Editing Blackburn Aircraft (section)

==History==
Blackburn Aircraft was founded by [[Robert Blackburn (aviation pioneer)|Robert Blackburn]] and [[Jessy Blackburn]], who built his first aircraft in [[Leeds]] in 1908 with the company's Olympia Works at [[Roundhay]] opening in 1914.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roundhay Ward Neighbourhood Design Statement|url=http://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/Roundhay%20PDF%20full.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103234420/http://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/Roundhay%20PDF%20full.pdf |archive-date=2012-11-03 |url-status=live|website=leeds.gov.uk|access-date=20 November 2017|page=9|date=October 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Fraser|first=Derek|title=The History of Modern Leeds|date=1980|publisher=Manchester University Press|location=Manchester|isbn=0-7190-0781-X|page=164|chapter=VI: Industrial Development, 1780&ndash;1914}}</ref>

The Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Company was created in 1914<ref name=":YP:">{{cite news|title=Unsung hero who reached for the sky gets another chance to fly high again|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/analysis/unsung-hero-who-reached-for-the-sky-gets-another-chance-to-fly-high-again-1-5863522|access-date=20 November 2017|work=The Yorkshire Post|date=18 July 2013}}</ref> and established in a new factory at [[Brough, East Riding of Yorkshire|Brough]], [[East Riding of Yorkshire]] in 1916.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mistry|first1=Pritti|title=End of an era for Brough workers|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-17217413|access-date=20 November 2017|work=BBC News|date=1 March 2012}}</ref> Robert's brother [[Norman Blackburn (aviation pioneer)|Norman Blackburn]] later became managing director.

Blackburn acquired the [[Cirrus aero engines|Cirrus-Hermes Engineering]] company in 1934, beginning its manufacture of aircraft engines. However an updated range of engines was under development and Blackburn wanted to wait until it was established before giving its name to them, so Cirrus Hermes Engineering was retained as a separate company for the time being.<ref>''The Times'', 9 July 1937.</ref>

The company's name was changed to Blackburn Aircraft Limited in 1936.<ref>''The Times'', 3 April 1936.</ref>

In 1937, with the new Cirrus engines now well established, engine manufacturing was brought into the parent company as an operating division, giving rise to the [[Blackburn Cirrus]] name.{{sfn|Bridgman|1943|p=10d}}

By 1937, pressure to re-arm was growing and the Yorkshire factory was approaching capacity. A fortuitous friendship between [[Maurice Denny]], managing director of [[William Denny and Brothers]], the [[Dumbarton]] ship building company,{{sfn|Bridgman|1943|p=12c}} and Robert Blackburn resulted in the building of a new Blackburn factory at Barge Park, Dumbarton where production of the Blackburn Botha commenced in 1939.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sherry|first=Alan M.|title=The Blackburn, Dumbarton's Aircraft Factory|year=1996|publisher=Stenlake Publishing|location=Catrine, Ayrshire|isbn=9781872074825|pages=9–10}}</ref>

Blackburn amalgamated with [[General Aircraft Ltd|General Aircraft Limited]] in 1949 as Blackburn and General Aircraft Limited,{{sfn|Halpenny|1982|p=33}} reverting to Blackburn Aircraft Limited by 1958.

As part of the rationalisation of British aircraft manufacturers, its aircraft production and engine operations were absorbed into [[Hawker Siddeley]] and [[Bristol Siddeley]] respectively<ref name=":YP:" /> in 1960/1961. The Blackburn name was dropped completely in 1963.<ref name=":BBC:">{{cite news|title=Historic bi-plane in flying visit|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34288508|access-date=20 November 2017|work=BBC News|date=18 September 2015}}</ref>

An American company, Blackburn Aircraft Corp., was incorporated in Detroit on 20 May 1929 to acquire design and patent rights of the aircraft of Blackburn Airplane & Motor Co., Ltd. in the USA. It was owned 90% by [[Detroit Aircraft Corp.]] and 10% by Blackburn Airplane & Motor Co., Ltd. Agreements covered such rights in North and South America, excepting Brazil and certain rights in Canada and provided that all special tools and patterns were to be supplied by the UK company at cost.

===Locations===
The company had factories at Olympia in Leeds, [[Sherburn-in-Elmet]], Brough (East Yorkshire) and Dumbarton. In the early days, Blackburn himself flew aircraft on the beaches at [[Marske-by-the-Sea|Marske]] and [[Filey]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Memories of flight legend|url=http://www.fileymercury.co.uk/news/transport/memories-of-flight-legend-1-3777364|access-date=20 November 2017|work=Filey & Hunmanby Mercury|date=21 September 2011}}</ref> with the company also using the former [[RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor]].{{sfn|Abraham|2002|p=109}} Before production shifted to Sherburn-in-Elmet and Brough from the Leeds site, aircraft were flown in and out of Olympia works by an adjacent airstrip in Roundhay Park.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roundhay Park (Leeds) - Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust UK|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/roundhay-park-leeds/|website=www.abct.org.uk|access-date=20 November 2017}}</ref>