Editing Airco

{{Short description|British aircraft manufacturer}}
{{other uses|Air conditioning}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox company 
|name          = The Aircraft Manufacturing Company Limited
|logo          = 
|caption       = 
|fate          = [[Bankruptcy]]
|successor     = [[de Havilland]]
|foundation    = 1912
|defunct       = 1920
|location      = [[The Hyde]], [[Hendon]],<br/>London, England
|industry      = [[Aviation]]
|key_people    = [[Geoffrey de Havilland]]
|products      = Aircraft
|num_employees = 
|parent        = 
|subsid        = [[Aircraft Transport and Travel]]
}}

'''The Aircraft Manufacturing Company Limited''' ('''Airco''') was an early [[United Kingdom|British]] aircraft manufacturer. Established during 1912, it grew rapidly during the [[First World War]], referring to itself as the largest aircraft company in the world by 1918.

Airco produced many thousands of aircraft for both the British and Allied military air wings throughout the war, including [[fighter aircraft|fighters]], [[trainer aircraft|trainers]] and [[medium bomber|bombers]]. The majority of the company's aircraft were designed in-house by Airco's chief designer [[Geoffrey de Havilland]].

Airco established the first [[airline]] in the United Kingdom, [[Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited]], which operated as a [[subsidiary]] of Airco. On 25 August 1919, it commenced the world's first regular daily international service.

Following the end of the war, the company's fortunes rapidly turned sour. The [[interwar period]] was unfavourable for aircraft manufacturers largely due to a glut of surplus aircraft from the war, while a lack of interest in aviation on the part of the British government also hampered its prospects. Airco quickly became unprofitable; during 1920, the firm was sold to [[Birmingham Small Arms Company]], after which its operations were [[liquidation|liquidated]] later that same year. Numerous assets and personnel formerly belonging to the company were integrated into the newly established [[de Havilland Aircraft Company]].

==Origins and de Havilland==
During 1912, Airco was established by [[newspaper]] proprietor and industrialist [[George Holt Thomas]]. The firm was initially based at [[The Hyde]] in [[Hendon]], north [[London]], England. Starting in August 1914, the aviator [[William Taylor Birchenough (Aviator)|William Taylor Birchenough]] worked as a test pilot for Airco. That same year, learning that [[Geoffrey de Havilland]], who was then at the [[Royal Aircraft Factory]] in Farnborough, might be available, Holt Thomas invited him to join Airco as its chief designer. De Havilland's Airco designs would prove decisive to the company, which would eventually provide around 30 per cent of all trainers, fighters and bombers used by Britain and the United States during the [[World War I|First World War]].<ref>The King's Interest In Flying. Factory And Aerodrome Visited. ''The Times'', Friday, 1 June 1917; pg. 9; Issue 41493.</ref> De Havilland's designs for Airco were all marked with his initials "DH".<ref name="DreadfulCaption">Airco display advertisement, page 3, ''The Times'', 3 December 1918.</ref>

==Wartime production==
Airco would design and produce numerous aircraft during the wartime years. Its [[Airco DH.2|DH.2]], a [[pusher configuration]] [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]] introduced during 1916, contributed to ending the "[[Fokker scourge]]" of 1915. While early air combat over the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] had indicated the need for a single-seat fighter with forward-firing armament, there was no dominant approach to applying armaments to fighters at the time.<ref name = "bruce 34">Bruce 1966, pp. 3-4.</ref> As no means of firing forward through the propeller of a tractor aeroplane was available to the British, Geoffrey de Havilland designed the DH.2 as a smaller, single-seat development of the earlier two-seat [[Airco DH.1|DH.1]] pusher design.<ref name = "bruce 3">Bruce 1966, p. 3.</ref> A total of 453 DH.2s were produced by Airco.<ref name="Airco DH-2">[http://www.classicfighters.co.nz/ac/dh2/index.shtml Airco DH-2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212124216/http://www.classicfighters.co.nz/ac/dh2/index.shtml |date=12 February 2008 }}</ref>

Another design produced by de Havilland was the [[Airco DH.6|DH.6]], which was specifically designed as a military [[Trainer aircraft|trainer]]; as this role was normally performed by obsolete service types at the time, it was an unconventional choice to develop a dedicated trainer.<ref>Baker 1990, p. 24.</ref> The DH.6 possessed relatively gentle flying characteristics, being described as being probably the most "forgiving" aircraft of its time, allowing itself to be flown "crab wise" in improperly banked turns and able to maintain sustained flight at speeds as low as {{convert|30|mph|km/h}}.<ref name="Jackson p.86">Jackson 1987, p. 86.</ref> At least 2,282 DH.6s were built in the UK during wartime.<ref name="Jackson p.87">Jackson 1987, p. 87.</ref>

The [[Airco DH.4|DH.4]] was a two-seat combat aircraft, intended to perform both [[aerial reconnaissance]] and [[Bomber#The first bombers|day bomber]] missions.<ref name = "bruce 3">Bruce 1966, p. 3.</ref> By the end of production, a total of 1,449 aircraft (from orders for 1,700 aircraft) were constructed in Britain for the [[Royal Flying Corps]] (RFC) and the [[Royal Naval Air Service]] (RNAS).<ref name="Jackson p54">Jackson 1987, p. 54.</ref> Production of the DH.4 was performed by a variety of companies beyond Airco themselves; these included F.W. Berwick and Co, Glendower Aircraft Company, Palladium Autocars, Vulcan Motor and Engineering, and the [[Westland Aircraft|Westland Aircraft Work]].<ref name = "bruce 10">Bruce 1966, p. 10.</ref> Overseas, [[SABCA]] of [[Belgium]] produced a further 15 DH.4s during 1926.<ref name="Jackson p60">Jackson 1987, p. 60.</ref><ref name = "bruce 10"/> In the United States, several different manufacturers, including the [[Boeing|Boeing Airplane Corporation]], [[Dayton-Wright Airplane Company]], the [[Fisher Body|Fisher Body Corporation]], and the [[Standard Aircraft Corporation]] produced an Americanised variant of the DH.4, featuring over 1,000 modifications from the original British design, to equip the American air services.<ref name = "bow 3 4">Bowers 1966, pp. 3–4.</ref>

During 1916, the [[Airco DH.9|DH.9]] was designed as a successor to the DH.4, reusing both its wings and [[Empennage|tail unit]] while adopting a modified [[fuselage]] that moved the [[Aviator|pilot]] closer to the [[Air gunner|gunner/observer]] and away from the [[Piston engine|engine]] and fuel tank, which facilitated communication and was viewed as being a more optimal fighting configuration.<ref name = "Bruce 1966, p. 4">Bruce 1965, p. 4.</ref> However, While the DH.9 was deemed to be suitable for daytime bombing operations, it was found to be incapable of effective nighttime bombing due to the pilot's view being obstructed and visibility via the [[bombsight]] being unsuitable.<ref name = "bruce 65 5">Bruce 1965, p. 5.</ref> The DH.9's performance in action over the Western Front was typically deemed to have been a disaster; heavy losses of the type were quickly incurred, attributed to both its poor performance and to engine failures, despite the prior derating of its engine to reduce the failure rate.<ref name = "bruce 65 6">Bruce 1965, p. 6.</ref>

By December 1918, Holt Thomas claimed in an advertisement that Airco was the largest aircraft company in the world, being engaged in the construction of aeroplanes, engines and [[propeller]]s in large numbers, as well as a number of [[airship]]s and [[flying boat]]s.<ref name="DreadfulCaption" /> The engines being built included licensed production of [[Gnome et Rhône|Gnome and Le Rhone]] [[rotary engine]]s.<ref name="DreadfulCaption" /> The company's works at Hendon employed between 7,000 and 8,000 people and had the latest metal-working machinery, in addition to extensive testing equipment, including a materials testing laboratory and a [[wind tunnel]].<ref name=ObitTT>Mr. G. Holt Thomas. ''The Times'', Friday, 4 January 1929; pg. 14; Issue 45092.</ref> At one stage, Airco was reportedly completing one new aircraft every 45 minutes on average.<ref name=ObitDawes>Mr. G. Holt Thomas. Colonel G. W. Dawes. ''The Times'', Saturday, 5 January 1929; pg. 14; Issue 45093.</ref> During 1920, the aviation periodical [[Flight International|Flight Magazine]] reported that, during the period from August 1914 to November 1918, the D.H. Airco aircraft manufactured in both Britain and the United States had comprised approximately 30 per cent of the total output of aeroplanes of these two allies.<ref>page 1147, Flight Magazine, 4 November 1920.</ref>

Following the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918]] and the end of the conflict, many of the wartime DH.4s and DH.9s, along with the improved [[Airco DH.9A|DH.9A]], served for many years with the newly created [[Royal Air Force]]. These aircraft also formed the basis of early de Havilland-designed airliners, including the company's [[De Havilland DH.16|DH.16]] and [[De Havilland DH.18|DH.18]] types which were operated by [[Aircraft Transport and Travel]] Limited, the first airline established in the United Kingdom, which was also owned by George Holt Thomas.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

==Airline operations and the first daily international flights==
[[File:DH16-AT&T.jpg|thumb|[[Airco DH.16]] used by Aircraft Transport and Travel]]
Airco decided to enter into the early [[airline]] business, established a dedicated [[subsidiary]], [[Aircraft Transport and Travel]] (AT&T), for this purpose.<ref name="DreadfulCaption" /> On 25 August 1919, the firm commenced the world's first regular daily international service, between [[Hounslow Heath Aerodrome]] and [[Paris–Le Bourget Airport|Le Bourget Aerodrome]], France. A number of [[Airco DH.16|DH.16s]] were used for this service.<ref name="Jackson Civil V2 p62">Jackson 1973, p. 62.</ref>

In addition to operating the London-to-Paris service, AT&T also launched other routes, including one between [[Croydon Airport]] and [[Amsterdam]], on behalf of the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] airline [[KLM]]. On 17 May 1920, an AT&T DH.16 (G-EALU) performed the first KLM service between London and [[Amsterdam]].<ref name="Jackson Civil V2 p62"/>

==Sale to BSA and liquidation==
Following the [[Armistice with Germany|cessation of hostilities]], the large number of war-surplus machines, sharp fluctuations in business confidence, and the government's failure, unlike those of USA and France, to provide any form of support, Airco became unprofitable.<ref name=ObitTT/> Thomas endeavoured to sell Airco to a car manufacturer. Airco and BSA, parent company of Daimler, announced on 1 March 1920 that Airco had amalgamated with [[Birmingham Small Arms Company]].<ref>Air Transport Combine. Aircraft And B.S.A. Firms Unite ''The Times'', Monday, 1 March 1920; pg. 14; Issue 42347.</ref>

Within days BSA discovered Airco was in a far more serious financial state than Thomas had revealed. Thomas was immediately removed from his new seat on the BSA board and all BSA's new acquisitions were placed in [[liquidation]]. As a result of the financial situation that it inherited, BSA was unable to issue a [[dividend]] to shareholders for the following four years.<ref>Davenport-Hines, R. P. T. ''Dudley Docker: The Life and Times of a Trade Warrior.''  1984, Cambridge University Press.</ref> With help from Thomas, de Havilland bought the group's assets he needed to form the [[de Havilland Aircraft Company]] during 1920.

Aircraft Transport and Travel had been allowed to continue to operate until December 1920. BSA then bought Aircraft Transport and Travel's aircraft from the liquidator and, in early 1921, established [[Daimler Airway]] and [[Daimler Air Hire]] under [[Daimler Hire|Daimler Hire Limited]]'s [[Frank Searle (businessman)|Frank Searle]].{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

==List of Airco aircraft==

[[File:Aerial travel for Business or Pleasure - Thos Cook & Son - 1919 - pp 14+15 (No. 7) (cropped).jpg|thumb|"The Aircraft Manufacturing Company's new high-speed Aeroplane for two passengers, fitted with a 360 h.p. Rolls-Royce engine. Speed 130 miles an hour." (1919)]]

* [[Airco DH.1]]:(1915) – Two-seat biplane fighter with single pusher propeller
** Airco DH.1A - Around 70 built with Beardmore engines.
* [[Airco DH.2]] (1915) – Single-seat biplane fighter with single pusher propeller
* [[Airco DH.3]] (1916) – Twin-engine biplane bomber. Two prototypes only built; formed basis for later DH.10 design
** Airco DH.3A - Second prototype with a Beardmore engine.
* [[Airco DH.4]] (1916) – Two-seat biplane day bomber with single tractor propeller
** Airco DH.4A Civil version. Built in the United Kingdom. Two passengers in glazed cabin behind pilot.
** Airco DH.4R Single seat racer - 450&nbsp;hp (3406&nbsp;kW) [[Napier Lion]] engine.
* [[Airco DH.5]] (1916) – Single-seat biplane fighter with single tractor propeller
* [[Airco DH.6]] (1916) – Two-seat biplane training aircraft with single tractor propeller
* [[Airco DH.9]] (1917) – Two-seat biplane day bomber with single tractor propeller.
** [[Airco DH.9A]] (1918)- development of DH.9 with Liberty engine
** [[Airco DH.9C]] (1921) - conversion of DH.9 as passenger aircraft
* [[Airco DH.10 Amiens]] (1918) – Twin-engine biplane bomber. First prototype used pusher propeller; second prototype and production aircraft used tractor propellers. Manufactured by [[Daimler Company|Daimler]].
** [[de Havilland DH.11 Oxford|DH.11 Oxford]] (1919) Variant of DH.10 with radial engines. One prototype built; not produced
* [[de Havilland DH.15|Airco DH.15 Gazelle]] (1919) - One DH.9A aircraft converted into an engine test-bed.
* [[Airco DH.16]] (1919) - redesign of DH.9A with cabin for four passengers. Used as airliner
* [[de Havilland DH.18|Airco DH.18]] (1920) – Single-engine biplane airliner. Cabin for eight passengers

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{commons category}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Baker |first=David. |title=William Avery "Billy" Bishop: The Man and the Aircraft He Flew |location=London |publisher=The Outline Press |year=1990 |ISBN=978-1-871547-07-8}}.
* {{cite book |last=Bruce |first=J. M. |title=Aircraft Profile No. 91: The de Havilland D.H.2 |location=London |publisher=Profile Publications |year=1966}}
* {{cite book |last=Bruce |first=J. M. |title=Aircraft Profile No. 62: The de Havilland D.H.9 |location=London |publisher=Profile Publications |year=1965}}
* {{cite book |last=Bruce |first=J. M. |title=The de Havilland D.H.4. |series=Aircraft in Profile 26 |location=London |publisher=Profile Publications |year=1966}}
* {{cite book |last=Bowers |first=Peter M. |title=The American DH.4 |series=Aircraft in Profile 97 |location=London |publisher=Profile Publications |year=1966}}
* {{cite book |last=Jackson |first=A. J. |title=British Civil Aircraft since 1919 |volume=2 |year=1973 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=0-370-10010-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Jackson |first=A. J. |title=De Havilland Aircraft since 1909 |location=London |publisher=Putnam |year=1987 |ISBN=978-0-87021-896-5}}
{{refend}}

{{Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom}}
{{De Havilland aircraft}}

[[Category:Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:De Havilland]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1912]]
[[Category:1912 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Fulham]]
[[Category:History of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1920]]
[[Category:1920 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:British companies disestablished in 1920]]
[[Category:British companies established in 1912]]