A.N.E.C.
Air Navigation Co. Ltd. Air
Navigation and Engineering Company A.N.E.C.
Norbert Antoine Chereau (b. 1863, d. 29 September 1939) came to England
in 1893, where he became interested in the Blériot motor lamp business (made his fortune manufacturing automotive accessories),
subsequently becoming the London Manager. Having taken the keenest interest in the early flying experiments of M. Blériot,
he naturally took charge of the arrangements for the crossing of the Channel in July, 1909. After this he relinquished the
lamp business to devote himself entirely to aeronautics. A Blériot School was established at Hendon on 1 October 1910,
and in 1914 sheds were taken at Brooklands and enlarged to provide offices and manufacturing facilities.
Realising
that a British company would have more chance to sell his models to the British government, in 1915, Blériot set up
the Blériot Manufacturing Aircraft Company Ltd. The hoped for orders did not follow, as the Blériot design was
seen as outdated. Following an unresolved conflict over control of the company, it was wound up on 24 July 1916. Even before
the closure of this company Blériot was planning a new venture in the UK. Initially named Blériot and SPAD Ltd
and based in Addlestone, the company was wound up in 1916 and reconstituted under Norbert Chereau in 1917 as the Air
Navigation Co. Ltd. and became the Air Navigation and Engineering Company in August, 1919.
In 1922, following a requirement for a passenger and mail carrier for the Australian Larkin Aircraft Supply Company Limited,
the company built a 10-seat biplane airliner, the Handasyde H.2, originally designed by G. H. Handasyde, who had no production
facilities for his own Handasyde Aircraft Co. Ltd.. The aircraft was not a success, but was later developed into the ANEC III. The first original designs by ANEC were three
monoplanes (ANEC I, IA and II), designed by W.S. Shackleton (later of Beardmores), which were among Britain's earliest ultralight aircraft.
Following the failure of the Handasyde H.2, the aircraft
was redesigned John Bewsher, late of the Sopwith company, in 1926 and three ANEC.III’s were produced to the same requirement of the Larkin Company, and contributed
to the development of aviation in Australia, two being converted to Larkin Lascowls, one of which was not retired until June
1932. The company’s last design, the ANEC IV biplane, also by John Bewsher was for the
1926 Daily Mail competition for two seaters fitted with engines of less than 170lb.
ANEC survived in a difficult
aviation climate until late 1926, producing Blériot Whippet cars in addition to its light aircraft, but recievers were
appointed in November 1926. Following Norbert Chereau's retirement, the company went into liquidation in 1928.
Company References - British
Light Aeroplanes 1920-1940, Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume (GMS Enterprises, 2000)
- Flight 22 May 1914.
- Bleriot in Britain 1899-1927, Say Sanger (Air-Britain (Historians), 2008)
Project Data
Project No | Type No | Name | Alternative Name(s) | Year | Spec (Requirement) | Status | Qty | Description | References |
|
I | | |
1923 | | Proto | 3 |
1S, 1E high-wing light plane | 1,2,4,6,8,12 |
|
II | | |
1924 | | Proto | 1 |
2S, 1E high-wing light plane |
1,2,4,7,9,12 | | III | |
| 1925 | | Prdn | 3 | 7S, 1E biplane transport | 1,3,10,12,13 | | | Sky Sign Carrier | |
1925 | | Proj | 0 |
2 crew,4 pax, 3E light biplane light sign
carrier | 12 |
|
IV | Missel Thrush | |
1926 | | Proto |
1 | 2S, 1E light biplane | 1,2,4,5,11,12 |
Company References - British Civil
Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1, A.J. Jackson (Putnam, 2nd Ed., 1973)
- British Light Aeroplanes 1920-1940,
Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume (GMS Enterprises, 2000)
- British Commercial Aircraft 1920-1940, Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume
(GMS Enterprises, 2003)
- Ultralights, The Early British Classics, Richard Riding (Patrick Stephens, 1987)
- Aeroplane Monthly Jan 1979
- Aeroplane Monthly Sep 1984
- Aeroplane Monthly
Jun 1985
- Flight 29 Mar 1923
- Flight 25 Sep 1924
- Flight 11 Feb
1926
- Flight 09 Sep 1926
- Bleriot in Britain 1899-1927, Ray Sanger (Air-Britain
(Historians), 2008)
- The Martinsyde File, Ray Sanger (Air Britain (Historians), 1999)
Production Summary Select the button to go to the appropriate listings page.
Note: In the Production Summary, conversions are only listed where
they result in a change from one Type to another. Changes to sub-type or Mark Number are not shown in the summary. For details
of these, see the individual listings.
Type No | Name | Qty (New) | Qty
(Conv.) | | | ANEC I | 3 | | | | ANEC IA | | (1) | | | ANEC II | 1 | | | | ANEC III | 3 | | | | ANEC IV Missel Thrush | 1 | | |
Total ANEC Production 8
|