ABC
All British Engine
Company ABC Motors Ltd.
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 A 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 - British
Light Aeroplanes, Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume (GMS Enterprises, 2000)
- British Piston Aero-Engines, Alec
Lumsden (Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1994)
- 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 |
Project References - Ultralights
- The Early British Classics, Richard Riding (Patrick Stevens Ltd., 1987)
- British Light Aeroplanes Arthur
W.J.G. Ord-Hume (GMS Enterprises, 2000)
- British Civil Aircraft Since 1919, Vol 1, A.J. Jackson (Putnam,
1973)
- Aeroplane Monthly, Sep 1977
One aircraft only : G-AAID, c/n 1. First flew
June 1929.
Total ABC Production 1
|