Civilian
Civilian AircraftCivilian Aircraft Company Ltd
Contents
History
Starting in 1926, Harold Boultbee, along with Handley Page apprentice Arthur P. Hunt, began designing a two-seat cabin monoplane in their spare time. Resigning from Handley Page in 1928 along with Hunt, the pair formed Civilian Aircraft at Burton-on-Trent, with Boultbee as Managing Director and Chief Designer and Hunt as Works Manager.
The prototype Coupé was built at the Moor Street premises of S. Briggs & Co., an ironmonger and coppersmith supplying to the local brewing industry, and towed to the nearby Bass’ meadow for its first flight.
The fledgling company moved to new premises in Horninglow Road North in 1929. Meanwhile, Sir Benjamin Dawson, who had made his fortune in the woolen trade, took interest in the company. Sir Benjamin’s son Lawrence was disinclined to join the family firm, but was interested in aviation, and as a result Sir Benjamin Dawson bought out Boultbee’s fellow directors and incorporated the Civilian Aircraft Company on 3 July 1930, with a share capital of £25,000, with himself, Lawrence Dawson and Boultbee as co-directors.
The Horninglow Road premises were too small for full production, so Hull Corporation was approached with a view to leasing or buying land at Hedon, where Hull Corporation was building a municipal airport. The company moved into new premises at Hedon in early 1931. However, Britain at that time was in the grip of economic depression, and by August 1932 only four of the improved Coupé Mk.II had been sold, and around that time Sir Benjamin Dawson withdrew his support.
Boultbee attempted to continue, with a design for a three engined passenger aircraft, but there was no financial support and the company finally declared bankruptcy in 1933.
Company References
- A Civilian Affair, Eduard F. Winkler (Flight Recorder Publications, 2003)
Project Data
| Project No | Type No | Name | Alternative Name(s) | Year | Spec (Requirement) | Status | Qty | Description | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coupé Mk.I | 1929 | Proto | 1 | 2S, 1E high wing tourer | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | ||||
| Coupé Mk.II | 1931 | Prdn | 4 | 2S, 1E high wing tourer | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | ||||
| 1932 | Proj | 0 | 3E passenger aircraft | 2 |
Project References
- British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 2, A.J. Jackson (Putnam, 2nd Ed., 1973)
- A Civilian Affair, Eduard F. Winkler (Flight Recorder Publications, 2003)
- British Light Aeroplanes 1920-1940, Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume (GMS Enterprises, 2000)
- Aeroplane Monthly Sep 1987
- Air Pictorial Jul 1969
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.
| Total Civilian Production | 5 |
| Total Civilian Cancelled Orders | 1 |