History Of Civil Aviation

Civil aviation came about after World War one when pioneers explored new uses for aircraft, before that aircraft were only used for war purposes. In 1908 the British army developed aircraft, a few years before in 1904 J. E. Cooper, from the British war office, visited the Wright Brothers. His aim was to bring back information and skills on aircraft. This did not happen because the Wright brothers asked for $100,000 for the method of aircraft and a further $100,000 for the formulae and theoretical knowledge. The war office was unwilling to pay this amount.

Later, during the First World War, the aeroplane matured rapidly. Aeroplanes had to stand up to the war time maintenance. Although the Bi planes of 1918 resembled pre war types they were tougher faster and more capable. There was enormous expansion of production before 1918, with there being just over 100 million aircraft. Also by 1918 there were 32,000 companies forming the British aviation industry. The main companies were Avro, Bristol, de Havilland, Hawter, Rolls Royce, Handley-Page and Vickers.

The daring flights of “aerial adventurers” showed that aeroplanes were an increasingly practical means of transport and pioneered routes that would eventually be used by registered airline services. Fairs were very expensive and used by tycoons, politicians and film stars. All metal construction and smooth streamlined exteriors gave higher speeds and lower fuel consumption.

Handley-Page aeroplanes were of the first to have aeroplanes flying on a fast transport route of London-Paris. Fledging Royal Air Force set up a communication wing, to provide this fast transport service. The route was for government officials attending the Peace Conference. They flew mostly in D.H.4s, 4As and a bit later, Handley Page 0/400 twin-engined bombers. The 10th January 1919, was the start of cross-channel air services, claimed modified �Silver Star’ carried the first non-military passengers and also made the first passenger night flight across the channel.

Founded in 1916, Aircraft Transport and Travel was one of the first commercial operations companies. Even though it was founded so early, they had to wait for the return of peace and also for Government permission. Finally, when all was ready, Hounslow established a civil customs airport, quite near the current London Heathrow airport. Scheduled services started in 1919 on 25th August. A de Havilland took off with four passengers, at 12.40 on the first scheduled London-Paris flight.

The second British airline to be formed was Handley Page Transport, on 14th June 1919. On the 25th August, in one of Handley Page’s 0/400’s aeroplanes, also flew London-Paris with journalists. Shortly after on September 2nd, regular Paris services began. Handley Page also founded a London-Brussels service, 23rd September 1919, and a London-Amsterdam service, 6th July 1920, even though, so called �rival’ Aircraft Transport and Travel, begun their London-Amsterdam service on 17th May 1920, with Dutch KLM.

Soon after, British companies found themselves competing with one another, also with sub-sized continental companies for very limited traffic. 28th February 1921, saw all British air services being halted because of a lack of finance. A few years later on March 31st 1924, the government set up a national airline, Imperial Airways. It had Ð'Ј1 million capital and a guaranteed subsidy of Ð'Ј1 million spread over ten years. The airline, in turn, took over both Aircraft Transport and Travel and Handley Page’s airline operations and their fleets along with Daimler Airway and the Instone Airline for the opening of services on 26th April.

Most of the aircraft used by pioneer British airlines were of two families; Airco and Handley Page. Airport Transport and Travel chose de Havilland designs because of close associations with Airco. Converted D.H.4s two seat bombers became D.H.4As with two passenger seats which had a hinged cover with windows. Aircraft transport and Travel had four D.H.4As and eight D.H.16s formally four passenger adaptations of D.H.9 bomber design. These were constructed out of wood and were powered by Rolls Royce Eagle engines, cruising speeds were around 160km/h or 100mph.

Following D.H.4A and D.H.16 de Havilland designed a purely civil D.H.18, with a 450hp Napier Lion engine and eight seats. This came about in 1920, used by Aircraft Transport and Instone. Improved development brought about the Lion-powered eight-passenger D.H.34 which had its first flight on March 26th, 1922 then went into service with Daimler Airway, just a week later, on April 2nd. This aeroplane type was also used by Instone and one was even exported to Russia.

Handley Page designed and built the W.8, based on its own 0/400 series, which had two Eagle engines. The W.8 compared to the 0/400, had reduced wing span, better passenger accommodation and a single fin and rudder in place of the 0/400s box-like structure. The W.8 had its first flight on 4th December 1919 and had limited service with Handley Page Transport. It was followed by three 12/14 seat Eagle powered W.8bs.

The aeroplane to become the best known through out all pioneering days or aircraft manufacturer was the Vickers Vimy Commercial, named �City of London’. It was in turn a modified Vimy bomber, the aircraft that was first to make a non-stop transatlantic flight and England-Australia flight. The �City of London’ airplanes difference was that it incorporated a new fuselage having seats for up to ten paying customers.

It soon proved that for an air route to be successful it would include a water crossing. Spring 1932, British Amphibious Air Lines had irregular water crossing operations, on the Blackpool to Isle of Man route. The route was flown in a Saunders-Roe Cutty Sark amphibian. 1932 also saw a couple of other significant events, including the start of a twice daily Bristol-Cardiff service, this began on September 26th. The second significant event was the first flight of de Havilland D.H.84 Dragon on November 24th. The Dragon made short-haul airline operations in the UK and other parts of the world. The Dragon was a six passenger biplane with two de Havilland Gipsy major engines which had 130hp. 115 of these were built in the UK and 87 in Australia.

On 18th December 1933, Jersey Airways started up a daily Portsmouth-Jersey service. There wasn’t an airport in Portsmouth until 1937, so Dragon’s operated from the beach, St Aubin’s Bay. At times the whole fleet was on the beach at once, as schedules depended upon the tide and the fleet flew in an erratic formation.

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