John Kenworthy
Encyclopedia
John Kenworthy B.Sc., F.R.Aes (1883–1940) was an English
aviation engineer and aircraft designer.
John Kenworthy appears in the 1901 Census of Darlington, aged 17, living with four sisters, one brother and his parents George and Ellen Kenworthy at 65 Greenbank Road, Darlington, County Durham. His father was listed as a Schoolmaster.
In his early years he was a design assistant at the Royal Aircraft Factory formed out of the HM Balloon factory in 1911 at Farnborough, Hampshire. His first design in 1912 was the B.E.3
(Blériot Experimental), also known as the Goldfish because of its horizontal tail fin. He also designed the H.R.E.2
(Hydro Reconnaissance Experimental), a floatplane version of the earlier B.E.2 designed by Geoffrey de Havilland
. Following closely in 1912 was the (B.E.4, B.E.7 and in 1913 the B.E.8
) After the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the Royal Flying Corps
(RFC) needed fighter and reconnaissance aircraft from the Royal Aircraft Factory and Kenworthy as Chief designer produced the F.E.8 (Fighter Experimental) from 1916, and the R.E.8 (Reconnaissance Experimental), used from 1917. In 1916 he was part of the project team as chief draughtsman who designed the 150 hp S.E.5 (Scout Experimental), and its follow up, the S.E.5a which arrived several months later with the same basic designs, but a more powerful 200 hp engine.
In 1917 he left the Royal Aircraft Factory and joined the aircraft division of Austin Motors as chief engineer and designer in 1918. He specialised in small light aircraft, designing the prototypes of the Austin Greyhound
, the Austin Whippet
and the Austin Kestrel
, but were not developed further by Austin Motors. In 1922 he joined Westland Aircraft
Works and was chief designer at the Aircraft Disposal Co. (ADC Aircraft
) in 1923. By 1930 he had designed the Robinson Redwing
, which was built at the Robinson Aircraft Company in Croydon and was designed for flying clubs and private use. In 1931, the Aircraft Company was reconstituted and became the Redwing Aircraft Co Ltd. In 1932, as designer and founder of the company, he was appointed to the Board and the Aircraft Company moved their fleet of twelve aircraft to Gatwick Airport. The aerodrome was also purchased and used as the new flying base. In 1934 the Redwing Aircraft Co., moved back to Croydon aerodrome.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
aviation engineer and aircraft designer.
John Kenworthy appears in the 1901 Census of Darlington, aged 17, living with four sisters, one brother and his parents George and Ellen Kenworthy at 65 Greenbank Road, Darlington, County Durham. His father was listed as a Schoolmaster.
In his early years he was a design assistant at the Royal Aircraft Factory formed out of the HM Balloon factory in 1911 at Farnborough, Hampshire. His first design in 1912 was the B.E.3
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.3
|-See also:-References:* Bruce J.M. The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps . London: Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0-370-30084-x.* Hare, Paul. The Royal Aircraft Factory. London: Putnam, 1990. ISBN 0-85177-843-7....
(Blériot Experimental), also known as the Goldfish because of its horizontal tail fin. He also designed the H.R.E.2
Royal Aircraft Factory H.R.E.2
The Royal Aircraft Factory H.R.E.2 was intended as a Naval reconnaissance floatplane. The single example built was serving with the Royal Naval Air Service at the start of World War I.-Design and development:...
(Hydro Reconnaissance Experimental), a floatplane version of the earlier B.E.2 designed by Geoffrey de Havilland
Geoffrey de Havilland
Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, OM, CBE, AFC, RDI, FRAeS, was a British aviation pioneer and aircraft engineer...
. Following closely in 1912 was the (B.E.4, B.E.7 and in 1913 the B.E.8
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8
|-See also:-References:*Bruce, J.M. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. London:Putnam, 1957.*Bruce, J.M. The Aircraft of the Royal Flying Corps . London:Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0 370 30084 x....
) After the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
(RFC) needed fighter and reconnaissance aircraft from the Royal Aircraft Factory and Kenworthy as Chief designer produced the F.E.8 (Fighter Experimental) from 1916, and the R.E.8 (Reconnaissance Experimental), used from 1917. In 1916 he was part of the project team as chief draughtsman who designed the 150 hp S.E.5 (Scout Experimental), and its follow up, the S.E.5a which arrived several months later with the same basic designs, but a more powerful 200 hp engine.
In 1917 he left the Royal Aircraft Factory and joined the aircraft division of Austin Motors as chief engineer and designer in 1918. He specialised in small light aircraft, designing the prototypes of the Austin Greyhound
Austin Greyhound
|-See also:-External links:*...
, the Austin Whippet
Austin Whippet
-References:* "". Flight, 14 August 1919. Vol. XI, no. 33, pp. 1076–1078. Technical description with photographs and scale drawings.* "". Flight, 15 July 1920. pp.749-780....
and the Austin Kestrel
Austin Kestrel
-External links:*...
, but were not developed further by Austin Motors. In 1922 he joined Westland Aircraft
Westland Aircraft
Westland Aircraft was a British aircraft manufacturer located in Yeovil in Somerset. Formed as a separate company by separation from Petters Ltd just before the start of the Second World War, Westland had been building aircraft since 1915...
Works and was chief designer at the Aircraft Disposal Co. (ADC Aircraft
ADC Aircraft
The Aircraft Disposals Company or Airdisco, was a British firm established in March 1920 to take advantage of the large number of World War I-surplus military aircraft on the market.-History:...
) in 1923. By 1930 he had designed the Robinson Redwing
Robinson Redwing
The Robinson Redwing was a British two-seat single-engined biplane light aircraft built in the UK in 1930. Twelve were produced, selling mostly to Clubs; one aircraft survives.-Design and development:...
, which was built at the Robinson Aircraft Company in Croydon and was designed for flying clubs and private use. In 1931, the Aircraft Company was reconstituted and became the Redwing Aircraft Co Ltd. In 1932, as designer and founder of the company, he was appointed to the Board and the Aircraft Company moved their fleet of twelve aircraft to Gatwick Airport. The aerodrome was also purchased and used as the new flying base. In 1934 the Redwing Aircraft Co., moved back to Croydon aerodrome.
Reference
A brief biography of John Kenworthy:- Includes a note on the years 1917-1930 while he was at Austin Motors, Westland Aircraft works, the Aircraft Disposal Co and Redwing Aircraft Co Ltd.External links
- "Flight-And the Men, Profile-John Kenworthy at Austin Motors". FlightFlight InternationalFlight International is a global aerospace weekly publication produced in the UK. Founded in 1909, it is the world's oldest continuously published aviation news magazine...
, 25 December 1919. Page 1639.
- "Redwing Aircraft Company". FlightFlight InternationalFlight International is a global aerospace weekly publication produced in the UK. Founded in 1909, it is the world's oldest continuously published aviation news magazine...
, 8 July 1932. Page 634.
- "Redwing Aircraft Factory". History of Croydon Airport