monospar ST-18, and Monospar ST-25.
In 1936, GAL received an order to build 89 Hawker Fury II
Hawker Fury
The Hawker Fury was a British biplane fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force in the 1930s. It was originally named the Hornet and was the counterpart to the Hawker Hart light bomber.-Design and development:...
s; this was followed by other sub-contract work including the conversion of 125 Hawker Hind
Hawker Hind
-See also:-Bibliography:* Crawford, Alex. Hawker Hart Family. Redbourn, Hertfordshire, UK: Mushroom Model Publications Ltd., 2008. ISBN 83-89450-62-3....
s into trainers. In 1938, the company bought the design of the Cygnet light aircraft from the foundering C.W. Aircraft Ltd and it was further developed as the GAL.42 Cygnet II
General Aircraft Cygnet
|-References:****-See also:...
. GAL also operated an RAF flying training school at Fairoaks aerodrome
Fairoaks Airport
Fairoaks Airport is a private airfield on the edge of the village of Chobham, north of Woking, Surrey. The airport is operated by Fairoaks Airport Ltd, owned by Albermarle Fairoaks Airport Ltd....
, Surrey.
During World War II, GAL became an important designer and manufacturer of gliders. It was part of the Civilian Repair Organisation, to repair Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
s at Hanworth, and Beaufighters at Fairoaks. It also modified Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
s to enable catapult-launching from convoy escort ships. In 1943 Sikorsky helicopters were imported from the U.S.A. for experimental work. Supplied in crates, they were assembled and flown at Hanworth Aerodrome – one squadron for the RAF, and two squadrons for the Fleet Air Arm. Major overhauls were carried out at Hanworth on the helicopters, plus experimental work in Air Sea Rescue, limited by the weight-lifting capacity of the helicopters.
After World War II, GAL diversified into the construction of pre-fabricated houses and car bodies. The company had designed and built a large transport aircraft, the GAL.60 Universal
Blackburn Beverley
The Blackburn B-101 Beverley was a 1950s British heavy transport aircraft built by Blackburn and General Aircraft and flown by squadrons of Royal Air Force Transport Command from 1957 until 1967.-Design and development:...
. However, GAL realised it did not have the room or capacity to produce the aircraft in quantity, and approached Blackburn Aircraft Ltd
Blackburn Aircraft
Blackburn Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer that concentrated mainly on naval and maritime aircraft during the first part of the 20th century.-History:...
, that was looking for work to keep its factory at Brough Aerodrome
Brough Aerodrome
Brough Aerodrome is located at Brough, East Riding of Yorkshire, England.The site was first used by the Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Company during World War I for the testing of seaplanes....
busy. On 1 January 1949, this led to the two companies merging to form the Blackburn and General Aircraft Ltd. The first GAL.60 was transported by road from Hanworth to Brough, and the factory at Hanworth was later closed.
Designs produced at Croydon (1932–1934)
- General Aircraft Monospar ST-4
- General Aircraft Monospar ST-6
- General Aircraft Monospar ST-10
- General Aircraft Monospar ST-11
Designs produced at Hanworth (1935–1939)
- General Aircraft Monospar ST-12
- General Aircraft Monospar ST-18 Croydon
- General Aircraft Monospar ST-25 Jubilee
- General Aircraft Monospar ST-25 De Luxe
- General Aircraft Monospar ST-25 Universal
- General Aircraft GAL.26 re-engined experimental version of ST-25
- GAL.32 – design tendered for ab initio trainer. Not built
- General Aircraft GAL.33 CagnetGeneral Aircraft Cagnet-References:*...
- General Aircraft GAL.38 Fleet ShadowerGeneral Aircraft Fleet Shadower-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bridgman, Leonard, ed. Jane’s All The World’s Aircraft 1945-1946. London: Samson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd 1946....
– a fleetNaval fleetA fleet, or naval fleet, is a large formation of warships, and the largest formation in any navy. A fleet at sea is the direct equivalent of an army on land....
-following aircraft - General Aircraft GAL.41 pressurised experimental aircraft based on the ST-25
- General Aircraft GAL.42 Cygnet IIGeneral Aircraft Cygnet|-References:****-See also:...
– a CW design. - General Aircraft GAL.45 OwletGeneral Aircraft Owlet|-See also:...
- General Aircraft GAL.47General Aircraft GAL.47-External links:*...
– Air Observation Post, one built - General Aircraft GAL.48 Hotspur – a troop carrying glider
- General Aircraft GAL.49 Hamilcar IGeneral Aircraft HamilcarThe General Aircraft Limited GAL. 49 Hamilcar or Hamilcar Mark I was a large British military glider produced during the Second World War, which was designed to carry heavy cargo, such as the Tetrarch or M22 Locust light tank...
– a tank carrying glider - General Aircraft GAL.55 – a two seat training glider
- General Aircraft GAL.56 – a flying wing glider
- General Aircraft GAL.58 Hamilcar XGeneral Aircraft HamilcarThe General Aircraft Limited GAL. 49 Hamilcar or Hamilcar Mark I was a large British military glider produced during the Second World War, which was designed to carry heavy cargo, such as the Tetrarch or M22 Locust light tank...
– a powered version of the Hamilcar I - General Aircraft GAL.60 Universal FreighterBlackburn BeverleyThe Blackburn B-101 Beverley was a 1950s British heavy transport aircraft built by Blackburn and General Aircraft and flown by squadrons of Royal Air Force Transport Command from 1957 until 1967.-Design and development:...
– a freight carrying aircraft later becoming the Blackburn BeverleyBlackburn BeverleyThe Blackburn B-101 Beverley was a 1950s British heavy transport aircraft built by Blackburn and General Aircraft and flown by squadrons of Royal Air Force Transport Command from 1957 until 1967.-Design and development:...