55-520: The Schlesinger Race , also known as the "Rand Race" , the "Portsmouth – Johannesburg Race" or more commonly the 'African Air Race', took place in September 1936. The Royal Aero Club announced the race on behalf of Isidore William Schlesinger who wanted to promote the Empire Exhibition, South Africa and so offered a total of £10,000 in prize money to be divided into two sections, a speed race and
110-710: A follow-up order was placed four additional Envoys. Following the acquisition of a licence , local production of the aircraft started at the Nagoya Mitsubishi factory of the Mitsubishi Hinazuru-type Passenger Transport . It was initially powered by Gasuden Jimpu engines, but later using licence built Armstrong Siddeley Lynx or Wolseley Aries Mk.III engines. While largely identical to their British-made equivalents, Mitsubishi-built aircraft differed in that they were outfitted with landing flaps, along with additional supporting frames around
165-560: A forced crash landing 150 miles south of Salisbury in his Miles Hawk Six . In 1937 Charles E. Gardner went on to win the King's Cup Race in the repaired Mew Gull G-AEKL in which Black had suffered his fatal accident. Guthrie also flew in this race in Vega Gull G-AFAU, finishing in fifth place. Due to the fact that only one entrant finished the race, Schlesinger suggested that the finishers money which would remain unclaimed should be paid to
220-572: A forced landing 20 miles before Salisbury . D. Llewellyn and C. Hughesdon in Percival Vega Gull had a forced landing before Abercorn (today's Mbala ), on a shore of Lake Tanganika . In a difficult weather conditions, the Airspeed Envoy crashed during a take off from Abercorn, killing the pilot Maxwell Findlay and radio operator A. Morgan, while Kenneth Waller and the passenger Derek Peachey escaped with injuries. Finally, A.E. Clouston made
275-590: A forced landing near Regensburg in Germany and damaged an undercarriage. A. Miller, flying Percival Mew Gull , had a forced landing before Belgrade and withdrew. Next, T. Rose's B.A.4 Double Eagle got damaged on an airfield in Cairo, due to undercarriage folding. Victor Smith flying Miles Sparrowhawk had problems with oil since Salonika and eventually retired in Khartoum. On 30 September, S. Halse crashed his Percival Mew Gull in
330-572: A handicap race. The two sections were to be flown concurrently, but no competitor could win both first prizes. The race was wholly inspired by the very successful 1934 MacRobertson Air Race to celebrate the centenary of the Australian state of Victoria. However, whilst that race was open to all-comers, Schlesinger made the fundamental error of restricting the entry of the Schlesinger Race to British Empire crews and machines only. This led directly to
385-691: A large order, Airspeed benefitted substantially from its work to develop the Convertible Envoy when it subsequently developed further militarised versions of the aircraft. The Royal Air Force (RAF) procured a handful of Envoys for communications work both domestically and overseas in the British Raj . During October 1936, the British Air Ministry placed a sizable order for 136 Envoys, specially equipped for crew training, to fulfil Specification T.23/36 . These further developed aircraft were given
440-472: A mean dihedral of 5 degrees, and an incidence of 2 degrees at the fuselage. The Envoy was powered by a range of engines across its various models. While initial aircraft were furnished with a pair of Wolseley Aries engines, other models were equipped with powerplants such as the Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah V and Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IVC radial engines . Regardless of the engine used, each
495-536: A military capacity. During May 1937, the King's Flight took delivery of a single Envoy III as a replacement for a de Havilland Dragon Rapide ; this aircraft received the registration G-AEXX and was painted in distinctive red and blue colours. Through the mid to late 1930s, several overseas companies entered negotiations with Airspeed with the aim of acquiring a licence to produce the Envoy themselves. The Japanese company Mitsubishi successfully did so, producing it as
550-429: A much smaller entry and only one machine successfully completed the course after many aircraft either failed, crashed or given up. Magazines of the time, such as The Aeroplane and Flight , were suitably scathing. MacRobertson Air Race winner C.W.A. Scott aided by Giles Guthrie won the race in a Percival Vega Gull, but it was a hollow victory, as most of the waiting spectators at Cape Town had given up and gone home by
605-906: A new company designation as the AS.10, and entered RAF service as the Airspeed Oxford . During the Spanish Civil War , ten AS.6 Envoys were obtained by the Spanish Republicans , with the Nationalist side using two, including one that defected from the Republicans, as transport, reconnaissance aircraft or light bombers. One of the Nationalist Envoys flew into a mountain in June 1937, killing General Emilio Mola ; this Envoy had been their demonstrator and
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#1732869326479660-607: A photograph was taken outside Mussell Manor of the Wright Brothers with all of the early British aviation pioneers to commemorate their visit to Britain. In October 1909, the club recognised the Blackpool Aviation Week , making it Britain's first official air show . On 30 October Moore-Brabazon was also the first to cover a mile (closed circuit) in a British aeroplane, flying the Short Biplane No. 2 , and so winning
715-613: A prize of £1,000 offered by the Daily Mail newspaper. On 4 November 1909, he decided to take up a piglet, which he named Icarus the Second, as a passenger, thereby disproving the adage that "pigs can't fly". It moved the next year to nearby Eastchurch , where the Royal Navy had established a flying school. Until 1911 the British Military did not have any pilot training facilities. As
770-555: A result of the bureaucratic requirements of the Air Ministry being considered excessive by Lord Nuffield. Accordingly, Airspeed decided to adapt the aircraft to work with a variety of different engines. This decision led to customers being offered a choice of various engines to power their aircraft; these powerplants included the Aries, Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah V or Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IVC radial engines. Early on, Airspeed promoted
825-623: A result, most early military pilots were trained by members of the club and many became members. By the end of the First World War, more than 6,300 military pilots had taken RAeC Aviator's Certificates. After the loss of its Piccadilly clubhouse in 1961, the club was lodged at the Lansdowne Club at 9 Fitzmaurice Place until 1968. It then moved for a short spell to the Junior Carlton Club 's modern building at 94 Pall Mall . In June 1973
880-408: A single pilot, while the Envoy's normal fuel capacity was 78 gallons, accommodated within a pair of aluminium tanks in the centre section. A separate aft compartment was normally used to store baggage , accessible via an exterior door on the starboard side of the aircraft. If the optional lavatory was installed, a reduced maximum capacity of six passengers was necessary. Passenger access to the cabin
935-533: A sport.' As founded, it was primarily a London gentlemen's club , but gradually moved on to a more regulatory role. It had a clubhouse at 119 Piccadilly , which it retained until 1961. The club was granted its Royal prefix on 15 February 1910. From 1910 the club issued Aviators Certificates, which were internationally recognised under the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (the FAI) to which
990-452: A twin-engined development of the company's earlier Courier , numerous commonalities were shared between the two aircraft, including near-identical wooden construction, the same outer wing panels and the main undercarriage . The airframe had a plywood exterior while the structure was composed of wood as well and was considered to be conventional for the era. In a typical configuration, the cabin could accommodate eight passengers along with
1045-458: A wide variety of engines and configurations. The majority of Envoys were produced by Airspeed at their facility at Portsmouth Aerodrome , Hampshire . The type was also produced overseas in Japan by Mitsubishi following the acquisition of a licence at the company's Nagoya factory; it was locally known as the Mitsubishi Hinazuru-type Passenger Transport . While many customers of the Envoy were in
1100-593: The British Empire . A pair of aircraft were delivered to the Ansett Airlines in Australia . The Spanish company Commercial Air Hire acquired one of the early-build Envoys for civilian purposes; it was subsequently impressed into military service along with several Envoys during the Spanish Civil War . Two Envoys were used as the personal aircraft of separate Chinese governors; one of these may have been operated in
1155-604: The MacRobertson Air Race from England to Australia in 1934 but the aircraft was damaged and withdrawn from the race. Another aircraft, a specially modified version with long-range tanks (the AS 8 Viceroy ) reached as far as Athens before leaving the race due to damage. A single Envoy participated in the Schlesinger Race to Johannesburg, but crashed midway through, killing two of its crew. Numerous early airlines adopted
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#17328693264791210-508: The Mitsubishi Hinazuru-type Passenger Transport . The Austrian firm Hirtenberger also secured a licence to locally manufacture the aircraft, while other entities, such as a Yugoslavian venture, also made efforts to secure similar accommodations. The Envoy also saw military use, being adopted by the air arms of different countries. The aircraft was used in quantity by the Air Forces of Spain , Japan , South Africa , Finland , China , and
1265-506: The Society of British Aircraft Constructors (SBAC) at Hendon . By September 1934, the prototype was undergoing airworthiness certification testing at RAF Martlesham Heath . Furthermore, work was progressing well on a specialised racing variant of the aircraft, the Airspeed Viceroy . Originally, Airspeed worked closely with British engine manufacturer Wolseley Motors on the Envoy; it
1320-524: The United Kingdom , along with several additional nations. Seven Envoys were ordered for joint use by the South African Air Force (SAAF) and South African Airways , with three being delivered in military form and four delivered to South African Airways, where they were used on the air route between Johannesburg – Bloemfontein – Port Elizabeth on 12 October 1936. These aircraft, known as
1375-438: The "Convertible Envoy", could be equipped at short notice with bomb racks and a machinegun in a hand-operated Armstrong Whitworth dorsal turret. Accordingly, each of these seven aircraft could be transformed by a work crew of four within four hours from the transport version into a light bomber or reconnaissance aircraft; in this configuration, the crew consisted of four; pilot, navigator, radio operator and gunner. While not
1430-613: The Atlantic Ocean, 4–5 September. The race began at Portsmouth aerodrome at 6.15 a.m. on Tuesday, 29 September. The winners of the race were C. W. A. Scott and Giles Guthrie . Scott was famous for three England–Australia records and winning the MacRobertson Air Race with Tom Campell Black two years earlier. Scott and Guthrie were flying G-AEKE Percival Vega Gull entered by Giles' father Sir Connop Guthrie and they reached at Rand Airport on 1 October 1936. The aircraft had left Portsmouth 52 hours 56 minutes 48 seconds earlier. Out of
1485-523: The Envoy by entering individual aircraft in air races and performing numerous long-distance flights. The specialised Viceroy derivative, being tailored towards racing, was used in this promotional campaign as well. Production of the Envoy was produced in three distinct series; initial production aircraft lacked several of the features present on later-built examples, such as trailing edge flaps . Seventeen Series I Envoys were completed, followed by thirteen Series II aircraft (equipped with split flaps ) and
1540-513: The Envoy for their fleets. The British company North Eastern Airways was the first to use the type as an airliner; multiple Envoys were used by the firm, which encountered difficulties on some routes due to limited passenger demand and navigation difficulties, leading to its discontinuation in 1938. The Indian operator Tata Air Service operated a single Envoy on a demonstration flight between Bombay (known as Mumbai today) and Calcutta (since re-spelt as Kolkata ) on 25 February 1935 to validate
1595-635: The Hon Charles Rolls (one of the founders of Rolls-Royce ), partly inspired by the Aero Club of France . It was initially concerned more with ballooning but after the demonstrations of heavier-than-air flight made by the Wright Brothers in France in 1908, it embraced the aeroplane . The original club constitution declared that it was dedicated to 'the encouragement of aero auto-mobilism and ballooning as
1650-529: The Pacific route between Oakland and Honolulu . It had been specially built with a large long-range fuel tank filling the middle of the cabin. Maxwell Findlay fatally crashed another Envoy, modified with long-range fuel tanks, in northern Rhodesia during the October 1936 Portsmouth to Johannesburg Schlesinger African Air Race . They were to use a Viceroy purchased for £5500; but when offered £9500 (the cost of
1705-565: The Royal Aero Club: The first women to be awarded their aviator certificates from the Royal Aero Club were Hilda Hewlett on 29 August 1911( certificate No.122 ) followed by Cheridah de Beauvoir Stocks (certificate No. 153) on 7 November 1911. A number of air races were organised by the club: The Britannia Trophy is presented by the Royal Aero Club for aviators accomplishing the most meritorious performance in aviation during
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1760-676: The basis for the Airspeed Oxford , a militarised trainer aircraft operated in large numbers by the Allies in and around the Second World War . During the early 1930s, Airspeed successfully introduced the innovative Courier , the first British aircraft to feature a retractable undercarriage . Very quickly following the first flight, the company's management recognised that a logical follow-up project would be an enlarged derivative powered by twin engines, involving considerably less design work than an equivalent clean sheet initiative. The design effort
1815-435: The civilian sector, where it was used for a variety of purposes from air racing to operating as an airliner , it also found an audience with military operators. The Convertible Envoy was developed for South Africa , which sought a model that could be rapidly reconfigured between civilian and military duties, being outfitted for use as a light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft for the latter capacity. The Envoy served as
1870-688: The club merged with the United Service Club and moved into its premises at 116 Pall Mall. All its aviation-related activities were then transferred to the Aviation Council (United Service and Royal Aero Club) Ltd incorporated on 15 February 1973. In June 1975, the United Service and Royal Aero Club merged with the Naval and Military Club and on 1 August 1975 the Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom
1925-550: The club was the UK representative. The club is the governing body in the UK for air sports, as well as for records and competitions. The club established its first flying ground on a stretch of marshland at Shellbeach near Leysdown on the Isle of Sheppey in early 1909. A nearby farmhouse, Mussell Manor (now called Muswell Manor) became the flying ground clubhouse, and club members could construct their own sheds to accommodate their aircraft. Among
1980-420: The dependants of Findlay and Morgan, who met with a fatal accident in the race. Royal Aero Club The Royal Aero Club ( RAeC ) is the national co-ordinating body for air sport in the United Kingdom . It was founded in 1901 as the Aero Club of Great Britain , being granted the title of the "Royal Aero Club" in 1910. The Aero Club was founded in 1901 by Frank Hedges Butler , his daughter Vera and
2035-842: The end of the Second World War, there were very few Envoys left in operation. One of the RAF Envoy IIIs that survived the conflict was subsequently disposed of as surplus and operated by Private Charter Ltd as G-AHAC for civil passenger charter flights, it was retired and finally scrapped at Tollerton airport, Nottingham during 1950. The Envoy also saw service in China , the Independent State of Croatia , Finland , Slovakia , and Spain . Cheetah-powered Envoy, VH-UXY , piloted by Charles Ulm , disappeared in December 1934 during an attempt to fly
2090-609: The first aircraft production line in the world at Leysdown. On 1 May 1909 John Moore-Brabazon (later Lord Brabazon of Tara) made a flight of 500 yards in his Voisin at Shellbeach. This is officially recognised as the first flight by a British pilot in Britain. The same week the Wright brothers visited the Aero Club flying ground at Shellbeach. After inspecting the Short Brothers' factory,
2145-456: The first occupants of the ground were Short Brothers . Two of the brothers, Eustace and Oswald , had previously made balloons for Aero Club members and been appointed the official engineers of the Aero Club. They had also enlisted their eldest brother, Horace, when they decided to begin constructing heavier-than-air aircraft. They acquired a licence to build copies of the Wright aircraft and set up
2200-409: The improved Series III, of which nineteen were constructed. Akin to the preceding Courier, a 'colonial' model of the Envoy was developed for overseas customers. The Airspeed Envoy was a twin-engined low-wing cabin monoplane of all-wood construction apart from fabric covered control surfaces. It had a rearward retracting main undercarriage with a fixed tailwheel. Having been designed from the onset as
2255-657: The original 14 entries to the race Scott and Guthrie were the only ones to finish, winning the 10,000 pounds prize money. They covered 6,150 miles at an all in average of 116 m.p.h. and at a flying average of 156.3 m.p.h. When Scott put down at the Rand Airport, Germiston , the Vega Gull was one of the only two machines definitely still in the race, and a few hours later tragedy overtook the other—the Airspeed Envoy flown by Findlay and Waller. Alington's and Booth's B.A. Eagle had
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2310-556: The passenger cabin windows and a covering for the transport cockpit canopy. Flight testing of the Jimpu powered aircraft resulted in a crash, killing the flight test observer, (the first fatality during flight testing of Mitsubishi aircraft), blamed on the engines producing excessive drag, resulting in the switch to licence-built British engines. Eleven aircraft were built at Nagoya before production ceased, all of which flew domestic services for NKYKK (later to become Greater Japan Airways ). By
2365-541: The plane plus the first prize of £4000) by a Spanish (war) buyer they cashed the cheque and ordered a Cheetah-engine Envoy with long range tanks which had similar performance to the Viceroy. But at Abercorn in Africa they could not wait for the wind to drop so they could take off downhill. They took off with maximum load uphill against the wind but failed to clear trees beyond the strip and crashed. The Envoy prototype (demonstrator)
2420-453: The previous year. Airspeed Envoy The Airspeed AS.6 Envoy was a twin-engined light transport aircraft designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Airspeed Ltd. The Envoy originated as a heavier twin-engine derivative of Airspeed's Courier light transport aircraft. Sharing much of its design with this earlier aircraft, it was relatively easy to develop; confidence in
2475-450: The project was so high that within a week of the prototype's maiden flight , it was performing as a display aircraft to the public. Quantity production of the Envoy had been initiated even before this first flight. Early on, Airspeed worked closely with the British engine manufacturer Wolseley Motors as both a key supplier and early custom of the Envoy; development subsequently branched out to
2530-597: The time he arrived. There were 14 entrants, but only nine aircraft took part in the race. Tom Campbell Black was entered into the race in G-EAKL Percival Mew Gull but ten days before the start of the race he was fatally injured at Speke Airport while preparing for the race when Flying Officer Peter Stanley Salter who was the Assistant Adjutant and Chief Flying Instructor of No. 611 Squadron taxied his Hawker Hart No. K3044 into Black's aircraft which
2585-418: The various forms of sporting aviation (for example British Aerobatic Association ) are all members of the Royal Aero Club, which is the UK governing body for international sporting purposes. The Royal Aero Club also acts to support and protect the rights of recreational pilots in the context of national and international regulation. The following were the first ten people to gain their aviator certificates from
2640-478: The viability of air mail service between the two cities. Amongst the more successful airlines to operate the Envoy was Japan Air Transport Co. (NKYKK – Nihon Koku Yuso KK) and the Czechoslovakian firm Czech Airlines (CSA), the latter having ordered four Envoys to launch its operations with on 1 October 1935. Orders for the Envoy came from a wide variety of customers, many of which were distributed across
2695-416: Was accommodated within an appropriate cowling, typically a short chord Townend ring , but also wider chord cowlings with and without blisters for cylinder heads. The first production Envoy I, G-ACVH , flew in October 1934 and was used as a company demonstrator. The second, also a Series I but fitted with Wolseley Aries III radial engines, was delivered to Lord Nuffield . This aircraft was due to fly in
2750-464: Was also taxiing on the runway. Black's fuselage was almost cut in two when the Hart's propeller cut into it, mortally injuring Black, who died in the ambulance in the way to hospital. Two aircraft, Miles Peregrine and M. Chand's Percival Vega Gull were not ready, while John E. Carberry's Vega Gull was damaged when Beryl Markham landed in a peat bog at Balleine Cove, Cape Breton Island, after flying it across
2805-470: Was headed by co-founder A. H. (Hessell) Tiltman ; during November 1933, Airspeed's board authorised the project to proceed. By January 1934, six aircraft, including the prototype, were at various stages of construction. On 26 June 1934, the prototype, G-ACMT , performed its maiden flight , piloted by C. H. A. Colman. One week later, confidence in the prototype was so high that Airspeed decided to dispatch it for its first public appearance, an exhibition by
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#17328693264792860-680: Was officially launched and endowed with all its awards, library and memorabilia and took the place of the Aviation Council. By 1977, the club had ceased to be a members club but continued to carry out the function previously carried out by its Aviation Council, with the Secretariat based at the Leicester premises of the British Gliding Association . Today the Royal Aero Club continues to be the national governing and coordinating body of air sport and recreational flying. The governing bodies of
2915-551: Was originally designed to work with the latter's Wolseley Aries engine. This partnership involved, amongst other aspects, the first two Envoys being sold to Wolseley and its owner Lord Nuffield . The prototype, and several early production aircraft, were powered by Aries engines; however, the prototype was subsequently reengined with the Wolseley Scorpio (amongst other changes) during early 1936. Wolseley abruptly decided to cease aircraft engine manufacture in September 1936 as
2970-690: Was sold for £6,000 cash (six £1000 Bank of England notes). During the Second World War , the German Luftwaffe captured several Envoys and operated a few as trainer aircraft for a time. During 1935, a pair of Envoy-Is were delivered to Japan, one for evaluation by the Japan Air Transport Co. (NKYKK – Nihon Koku Yuso KK) and the other for the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service as the Airspeed LXM . Three months later,
3025-455: Was via a single door on the port side of the aircraft. The wing of Envoy changed between models, with early-built aircraft not featuring flaps unlike later production models. It also featured outboard extension wings, which could optionally accommodate a pair of additional 30 gallon fuel tanks to extend the aircraft's range. The wing's center section was integral with the aircraft's semi- monocoque fuselage, possessing an aspect ratio of 8.16,
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