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ABC

Logo_ID.jpg All British Engine Company
ABC Motors Ltd.

Contents

History
Projects
Production

History

Originating under the name of W.L. Adams at Redbridge, Southampton, the company became the Aeroplane Engine Company Ltd in 1909. In an attempt to garner favour for Government grants, the name was changed to the All British Engine Company in 1910. ABC Motors, of Hersham, Surrey, was founded in 1912. Its engine designs during the First World War were largly unsuccessful and the company ceased work in the aviation field in 1919. The light aeroplane trials of 1923 renewed interest in aero engines and a converted motorcycle engine was produced to power the English Electric Wren.

In 1929 the company built one aircraft, the Robin, powered by the Scorpion motor and designed by Anthony Fletcher late of the Martinsyde, Central and Westland companies. Although a successful design, the Robin appeared at the wrong time and no further production ensued. From then on the company moved into the production of aircraft auxiliary generators and in 1952 became a subsidiary of Vickers.

Company References

  1. British Light Aeroplanes 1920-1940, Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume (GMS Enterprises, 2000)
  2. British Piston Aero-Engines, Alec Lumsden (Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1994)
  3. Ultralights - The Early British Classics, Richard Riding (Patrick Stevens Ltd., 1987)

Project Data

Project No Type No Name Alternative Name(s) Year Spec (Requirement) Status Qty Description References
     Robin    1929    Proto  1  1S, 1E high-wing light plane  1,2,3,4,5

Project References

  1. Ultralights - The Early British Classics, Richard Riding (Patrick Stevens Ltd., 1987)
  2. British Light Aeroplanes 1920-1940, Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume (GMS Enterprises, 2000)
  3. British Piston Aero-Engines, Alec Lumsden (Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1994)
  4. British Civil Aircraft Since 1919, Vol 1, A.J. Jackson (Putnam, 1973)
  5. Aeroplane Monthly, Sep 1977

Production Details and Type Description

Robin
A high-wing, single-seat monoplane of conventional tailwheel configuration. The cockpit was fully enclosed, the first lightplane to be so equipped in Britain. The fuselage was constructed as a wooden box consisting of four spruce longerons with thin plywood covering with light internal bulkheads. The wood-framed wings, of RAF 34 section, were hinged at their inner rear corners to the top of the fuselage and supported by tubular struts in 'Vee' formation to the lower longerons of the fuselage. The tail was also wood-framed and both wings and tail were covered with doped fabric.

Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW Cruise Speed Maximum Speed Range Service Ceiling
25 ft 4 in 17 ft 4 in 5 ft 9 in 110 sq ft 415 lb 680 lb 85 mph/ 74 kn 105 mph/ 91 kn 340 mi 17000 ft
7.72 m 5.28 m 1.75 m 10.22 m2 188 kg 308 kg 137 km/h 169 km/h 547 km 5182 m

One aircraft only : G-AAID, c/n 1. First flew June 1929.

Total ABC Production1

Page Revision History

Revised at Version 2.0.0
  • Added Type Description and Specification details.